Budget Strategist

Douglas County (NV); Minden (NV); On-site; USD 90,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

Douglas County is seeking a Budget Strategist to lead the development and administration of operating and capital budgets, ensuring alignment with strategic priorities and long-term fiscal sustainability. You will collaborate with the County Manager, elected officials, and the Finance Department to deliver transparent, accountable budgeting processes.

The role emphasizes complex financial analyses, forecasts, and policy development, with duties spanning performance monitoring, reporting, and

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Public Administration, Finance, Accounting, Economics, or closely related field with six years of governmental budgeting/financial planning experience.
• Six years of progressively responsible professional experience in governmental budgeting, strategic financial planning, fiscal policy, or public finance, including experience developing complex budgets and financial forecast.

Responsibilities

• Plans, organizes, and coordinates the development, preparation, implementation and administration of the County's annual operating, capital improvement and supplemental budgets under the direction of the County Manager, developing and recommending budget schedules, guidance, priorities, and timelines for countywide budget development.
• Conducts complex financial, operational, and organizational analyses to critically evaluate departmental budget submissions, staffing models, and resource requests; synthesizes data to formulate options and recommendations for the County Manager.
• Collaborates closely with the Comptroller and Finance Department to ensure alignment between budget development, financial reporting, accounting practices, revenue forecasting, cash flow considerations, debt management, capital planning, and long-range fiscal sustainability.
• Monitors countywide budget performance throughout the fiscal year, analyzes significant revenue and expenditure variances and emerging fiscal risks, and recommends corrective actions, budget amendments, funding alternatives, or other management strategies to the County Manager/Chief Operating Officer.
• Evaluates the fiscal impact of proposed legislation, Board actions, organizational changes, labor agreements, capital projects, and new programs, developing analytical reports and funding strategies for executive review.
• Assists in developing, recommending, and implementing countywide budget policies, procedures, standards, and budget instructions to promote consistency, transparency, accountability, and compliance with applicable laws, policies, and established budgeting principles.
• Represents the County with dignity, integrity, professionalism, and a spirit of cooperation in all interactions with elected officials, County leadership, employees, governmental agencies, and the public.
• Prepares and presents financial and budgetary reports to the County Manager, Board of County Commissioners, and other internal or external stakeholders as required.
• Leads and coordinates the preparation, consolidation, and presentation of the County's budget documents, including public-facing budget reports, executive summaries, and supporting schedules.

Education

Bachelor's degree in Public Administration, Finance, Accounting, Economics, or closely related field

Six (6) years of progressively responsible professional experience in governmental budgeting, strategic financial planning, fiscal policy, or public finance

Job description

Douglas County is seeking an individual with a strong background in complex budgeting and financial forecasting to fill the role of Budget Strategist. Serving as a liaison between the County Manager's office, elected officials, and County departments as well as a key resource in providing recommendations to the County Manager and Board of County Commissioners on complex fiscal matters, the Budget Strategist will play a vital role in ensuring the County's budget development aligns with strategic priorities, financial policies, and long-term fiscal sustainability. By undertaking the responsibilities of conducting organizational analysis, budget performance monitoring, and critical evaluation of financial operations, this position will lead efforts to improve financial management processes and reporting, budget transparency, and accountability, ensuring that Douglas County can successfully continue in its mission to provide cost-effective public services fostering a safe, healthy, scenic, and vibrant community for the enjoyment of our residents and visitors.

Primary Objectives

Serves as the County's lead strategist for budget development, fiscal planning, and resource allocation. Provides executive-level leadership in developing and administering the County's operating and capital budgets, long-range financial strategies, and organizational planning initiatives. Provides recommendations to the County Manager and Board of County Commissioners on complex fiscal, operational, and policy matters; develops strategic recommendations that promote fiscal sustainability and organizational effectiveness; and ensures financial resources are aligned with Board priorities, legal requirements, and the County's Strategic Plan through collaboration with the Finance Department, elected officials, and County leadership; performs related tasks as apparent or assigned.

