Portfolio Budget Manager (WMS2/FS)

State of Washington; Olympia (WA); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Remote work options

Paid time off & holidays

Retirement options

Training and development

Employee wellness programs

Job summary

State of Washington is seeking a Portfolio Budget Manager to oversee Medicaid, mental health, and administrative budget components, ensuring alignment with OFM requirements and directives. You will craft financial models, analyze variances, and present findings to program managers, HCA leadership, and OFM.

You will partner with accounting teams and program staff to drive accurate biennial proposals and implement budget policy objectives while supporting strategic goals.

Qualifications

• Experience with large, complex financial systems/information.
• Proficiency in querying data using Power BI – Power Pivot.
• Expert-level development of complex financial modeling.
• Knowledge of state budget processes, fiscal policy, SAAM, and management principles.
• Ability to map program data, identify trends, and provide actionable resource allocation recommendations.

Responsibilities

• Perform complex financial analyses and modeling for budget decision packages.
• Create fiscal impact models for Medicaid, mental health, and administrative budgets.
• Coordinate with fiscal and program staff to ensure data accuracy in biennial and supplemental proposals.
• Collaborate with OFM and legislative staff on interagency proposals and analyses.
• Oversee adjustments, specialty payments, and journal vouchers for Medicaid services.
• Contribute to Medicaid managed care rate development.
• Support monthly and year-end close accruals for Medicaid services.

Skills

Analytical thinking

Data mapping

Budget knowledge

Education

Bachelor’s degree in public administration or related field

Master’s degree in public administration (preferred)

Tools

Power BI

Power Pivot

Job description

Portfolio Budget Manager

This is a full-time permanent, hybrid position required to report on site 1 day a week and occasionally at other times to meet business needs.

All HCA employees are required to be Washington state residents upon their first day of employment.

The Opportunity

This position is responsible for developing and monitoring key components of the Medicaid budget, mental health budget, administrative budget, agency budget requests, allotment processes, fiscal notes, and financial analyses in a manner that ensures the process undertaken and content of all deliverables meet the HCA and Office of Financial Management (OFM) requirements and guidelines. This position is responsible for identifying and analyzing financial variances and communicating them in an accurate, timely fashion to all parties as appropriate, to include program managers, HCA executive management, and OFM.

Key Responsibilities

• Perform and provide complex analysis and financial modeling for decision packages under consideration by the HCA director, Chief Financial Officer, OFM, and legislature that outline issues with current funding and/ or initiate policy proposals to address anticipated future needs.
• Create financial models and determine the fiscal impacts of legislative, policy, or rulemaking proposals put forth by the HCA or state or federal legislative bodies related to Medicaid managed care, including alternative scenarios of appropriate.
• Coordinate with fiscal and programmatic staff internal and external to the HCA to ensure 1) the accuracy of data and information presented in agency biennial and supplemental funding proposals and 2) that budget policy objectives are met while furthering the strategic goals of the HCA.
• Communicate and coordinate with external and other internal agency staff, OFM and legislative staff, and others as necessary on development of HCA or interagency proposals and analyses.
• Oversee any necessary adjustments, specialty payments, and journal vouchers (JVs) for Medicaid services.
• Provide technical assistance and contribute to the development of Medicaid managed care rates.
• Work in partnership with HCA accounting staff and other units as needed to develop monthly and year-end close accruals for Medicaid services and ensure the accuracy of the fiscal year close activities.

Why You’ll Love This Role

As a Portfolio Budget Manager, you are not just crunching numbers, you are a trusted high-level strategist who directly influences HCA’s state legislative budget, Medicaid premium rates, and major public policy decisions. This position offers the rare opportunity to operate at the center of the action, collaborating with senior leadership, state agencies, and legislative staff to solve complex, high-stakes financial puzzles.

What You Bring

You will thrive here if you enjoy full analytical ownership, love turning massive datasets into clear strategic directions, and want to see the immediate, real-world impact of your expertise on state-wide healthcare funding.

Required Competencies

Experience may have been gained through paid or unpaid activities. Please ensure any relevant experience defined below is outlined in your cover letter, resume, and application.

Analytic & Technical Skills:

• Demonstrated expert level skills in, and knowledge of, large, complex financial systems/information.
• Demonstrated skills in querying complex data through programs such as Power BI – Power Pivot.
• Demonstrated skills in the development of complex financial modeling at the expert level.
• Demonstrate knowledge of state budget processes, fiscal policy, fiscal notes, decision packages, and management principles.
• Demonstrate ability to map program data, identify trends, and provide actionable recommendations for resource allocation and efficiency improvements.

