Budget Supervisor (AM)

City of Santa Ana; Santa Ana (CA); On-site; USD 110,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

The City of Santa Ana is seeking a Budget Supervisor to oversee the Budget Office’s daily activities and to manage the development, administration, analysis, and monitoring of the City’s operating and capital budgets. You will supervise staff, coordinate across departments, and translate complex financial data into clear recommendations for executives and the City Council.

This role requires a solid background in public finance, budgeting, and forecasting, plus at least three years of related

Qualifications

• Minimum of three years of professional and administrative budget experience in governmental settings.
• Two years of supervisory experience; Bachelor's degree in public/business administration, finance, economics, accounting, or related field.
• Strong understanding of municipal finance, budgeting, forecasting, and organizational analysis.

Responsibilities

• Analyzes proposed department budgets for accuracy, impact on City resources, and adherence to policy.
• Provides direction and recommendations to City Manager Budget Team on department budget requests.
• Coordinates draft and adopted budget documents and fee schedules for City Council.
• Prepares budget-related presentations for public meetings.
• Conducts studies and prepares reports on financial matters including revenue and forecast.
• Implements procedures for monitoring and budgeting citywide projects.
• Researches local, state, and federal law affecting the City's budget.
• Works with Accounting Division to ensure budget documents reflect policies.
• Reviews and provides initial budget approval for certification of hire process.
• Leads budget staff in preparing department budget requests.
• Analyzes fiscal control of expenditures and staff recommendations.
• Reviews staff report fiscal impact statements and budget best practices.
• Supervises and develops Budget and Research Office staff; participates in budget conferences and outreach.

Skills

Budget analysis

Supervisory experience

Financial forecasting

Data interpretation

Education

Bachelor's degree in public administration

Bachelor's degree in finance or related field

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Under the direction of the Assistant Director of the Finance and Management Services Agency, the Budget Supervisor is responsible for supervising the day-to-day activities of the Budget Office and overseeing the development, administration, analysis, and monitoring of the City's operating and capital budgets. The position supervises and reviews the work of budget staff, coordinates budget activities with City departments, and helps ensure budget and financial analyses are accurate and consistent. The position requires a strong understanding of municipal finance, budget development, financial forecasting, and organizational analysis, as well as the ability to translate complex financial information into clear recommendations for executive management and elected officials.

Candidates must possess a minimum of three years of increasingly responsible professional and administrative experience in governmental budgetary and financial activities, including administrative, productivity, and organizational analysis; including two years of supervisory experience supplemented with at least a Bachelor's degree in public or business administration, finance, economics, accounting, or a related field.

This recruitment is continuous with a first review of applications deadline of 11:59pm, Wednesday, October 14, 2026. This recruitment can close at any time without notice after this deadline.

• Analyzes proposed department budgets for accuracy, impact on City resources, and adherence to established budget and financial policy.
• Provides direction and makes recommendations to the City Manager Budget Team regarding departmental budget requests.
• Coordinates the preparation of the draft and adopted budget documents and miscellaneous fee schedule for presentation to City Council.
• Prepares budget related presentations for public meetings.
• Conducts studies and prepares reports on financial matters, including the City's revenue and financial forecast.
• Implements procedures related to monitoring and budgeting for citywide projects.
• Researches local, state, and federal law with potential effects on the City's budget.
• Works closely with the Accounting Division in order to produce a budget document reflecting adherence to existing accounting policies and procedures.
• Reviews and provides initial budget approval of the City's certification of hire process.
• Serves as the lead administrative liaison in assisting department budget staff in preparing department budget requests.
• Analyzes and provides recommendations of fiscal control of budgetary expenditures.
• Reviews and provides recommendations for staff report fiscal impact statements.
• Researches and makes recommendations on best budget practices, organizational issues, structure, staffing, operations, procedures, and policies. Supervises and develops assigned personnel of the Budget and Research Office.
• Attends City Council, Council committee, and community budget outreach meetings, as needed.
• Takes a lead role in budget team conferences.
• May serve as part of a labor relations team.
• Performs other related functions as assigned.

DESIRABLE KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

Knowledge of:

principles and practices of public administration, municipal finance, and budgeting; research techniques; forecasting and cost recovery methods and procedures; organizational structure; principles and practices of effective supervision.

Ability to:

gather, organize, analyze, and interpret data; draw sound conclusions from assembled information; develop alternative solutions to problems; present research findings and ideas concisely and effectively orally and in writing; utilize Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, and PowerPoint) and related software; understand systems analysis related to the automation process of budget administration; exercise resourcefulness in addressing and resolving problems; establish and maintain effective working relationships with municipal officials, managers, employees, and the public.

Writing Skills Examination (Tentatively scheduled for October 16, 2026)

(Qualifying) will evaluate the candidate's subject matter knowledge, analytical and writing aptitude. The areas that will be evaluated may include: analytical thought process and proper English and grammar usage, clarity, conciseness, organization, content, and logical progression from one idea to the next. Candidates need a minimum passing score in order to continue in the selection process.

Oral Interview Examination (Tentatively scheduled for October 28, 2026)

(Weight of 100%) will evaluate the candidates' experience, training, education, and abilities in relation to those factors which are essential for successful performance on the job. Candidates need a minimum passing score in order to be placed on the eligible list.

Candidates must achieve a passing score in every component of the selection process in order to be placed on the eligible list. The Human Resources Department may waive one or more examination components. When one weighted examination component is waived, the remaining section will receive a weight of 100%.

The City of Santa Ana is an equal opportunity employer. If you consider yourself a person with a disability, you may contact us regarding providing reasonable accommodation.