BUDGET DIRECTOR

Town of Cary; Cary (NC); On-site; USD 110,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Town of Cary is seeking a Budget Director to lead the Budget Office within the Town Manager’s Office. You will guide the development and execution of operating and capital budgets, translate policy priorities into financial plans, and lead a high‑performing team in a dynamic public sector environment.

Innovative financial leadership will shape multi‑year strategies, ensure accountability, and communicate complex information clearly to elected officials, staff, and residents.

Qualifications

• Comprehensive knowledge of municipal budgeting and public finance.
• Strong ability to translate complex financial data for stakeholders.
• Experience in multi‑year financial planning and strategic budgeting.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development, communication, and execution of the annual operating and capital budgets.
• Advise Town leadership on budget strategy, revenue forecasting, and policy impacts.
• Direct multi‑year revenue and expenditure forecasting and capital planning.
• Oversee budgetary controls, transfers, and amendments.
• Develop materials for Council presentations and public engagement.

Skills

Budget strategy

Leadership

Forecasting

Communication

Education

Public administration/finance degree

Tools

Budget software

Job description

CARY COMMUNITY

Description

BUDGET DIRECTOR PROFILE
Cary, North Carolina, is a thriving, forward‑looking, and diverse community nationally recognized for its exceptional quality of life and top‑tier municipal services. More than 190,000 residents within 61 square miles call Cary home, making it the seventh‑largest municipality in North Carolina.
Conveniently located between Raleigh, the state capital, and Research Triangle Park, the largest research and technology hub in the United States, Cary offers unparalleled access to innovation, education, and opportunity. Within a two‑hour drive, residents enjoy both the scenic Blue Ridge Mountains and the pristine beaches of the Atlantic coast.
Cary has been nationally recognized for decades as a community of excellence. Our police, fire, and parks departments are nationally accredited. We are one of only nine entities in the country with Triple‑A ratings from Moody's, Standard & Poor's, and Fitch for both General Obligation Bonds and Water and Sewer Revenue Bonds. And for 40 consecutive years, the Town has earned the Government Finance Officers Association's Distinguished Budget Presentation Award, as well as its Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting.
Cary consistently outperforms national averages in home values, job creation, household income, and population growth. The community benefits from an educated workforce, excellent public schools, universities, major health care facilities, and a strong regional economy.
With its vibrant community, commitment to innovation, and unparalleled quality of life, Cary offers residents and leaders alike the opportunity to work and live inspired.

CARY GOVERNANCE

Cary is known for its long‑standing commitment to operational excellence and innovation in local government. Every day, we work to enrich lives by creating exceptional experiences and delivering services that help our community thrive and prosper. Our success is built on strong partnerships between citizens, council, staff, and businesses, who all have a shared belief that local government can be a trusted, forward‑thinking partner.
At Cary, we don’t just follow best practices, we set them. We lead with professionalism, collaboration, and a mindset of continuous improvement. We embrace change, challenge assumptions, and learn as we go. When we succeed, our community sees a government that listens, adapts, and delivers.
Cary’s culture of collaboration and innovation, known as “OneCary,” fosters an environment where leaders and teams are empowered to bring forward new ideas and solutions. Our OneCary culture is grounded in adaptive leadership and guided by values that shape everything we do. These values reflect our commitment to a workplace where everyone is empowered to contribute fully. Together, we create public value that brings people together and enhances lives.

BUDGET OFFICE

The Town of Cary's Budget Office sits within the Town Manager's Office and serves as a central resource for the development and management of the Town's operating and capital budgets. Working in close partnership with the Finance Director and their team, as well as the Town Manager, Assistant Town Managers, and staff throughout the organization, the Budget Office plays a critical role in shaping the fiscal decisions that support Cary’s services, infrastructure, and long‑term priorities.
The Budget Director engages with a range of people from residents and staff throughout the organization to executive leadership and elected officials. This role provides the analysis, context, and guidance that informs sound fiscal decision‑making. As such, the role requires not only technical expertise but the ability to translate complex financial information into clear, accessible insight for a range of audiences.
The Budget Office is entering an exciting new chapter. After years of operating under a Budget Manager structure, Cary is re‑establishing the Budget Director role — reflecting the growing scope, complexity, and strategic importance of the organization’s financial planning efforts. Reporting directly to an Assistant Town Manager, the Budget Director will provide leadership to a team currently consisting of two Budget Analysts, with plans to expand by adding a Capital Planning Manager as the office continues to evolve.
This is a unique opportunity to intentionally shape the Budget team and function. The incoming Budget Director will be empowered, and expected, to strengthen the office’s foundation by enhancing structure and processes, implementing best practices, and positioning the team as a strategic, high‑performing partner that supports the Town’s long‑term success.

