Staff Management & Budget Specialist

IMPORTANT NOTICE: Arlington County requires all applicants to thoroughly complete each section of the application, including prior job responsibilities, duties, and supplemental questions. While you may attach a resume, it will not replace a completed application. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Arlington County's Department of Management and Finance (DMF) is seeking a detail-oriented, innovative, and analytical team player to become a member of its operating budget team as a Staff Management and Budget Specialist. This position will be responsible for managing a portfolio of departmental assignments. A significant aspect of the work involves performing fiscal analysis and producing annual operating budget documents.

The operating budget team leads the development of the annual operating budget; monitors implementation of the budget; and provides sound financial and budget information for the County Board, the public, the County Manager, and County departments to aid in the budget decision making process, promote continuous improvement to the County’s financial management, and contribute to policy making. The work is fast-paced and often time-sensitive.

Specific duties include:

• Assisting departments with formulating budgets and reviewing budget submissions including the development of summaries, analysis, and recommendations for the County Manager;

• Monitoring departmental operating budgets through payroll and financial reports including projections of revenue and expenses;

• Reviewing and analyzing programs and making recommendations for improvement of the effectiveness of existing programs; 

• Verifying Department budget submissions against automated financial system and reports and adjusting errors; 

• Reviewing and revising departmental budget narratives, budget presentations, responses to Board questions about the budget, Board reports, and other written materials;

• Providing training for and/or coaching staff, particularly on budget procedures; 

• Responding to policy and procedure questions from departments; 

• Utilizing accounting reports and spreadsheets or other fiscal documents for analysis; 

• Assisting agencies with reviewing performance measures to evaluate County programs and services; and

• Assisting with the management of budget’s technology tools.

Minimum:

• Bachelor's degree in Business/Public Administration, Accounting/Finance, Economics, or a related field; plus 

• Significant professional experience in finance or budget, preferably in the public sector.  
  
   

Substitution: Additional qualifying experience may be substituted for the education on a year-for-year basis. 

Desirable: Preference may be given to applicants with one or more of the following:

• Analyzing, researching, negotiating, and recommending solutions within a budgetary process for a municipal agency or central budget office; 

• Mastery of a variety of technology tools including experience managing or implementing a new budget system (ERP, Excel, PowerPoint, SharePoint, PowerBI);

• Building complex financial models; 

• Managing a budgetary process in a government or non-profit organization including coordinating and facilitating the work of others and training or coaching staff in budget procedures; 

• Experience in the preparation of complex, detailed spreadsheets, reports, or other documents; and/or

• Masters degree in Public Administration, Business Administration, Finance, Economics, or a closely related field.

Special Requirements

Please submit a cover letter or use the space within the supplemental questionnaire to demonstrate how your experience relates to the position.

Additional Information

Normal work hours are 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, with some flexibility. The official work location is 2100 Clarendon Blvd, Arlington VA. The Department of Management and Finance is conducting the majority of the work remotely with occasional on-site requirements for meetings at County facilities.

This position is part of a broad band, competency-based pay system, and may be filled at any level, including the entry level, within the established broad band depending on qualifications.  Entry salary within the band is based on a review of qualifications and experience. The pay band above encompasses entry through senior-level work.  Pay potential will be based on performance and employee development.

Each section of the application must be completed. A resume may b