Supervision Exercised

None

Job Responsibilities

1. Plans, organizes, and coordinates the development, preparation, implementation and administration of the County's annual operating, capital improvement and supplemental budgets under the direction of the County Manager, developing and recommending budget schedules, guidance, priorities, and timelines for countywide budget development.
2. Conducts complex financial, operational, and organizational analyses to critically evaluate departmental budget submissions, staffing models, and resource requests; synthesizes data to formulate options and recommendations for the County Manager.
3. Collaborates closely with the Comptroller and Finance Department to ensure alignment between budget development, financial reporting, accounting practices, revenue forecasting, cash flow considerations, debt management, capital planning, and long-range fiscal sustainability.
4. Monitors countywide budget performance throughout the fiscal year, analyzes significant revenue and expenditure variances and emerging fiscal risks, and recommends corrective actions, budget amendments, funding alternatives, or other management strategies to the County Manager/Chief Operating Officer.
5. Evaluates the fiscal impact of proposed legislation, Board actions, organizational changes, labor agreements, capital projects, and new programs, developing analytical reports and funding strategies for executive review.
6. Assists in developing, recommending, and implementing countywide budget policies, procedures, standards, and budget instructions to promote consistency, transparency, accountability, and compliance with applicable laws, policies, and established budgeting principles.
7. Serves as primary budget liaison between the County Manager's Office, Finance Department, elected officials, and County departments to facilitate communication, resolve routine budget issues, and support effective decision-making.
8. Supports the implementation and ongoing tracking of the County's Strategic Plan and performance measures into the annual budget process, evaluating alignment between strategic priorities, departmental goals, and budget allocations.
9. Reviews and evaluates departmental budget submissions for accuracy, completeness, fiscal impact, and compliance with County policies, applicable laws, established budgeting principles, and relevant accounting requirements.
10. In collaboration with the Comptroller and Finance Department, develops and maintains multi-year financial forecasts, revenue projections, and long-range capital planning to support the County's fiscal sustainability.
11. Leads and coordinates the preparation, consolidation, and presentation of the County's budget documents, including public-facing budget reports, executive summaries, and supporting schedules.
12. Develops and maintains systems, tools, and processes to improve budget transparency, efficiency, and accountability.
13. Prepares and presents financial and budgetary reports to the County Manager, Board of County Commissioners, and other internal or external stakeholders as required.
14. Conducts long-range financial and fiscal policy analysis to identify emerging trends, risks, and opportunities; develops funding strategies, financial scenarios, and policy options to support executive decision-making and the County's long-term fiscal sustainability.
15. Participates in special projects, policy development, organizational planning initiatives, and process improvement efforts related to countywide financial management and strategic planning.
16. Represents the County with dignity, integrity, professionalism, and a spirit of cooperation in all interactions with elected officials, County leadership, employees, governmental agencies, and the public.
17. Contributes effectively to the accomplishment of departmental and organizational goals, objectives, strategic initiatives, and continuous improvement efforts.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in Public Administration, Finance, Accounting, Economics, or a closely related field; and six (6) years of progressively responsible professional experience in governmental budgeting, strategic financial planning, fiscal policy, or public finance, including experience developing complex budgets, and financial forecast; OR an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience.

Certifications/Licenses

• Certified Public Accountant (CPA) Preferred

Working Conditions

The characteristics listed below are representative of the physical demands, physical agility, sensory requirements, and environmental exposures required by an individual to successfully perform the essential duties of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential duties.

• This work requires the occasional exertion of up to 10 pounds of force.
• Work regularly requires sitting, using hands and repetitive motions; frequently requires speaking or hearing; occasionally requires standing and walking.
• Work has standard vision requirements; vocal communication is required for expressing ideas by means of the spoken word; hearing is required to receive detailed information through oral communication and/or to make fine distinctions in sound.
• Work requires preparing and analyzing written or computer data.
• Work is generally in a moderately noisy location (e.g. business office, light traffic).
• Work has no exposure to adverse environmental conditions.

Acknowledgements

1. Continued employment is contingent upon all required licenses and certificates being maintained in active status without suspension or revocation.
2. Employment is contingent upon successful completion of background/screening.
3. Douglas County participates in E-Verify and will provide the Social Security Administration (SSA) and, if necessary, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), with information from each applicant's Form I-9 to confirm work authorization. All candidates who are offered employment must complete Section 1 of the Form I-9 along with the required proof of their right to work in the United States and proof of their identity prior to starting employment. Please be prepared to provide required documentation as soon as possible after the job offer is made.
4. This job description indicates, in general, the nature and levels of work, knowledge, skills, abilities and other essential functions expected of the incumbent. The duties listed above are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment to the position. Incumbent may be asked to perform other duties as required.