BUDGET DIRECTOR

The Budget Director serves as a key contributing member of Cary’s management team and leads the overall operations of the Budget Office.
The right candidate thinks strategically about how resources are allocated, translates Council and community priorities into sound operating and capital budgets, and helps decision‑makers at every level understand the financial trade‑offs behind service level choices. They communicate complex information with clarity and confidence whether presenting to elected officials, collaborating with department heads, or speaking with residents. Above all, they are motivated by the opportunity to reshape the budget function and lead a high‑performing team that serves the Town of Cary and its community for years to come.
If you’re passionate about local government budgeting and energized by the chance to shape fiscal strategies that make a real impact in Cary’s community, this is your moment to lead.

Typical Tasks

Serve on the management team

• Participate as a key member of the Town’s management team offering leadership and collaboration on local government initiatives.

Lead the budget process

• Direct the development, communication, and execution of the Town’s annual operating and capital improvements budgets, establishing the calendar, guidelines, instructions, and policies that guide departments through each phase.
• Oversee the production of budget documents, presentations, and communication products, including but not necessarily limited to the proposed and adopted budgets and budget-in-brief, to a standard consistent with the GFOA Distinguished Budget Presentation Award.
• Review departmental budget requests for appropriateness, programmatic impact, cost effectiveness, and alignment with the Town’s mission, values, goals, and the Imagine Cary Community Plan.
• Lead the budget decision‑making process with senior leadership.
• Establish and coordinate a system of budgetary controls; monitor compliance, evaluate and approve transfers, and prepare amendments for Council consideration.

Advise and forecast

• Advise the Town Manager, Assistant Town Managers, Finance Director, and Council on the budget, tax and rate sufficiency, current and prospective financial conditions, and policy and operational issues with a focus on multi‑year planning (operating and capital).
• Monitor state and federal legislation, reporting to executive leadership and Council on new and changing legislation affecting budgeting and taxing authority, development of new revenue streams, and related fiscal matters.
• Direct multi‑year revenue and expenditure forecasting; develop informed projections across diverse revenue streams including property tax, sales tax, intergovernmental revenues, and fee‑based revenues.
• Lead long‑range financial planning and the twenty‑year capital improvements plan; continuously update short-, mid-, and long‑range recommendations.
• Partner with the Finance Director on debt planning, debt service, and long‑term financial strategy for the completion of capital projects.
• Evaluate the benefits, costs, and budget impact of proposals, programs, and policy alternatives; present data‑informed recommendations.

Connect budget to strategy and performance

• Champion and coordinate Town‑wide performance management and continuous improvement initiatives, linking resources to outcomes and results.
• Align the budget with the Imagine Cary Community Plan and Council goals and support the Council priority‑setting process.
• Lead the development, implementation, and effective use of budget and financial technology, including ERP and budget software platforms, identifying gaps and needed enhancements.

Communicate and engage

• Communicate complex financial issues clearly to a wide range of stakeholders including the Town Manager, Council, departments, media, and public through reports, presentations, and conversation.
• Develop materials for Council presentations and public engagement; present before Council at work sessions and in Council meetings.
• Develop materials to promote budget transparency for Cary residents, including interactive tools for public input and tracking.
• Build and maintain effective working relationships with department directors, employees, elected officials, other governments, media, and the public.

Lead and develop the team

• Lead, coach, mentor, and develop budget professionals; recruit, train, supervise, and evaluate assigned staff; and strengthen the capability of the Budget team, which extends beyond direct reports to include directors, budget contacts and Cary staff.
• Develop, revise, and implement goals, objectives, policies, procedures, and work standards; prioritize and review work to ensure quality and timeliness.
• Provide budget training and guidance to department and division heads and budget coordinators.
• Design, coordinate, and conduct complex special studies and projects; provide Town‑wide policy and program recommendations to leadership; perform other related duties as required.