Financial Knowledge

• Demonstrated knowledge of protocols/processes of the executive/legislative branches of state government.
• The ability to pull, compile, and analyze raw expenditure and vendor data from databased system.
• Proficiency in developing models and tools to analyze fiscal impacts and policy options.
• Demonstrated understanding and familiarity with State and Federal laws, rules, and regulations, to include the State Administrative & Accounting Manual (SAAM).

• Equity lens – All HCA employees are required to consider equity in their decisions, processes, and day-to-day work, including how their work may affect the people and communities we serve.
• The ability to take action to learn and grow – You take action to learn and grow by seeking new perspectives, learning from experiences, and using what you’ve learned to continuously improve how you work and serve others.
• The ability to take action to meet the needs of others – You take action to meet the needs of others by listening, understanding different perspectives, and responding with care, respect, and solutions that support the people of the communities we serve.

Preferred Qualifications

While these are not required, having them may help you stand out as an applicant.

• Experience within the State or other government entity.
• Experience working with the federal government.
• Master’s degree in public administration or related field, and one (1) year of professional experience working with large, complex financial systems/information.

OR

• Bachelor’s degree in public administration or related field, and three years of professional experience working with large, complex financial systems/information.

OR

• Seven (7) years of professional experience in the financial, analytical, or accounting fields.

About the Financial Services Division (FSD)

Financial Services Division (FSD), which in collaboration with other HCA divisions and a variety of external stakeholders and legislative partners, provides strategic financial expertise for Apple Health, Community Behavioral Health (CBH), PEBB and SEBB programs. In addition, FSD oversees the budget and compliance functions necessary to manage and monitor the single largest Washington State individual operating budget. Functions include budget management, accounting, forecasting, professional and hospital rate setting, financial analysis, and payment/collection operations. This division maintains a close working relationship with agency program, policy, and clinical divisions to ensure financially sound implementation and monitoring of program strategies.

About the Washington State Health Care Authority

Better Health. Better Care. A Healthier Washington.

At HCA, we work to ensure people across Washington have the opportunity to be as healthy as possible. As the State’s largest health care purchaser and behavioral health authority, HCA serves nearly 3 million Washington residents through Apple Health (Medicaid), Public Employees Benefits Board (PEBB) and School Employees Benefits Board (SEBB) programs, and behavioral health services. Through this work, HCA purchases and coordinates care coverage, supports behavioral health prevention, treatment, crisis response, and recovery and helps strengthen access to high‑quality care across Washington.

More than a benefits package:

We want our employees to have the support, flexibility, and benefits they need to do their best work and build a career that works for your life. As a Washington State HCA employee, you’ll have access to a comprehensive benefits package that supports your health, financial well‑being, and work‑life balance. Our benefits are designed to support you today while helping you plan for the future. Learn more about why HCA by visiting the Voices of HCA and the "Who we are" section of our website.

Your total compensation is more than your paycheck:

• Remote work and flexible schedules
• Medical, dental, vision, and basic life insurance
• Paid vacation, sick leave, and 12 paid holidays
• Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML)
• Retirement options to plan for the future
• Training and professional development opportunities
• Employee wellness programs
• Learn more about Washington State Employee Benefits

Work location and schedule:

This is a full-time 40-hour-per-week hybrid position. You will report to the HCA office located in Olympia, WA for in‑person work. Our standard business hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., with alternative work schedules considered based on business needs. When working in‑person, you will work in a shared space, open office environment. In this role you’ll regularly collaborate with colleagues, agency leaders, state and federal partners, and other external partners or customers. Occasional travel may be required for meetings, training, or other business needs. All employees are required to report to our Olympia office on their first and final day of employment.

Our commitment to an inclusive workplace:

The Health Care Authority is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to creating a workplace where employees are respected, included, and supported in bringing their experiences, perspectives, and ideas to work. Our commitment to inclusion is reflected in how we work together and serve the people of Washington. HCA also supports five voluntary employee led Employee Resource Groups (ERGs), which create opportunities for connection, community, learning, and professional growth.

Veterans:

We value the experience and skill veterans bring to the workforce and encourage veterans, transitioning service members, and military spouses to apply. Eligible veterans may qualify for veterans’ preference in accordance with Washington State Law. If you are claiming veterans’ preference, you must attach your applicable DD-214 documentation to your application. Please redact your social security number, date of birth, and any other sensitive information before uploading and attaching the document.

The Washington State Health Care Authority (HCA) is an E-Verify employer. All applicants with a legal right to work in the United States are encouraged to apply.