Budget & Finance Manager

El Paso County; Colorado Springs (CO); On-site; USD 90,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

El Paso County seeks a Budget & Finance Manager for the Digital, Strategy, and Technology department to lead budget planning, financial operations, and a small team. You will translate numbers into actionable recommendations for senior leaders and manage contracts, procurement, and grants to support strategic IT investments.

The role emphasizes strengthening reporting, controls, and processes, with a Monday–Friday schedule in Colorado Springs.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in finance, accounting, business administration or related field.
• Five years of professional experience in finance, budgeting, accounting, contracts, procurement, grants, auditing or related financial field.
• Two years of supervisory, management or demonstrated leadership experience.

Responsibilities

• Plans, organizes, manages, and evaluates departmental financial programs, operations, and services; supports goals and operational needs.
• Manages budgeting, accounting, contracts, procurement, grants, and financial reporting.
• Performs analyses; develops recommendations on financial strategies, resource allocation, and planning.
• Monitors spending, contracts, and POs to identify cost savings and avoid overruns.
• Develops and implements financial policies, internal controls, and compliance with laws and regulations.
• Prepares and maintains financial reports, reconciliations, projections and cost analyses.

Skills

Financial analysis

Budgeting

Financial reporting

GAAP knowledge

Policy development

Communication skills

Leadership / people management

Problem solving

Education

Bachelor's degree in finance, accounting, business administration or related field

Five years of professional finance experience

Two years supervisory / management experience

Tools

Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook)

ERP systems

Data analysis tools

Job description

As the Budget & Finance Manager for our Digital, Strategy, and Technology department, you’ll lead budget planning and financial operations, guide a small team, and give senior leaders the insight they need to make informed investments. You’ll evaluate market costs, contracts, and hardware and software lifecycles while improving reporting, processes, and internal controls. We’re looking for an experienced IT finance leader who enjoys digging into numbers and transactions, takes initiative to solve complex problems, and can turn detailed financial data into clear, practical recommendations.

Hiring Range: $90,000.00 - $100,000.00 Annually
This position has an anticipated work schedule of Monday - Friday, 7:30 AM - 4:30 PM with flexibility required.

Please be advised this position may close without advance notice, should we receive a sufficient number of qualified applications.

Responsibilities

• Plans, organizes, manages, and evaluates assigned departmental financial programs, operations, and services; establishes priorities and ensures activities support departmental goals and operational needs.
• Manages one or more financial functions, which may include budgeting, accounting, accounts payable and receivable, contracts, procurement, grants, financial reporting, auditing, compliance, and related fiscal operations.
• Performs and oversees complex financial and operational analyses, studies, and research. Evaluates financial information, trends, funding, costs, and operational issues; develops recommendations regarding financial strategies, resource allocation, and short- and long-term planning, to support strategic direction and decision making
• Proactively manages department or office costs by monitoring spending, contracts, and purchase orders to identify cost savings and prevent budget overruns before they occur. Analyzes usage trends, vendor agreements, and marketplace data to recommend consolidation, renegotiation, or elimination of unnecessary expenses. Communicates cost risks and recommendations to leadership in time to support informed decisions.
• Develops, implements, and evaluates financial policies, procedures, processes and internal controls. Identifies financial and operational risks and ensures assigned activities comply with applicable Federal, State, and local laws and regulations, funding requirements, County policies and procedures, contractual requirements and established financial practices.
• Oversees the preparation, analysis and maintenance of financial reports, records, reconciliations, projections, forecasts and cost analyses. Ensures financial information is accurate, complete, timely and supports departmental planning and decision-making.
• Manages departmental budget activities as assigned, including budget development, monitoring, forecasting, expenditure and revenue analysis, budget modifications, and financial reporting; advises department leadership regarding budget status, trends, risks and resource needs.
• Manages accounting and financial transaction activities as assigned, including accounts payable and receivable, reconciliations, revenue and expenditure monitoring and resolution of complex financial transactions or discrepancies.
• Manages contract and procurement activities as assigned, including contract development and administration, solicitations, negotiations, amendments, renewals, monitoring, vendor or provider relationships, procurement processes and resolution of significant contractual, billing, performance or compliance issues.
• Manages grant and other funding activities as assigned, including financial monitoring, reporting, reimbursement, reconciliation and compliance with applicable funding requirements.
• Monitors the financial aspects of assigned programs, projects and portfolios, including budgets, expenditures, funding sources and applicable requirements; coordinates with appropriate staff to identify and resolve financial or compliance issues.
• Coordinates and supports financial, programmatic and compliance audits and reviews; analyzes financial records and supporting documentation, resolves discrepancies, responds to findings and implements corrective actions as appropriate.
• May coordinate activities related to legal matters within assigned areas of responsibility, including Colorado Open Records Act (CORA) requests; coordinates with the County Attorney's Office and researches and investigates matters as assigned.
• Provides senior and executive leadership with timely, accurate financial analysis and recommendations to support resource allocation and planning decisions. Translates budget, procurement and project data into clear options with trade offs, risks and projected outcomes rather than raw numbers. Proactively surfaces financial risks and opportunities so leadership can act before issues become constraints.
• Identifies and implements improvements to financial processes, controls, systems and service delivery to enhance efficiency, accuracy, consistency, compliance and operational effectiveness.
• Interprets and communicates financial policies, procedures, regulations, contractual requirements and related guidance; provides technical assistance and consultation to department leadership and staff.
• Collaborates with County departments and offices, external agencies, auditors, vendors, contractors and other stakeholders regarding assigned financial operations and requirements.
• Provides supervision, guidance, mentorship and development to assigned staff. Determines training needs and ensures appropriate training is provided. Conducts performance evaluations and participates in hiring, disciplinary and other personnel processes.
• May oversee inventory, logistics, purchasing support or other administrative operations associated with assigned financial responsibilities.
• Represents assigned financial functions at meetings and serves on committees, workgroups and special projects as assigned. May represent department leadership at meetings as directed.
• Performs other duties as required.