Knowledge, Skills And Abilities

• Comprehensive knowledge of the principles and practices of municipal administration, governmental budgeting, and public finance.
• Thorough knowledge of the laws and regulations governing municipal financial practices and procedures, including the North Carolina Local Government Budget and Fiscal Control Act and North Carolina public records and open meetings laws.
• Working knowledge of fund accounting and the principles and practices of fiscal management.
• Thorough knowledge of research techniques and the sources and availability of information; general knowledge of modern office methods and appropriate software packages.
• General knowledge of supervisory and leadership principles, performance management, project management, strategic planning, and group facilitation and consensus‑building.
• Ability to plan, organize, assign, and supervise the work of professional staff and foster a productive, accountable team environment.
• Ability to analyze budgets, financial information, policies, and procedures, and to make sound recommendations.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with department directors, supervisors, employees, elected officials, and the public.
• Skill in public speaking, authoring and editing complex reports, exercising strategic and political acumen, and managing competing priorities with accuracy and attention to detail.
• Ability to move fluidly between high‑level strategy and the technical detail that makes execution excellent.
• Strong, independent judgment and a track record of recognizing, understanding, and clearly communicating the relationships between high‑level policy and technical financial concepts.
• Creative, proactive thinking that turns strategy into action plans and measurable results, while taking personal ownership for everyday delivery.
• Strong political acumen, tact, and diplomacy, with experience working alongside elected bodies.
• Aptitude for recruiting, coaching, and developing others, and for understanding team dynamics and building organizational capability.
• Significant experience collaborating with cross‑functional teams and building trust with internal and external stakeholders.
• Proven ability to express ideas clearly, orally, in writing, and through presentations, and to translate complex financial data into accessible insight for diverse audiences.
• Proficiency in financial modeling, statistical analysis, and data‑driven forecasting, and a demonstrated commitment to continuous improvement and exceptional customer service.

Minimum And Preferred Qualifications

Any combination of education and experience equivalent to graduation from an accredited college or university with a degree in public administration, business administration, finance, accounting, management science, or a related field with a minimum of five (5) years of progressively responsible budget administration or public finance experience including at least three (3) years of management and supervisory experience. A master’s degree in public or business administration is preferred and may be substituted for some experience. Preference will be given to candidates with experience in government or other public sector environments.

Conditions of employment

Requires successful completion of drug testing and background check (which may include criminal history check, motor vehicle records check, education verification, and credit history review) and satisfactory reference checks before employment.

Cary ensures equal employment opportunities (EEO) are provided to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to age, sex, race, color, religion, national origin, disability, political affiliation, marital status, veteran status, or genetic information.

Regular Full-Time Employees

Learn More About Our Benefits.

Cary is pleased to provide excellent, competitive, and comprehensive benefits to serve the needs of our employees and their families.
Because Cary believes that employees are one of our most important resources, significant dollars (averaging about 40% of annual salary per employee) are spent each year on employee benefits.
All regular full-time employees of Cary are eligible, and benefits coverage for new employees and family members is effective upon an employee's hire date.

01 Do you possess a valid driver's license with an acceptable driving record?

• Yes
• No

02 Do you have a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework in public administration, business administration, finance, accounting, management science, or a related field? Note: All education detail should be found in the education section of your application, including your degree type.

• Yes
• No

03 Do you have a master's degree from an accredited college or university in public or business administration? Note: All education detail should be found in the education section of your application, including your degree type.

• Yes
• No

04 Do you have a minimum of five (5) years of progressively responsible budget administration or finance experience? Note: Details must be included in the work experience section of your application.

• Yes
• No

05 In which of the following environments have you gained progressively responsible budget or financial management experience? (Select all that apply.)

• Government / Public Sector
• Non‑Profit
• Private Sector
• None of the above

06 Which budget responsibilities have you personally led? (Select all that apply.)

• Annual operating budget development
• Multi‑year financial forecasting
• Capital Improvement Program
• Position control / Personnel budgeting
• Revenue forecasting
• Performance‑based budgeting
• Budget monitoring and amendments
• Financial policy development
• Debt planning or financial analysis
• Budget presentation to elected officials
• Budget software implementation
• None of the Above

07 Describe a budget recommendation you made that required balancing competing organizational priorities. What was your recommendation, how did you build consensus, and what was the outcome? Please respond in your own words without using AI-generated assistance.

08 Do you have at least three (3) years of management and supervisory experience? Note: Details must be included in the work experience section of your application.

• Yes
• No

09 Considering your current and previous professional roles, how would you describe your effectiveness leading budget staff, developing talent, and building high‑performing teams?

• No supervisory experience
• Developing foundational leadership skills
• Proficient and consistent
• Exceptional and highly influential

10 Select only two areas that represent your greatest strengths.

• Strategic Financial Planning
• Operating Budget Development
• Capital Improvement Planning
• Revenue Analysis
• Organizational Leadership
• Policy Development
• Performance Measurement
• Department Collaboration
• Public Presentations
• Process Improvement
• Employee Development

11 Describe the most significant financial challenge your organization faced during your tenure (such as declining revenues, economic uncertainty, rapid growth, or competing priorities). What role did you play, and what did you learn?

• Required Question