Senior Budget Analyst

Buncombe County Government; North Carolina; On-site; USD 75,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Buncombe County Government is seeking a Budget Manager to join the Budget Office for FY2027, starting October 5, 2026. The role oversees operating and capital budgets, conducts advanced analysis, and supports organizational decision-making through development and administration of budget processes.

The successful candidate will oversee up to three staff, including budget analysts, and may supervise an intern.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in business administration, public administration, accounting, or related field is required.
• Five years of experience in government budgeting or finance are required or an equivalent combination of training and experience.
• Local Government Budget Officer (CLGBO) certification is strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

• Assist in development and implementation of budget policies, guidelines, and procedures for county budget adoption and administration.
• Coordinate preparation and execution of operating and project budgets using multiple funding sources.
• Analyze budget and expenditure data and improve forecasting accuracy.
• Ensure compliance with applicable county policies, state budget rules, and laws.
• Monitor budgets throughout the year and analyze discrepancies between estimates and actual spending.
• Provide guidance to staff and may supervise lower-level staff; prepare budget reports and presentations.

Skills

Budget analysis

Public finance

Budget policy

Forecasting

Data interpretation

Staff supervision

Education

Master’s degree in Business Administration or related field

Tools

CLGBO certification

Job description

This is a new position to the Budget Office in FY2027 and set to start October 5th 2026. The role supports planning, management, and advanced analysis of the County’s operating and capital budgets. It contributes to organizational decisionmaking by assisting with the development, evaluation, and administration of budgetary processes.

This position will oversee up to three direct reports, including budget analysts and potentially an intern. As an exempt role, the standard work schedule is 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., with occasional afterhours responsibilities such as attending Board meetings. When possible, afterhours work may be flexed within the pay period based on workload.

Purpose of the position:

The purpose of this position is to assist in planning and management and perform advanced analysis and evaluation in the preparation and administration of the County's operating and capital budgets to aid in organizational and budgetary decision-making.

Minimum Education, Training and/or Experience (required at time of hire):

Master’s degree in business administration, public administration, accounting, or related field, from an accredited institution and five (5) years of experience to include experience in government budgeting or finance; or an equivalent combination of training and experience.

Additional Training and Experience:

Local Government Budget Officer certification (CLGBO) strongly preferred.

Essential Functions of the position:

• Assist in development and implementation of budget policies, guidelines, and procedures for the adoption, management, and administration of the County budget to ensure compliance with applicable policies, laws, and standards.
• Provide consultation, technical assistance, and coordination in the preparation and execution of the operating and project budgets which may utilize multiple funding sources.
• Complete or evaluate methodologies used in the preparation of budget or program spending forecasts and provide technical assistance to improve the accuracy of projections.
• Examine budgets and expenditures for compliance with applicable County policies, state budget rules, legislative intent, and federal and state laws.
• Regularly monitor the budget throughout the year and conduct analysis on discrepancies between estimated and real spending, adherence to budgetary rules, and regulations and accuracy in accounting calculations.
• Conduct analysis of ongoing spending patterns for program budgets and identify potential areas of concern.
• Provide technical assistance and guidance to County staff relative to County policy and state budget rules and laws and may supervise lower-level staff.
• Evaluate program, policy, and rule changes to determine fiscal and program impact and assure compliance with federal and state requirements.
• Analyze complex budgetary data and interpret and evaluate results, prepare documentation, and create financial and budget reports and/or presentations.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities:

• Knowledge of generally accepted accounting and budgetary principles and ability to keep current with developments and trends.
• Knowledge of public finance administration, and the budget process.
• Knowledge of the operations of County Government including taxation and other sources of income.
• Knowledge of County rules and regulations regarding the budget and fiscal practices,
• Knowledge of the principles and practices of statistics with particular reference to their application to financial, budgetary and operational activities.
• Knowledge of management techniques and practices; modern office practices and procedures.
• Knowledge of current literature, trends, and development in the fields of governmental accounting, budgeting, and public finance administration
• Thorough knowledge of applicable information technology to perform budget duties. May require ability to develop and implement system changes.
• Ability to ensure compliance with applicable standards, rules, regulations, and systems of internal control.
• Ability to interpret and evaluate results, prepare documentation, and create financial and budget reports and/or presentations.
• Ability to independently resolve and/or develop recommendations for unprecedented, complex issues and problems.
• Ability to serve as a resource for others in resolving unprecedented, non-standard issues and problems.
• Ability to understand client programs, organization, and culture.
• Ability to present appropriate issues to internal management, external partners and periodically Board of Commissioners

Buncombe County Government realizes the importance of a diverse professional workforce and the need to foster a responsive and innovative organizational culture, one that fully engages all of our employees, honoring and building on each employee's unique experiences, opinions, and perspective.

It is the policy of Buncombe County to provide equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all persons regardless of race, natural hair or hairstyles, ethnicity, creed, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin or ancestry, marital or familial status, pregnancy, veteran status, religious belief or non-belief, age, or disability or any other legally protected class under federal or NC State law. EEO practices and employment decisions regarding recruitment, hiring, assignment, promotion and compensation shall not be based on any of these protected classes. In addition, the County expressly prohibits any form of workplace harassment or discrimination.