Supervision Exercised

This classification requires supervising and monitoring performance for a regular group of employees or unit(s) including providing input on hiring/disciplinary action and work objectives/ effectiveness, performance evaluations, and realigning work as needed. A first-line or second-line supervisor typically performs these tasks.

Supervision Received

Receives administrative supervision. This classification typically performs job duties and resolves conflict according to their own judgment and initiatives, requesting supervisory assistance only when necessary. Special projects are managed with little oversight, and assignments may be reviewed upon completion. Performance reviewed periodically.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Thorough knowledge of governmental financial management, accounting, budgeting, auditing, and financial administration principles and practices.
• Knowledge of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and governmental accounting practices applicable to assigned responsibilities.
• Knowledge of financial analysis and reporting, accounts payable and receivable, grants, compliance and internal controls applicable to assigned responsibilities.
• Knowledge of purchasing, procurement and contract administration principles and practices, including competitive procurement processes, solicitations, agreements and vendor management, as applicable to assigned responsibilities.
• Knowledge of applicable Federal, State and local laws and regulations, funding requirements and County policies and procedures.
• Knowledge of financial management systems, enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems, data analysis tools and other technologies used to support financial operations.
• Ability to manage multiple complex financial programs, functions, projects and priorities.
• Ability to analyze complex financial and operational information; identify trends, issues and risks; evaluate alternatives and develop sound recommendations.
• Ability to prepare, administer, monitor and analyze complex budgets, financial reports, forecasts and other financial information.
• Ability to develop, implement, evaluate and improve financial policies, procedures, processes and internal controls.
• Ability to interpret and apply complex laws, regulations, policies, funding requirements, contracts and financial guidance.
• Ability to exercise sound independent judgment, solve complex problems and make decisions within established authority.
• Ability to effectively utilize financial systems, reporting tools, spreadsheets and other technology applicable to assigned responsibilities.
• Ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing, including communicating complex financial information to individuals with varying levels of financial knowledge and preparing clear concise and accurate reports analyses and presentations.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with department leadership, employees, County departments and offices, external agencies, auditors, vendors, contractors and other stakeholders.
• Ability to provide excellent customer service and promote a collaborative service-oriented work environment.
• Ability to effectively lead, supervise, develop, motivate and evaluate employees.
• Ability to plan, organize, prioritize and coordinate multiple assignments and meet deadlines.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and exercise discretion when handling sensitive information.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office software, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook. Must be receptive to adoption and application of new and innovative technologies and technological platforms.
• Maintain regular and punctual attendance.

Required Education & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in finance, accounting, business administration, public administration or related field.
  • Four years of related professional experience may substitute for the required degree.
• Five years of professional experience in finance, budgeting, accounting, contracts, procurement, grants, auditing or a related financial field.
• Two years of supervisory, management or demonstrated leadership experience.

Preferred Education & Experience

• Eight years of professional experience in finance, budgeting, accounting, contracts, procurement, grants, auditing or a related financial field.
• Three years of supervisory, management or demonstrated leadership experience.
• Experience in a governmental or public sector setting.
• Experience managing large or complex funding, grants, contracts, budgets or financial operations.
• Experience managing finances for an IT operation.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.

Licenses/Certificates

• Must possess and maintain a valid driver's license.

Pre-Employment Requirements

• Must pass conditional post offer background investigation, motor vehicle record check and drug screen.

Duties are primarily performed in an office environment; some travel may be required. May be required to respond to emergency situations under varying weather conditions. May be required to work evenings and weekends as business needs dictate.

The classification specification above is intended to describe the general nature of work, key responsibilities and minimum qualifications. Minimum qualifications reflect the baseline experience required for the classification. Departments may establish additional or preferred qualifications to address operational needs, assignment complexity and specialized functions, provided such qualifications are job-related, consistent with the intent of the classification and as approved by the Human Resources department. Specific job assignments, duties, education, experience, licenses/certifications, and working conditions may vary based on the department or office's needs and the requirements of the assigned position. Changes to this classification specification may only be made by the Human Resources Department.