BUDGET OFFICER JOB DESCRIPTION

Budget officers keep public funds from being spent in the wrong place. That one sentence captures something genuinely hard: when allotments are misclassified, when expenditure runs past authorized levels, or when audit findings go unaddressed, the failure is traceable to this desk. The Budget Officer owns the full budget cycle for a government department or intergovernmental body - from preparing annual submissions and administering extra-budgetary trust fund resources to serving as the certifying authority on financial obligations. Compliance with IPSAS and GFOA standards is not background knowledge here; it is the operating framework.

As the Budget Officer, you translate approved funding authorities into controlled, well-documented expenditure plans that allow a public sector department to meet its programmatic commitments without exceeding legislative or donor-imposed limits. The work spans the full departmental budget calendar, from medium-term resource forecasting through year-end performance reporting, in close coordination with division heads, oversight bodies, and intergovernmental committees.

Career Impact: Serving as a certifying authority over government financial obligations is a level of fiscal accountability that sharpens expertise sought by national finance ministries, UN agencies, and multilateral development institutions.

Business Impact: The accuracy of your allotments and performance reports determines whether a department can demonstrate sound stewardship to legislators, donor governments, and oversight bodies - groups whose continued funding depends on that evidence.

Growth Opportunity: Exposure to extra-budgetary trust fund administration and IPSAS-governed reporting accelerates advancement toward senior budget officer, chief of finance, or program finance director roles within public institutions.

• Review budget proposals and cost estimates for staff and non-staff requirements to ensure alignment with approved resource frameworks.
• Monitor departmental expenditures against authorized levels and recommend fund reallocations when variances require correction.
• Prepare annual and medium-term budget submissions, including narrative justifications and scorecard indicators for senior leadership.
• Administer extra-budgetary resources, including review of contribution agreements and cost plans, to ensure compliance with donor conditions and internal regulations.
• Validate all requisitions for goods and services to confirm correct expenditure classification and availability of funds.
• Coordinate with division heads and interdepartmental committees to develop devolved budgets and accountability frameworks.
• Prepare budget performance reports, analyzing variances between approved budgets and actual expenditures for submission to oversight bodies.
• Support external and internal audits by providing documentation and responding to audit findings within established timelines.

• Bachelor's degree in finance, accounting, economics, or public administration, or equivalent work experience.
• 3 or more years of budget or public finance experience, with direct responsibility for expenditure monitoring and reporting.
• Working knowledge of International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS) or comparable governmental accounting frameworks.
• Demonstrated ability to prepare and analyze budget performance reports, including variance analysis against approved appropriations.
• Experience administering allotments and processing financial obligations within a regulated government or intergovernmental financial system.
• Proficiency in large-scale data analysis and financial modeling using spreadsheet tools, including advanced functions and pivot-based reporting.
• Strong written English communication skills, with the ability to produce clear financial documentation for non-specialist audiences.

• Professional certification such as Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Chartered Accountant (CA), or Certified Government Finance Manager (CGFM).
• Experience administering extra-budgetary trust fund projects in a development cooperation or donor-funded context.
• Familiarity with intergovernmental budget review processes, including preparation of materials for legislative or oversight body consideration.
• Prior exposure to enterprise resource planning environments used in government financial management.

• Budget variance rate, measuring how closely actual expenditures track approved allotments by period.
• Requisition review turnaround time, reflecting how quickly expenditure validations are completed without errors.
• Audit finding closure rate, tracking the percentage of oversight body findings addressed within required response windows.
• Accuracy of extra-budgetary resource reconciliations, measured by error count per reporting cycle against donor cost plans.
• On-time submission rate for budget performance reports to legislative and oversight bodies.
• Typical tools: ERP financial management platforms (commonly SAP or equivalent government system), spreadsheet software (commonly Excel with advanced pivot functionality).

• Base Salary Range: $72,000 to $105,000 annually, depending on agency and location.
• Bonus: Merit-based step increases common in government; performance awards in intergovernmental bodies.
• Equity: Not applicable in public sector roles.
• Health Benefits: Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision under federal or state employee benefit plans.
• PTO: 13 to 26 days annual leave plus federal or state holidays, depending on tenure.
• Common Perks: Defined benefit pension plan, transit subsidies, and tuition assistance programs.

Figures are estimates based on general US market benchmarks and may be outdated. Adjust based on location, company size, and seniority level.

Candidates of all backgrounds are encouraged to apply. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state, and local law. Successful candidates must be authorized to work in the United States and may be subject to a background investigation, including review of financial history, as a condition of appointment. Reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities are available upon request throughout the hiring process.

The Budget Officer owns the full cycle of budget development and oversight for the County, from preparing annual submissions and analyzing resource allocation to administering extra-budgetary funds and monitoring expenditures across divisions. Sitting within the County Administrator's Office and reporting to the County Administrative Officer, this role enables fiscal accountability and sound financial decision-making for countywide programs and departments.

Key Responsibilities

• Review and analyze budget-related data and forecasting future resource requirements for personnel, travel, and other discretionary resources.
• Prepare budget submissions, annual documents, and develop objectives and scorecard indicators.
• Monitor resource utilization throughout the year by analyzing data and preparing written assessments and reports.
• Develop devolved budgets for divisions and oversee execution of accountability frameworks.
• Conduct analyses of resource allocation and expenditures based on in-depth knowledge of budget policies and practices.
• Administer and monitor extra-budgetary resources, including review of agreements, cost plans, and contribution agreements.
• Issue allotments and recommend reallocation of funds when necessary, ensuring appropriate expenditures remain within authorized levels.
• Review requisitions for goods and services to ensure correct objects of expenditure and availability of funds.
• Prepare budget performance submissions and make recommendations with respect to finalization of performance reports.
• Represent the organization on interdepartmental committees, task forces, and working groups related to budget issues.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or advanced degree in finance, economics, accounting, business administration, or related field.
• Certification as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Chartered Accountant (CA), or Certified Government Finance Manager (CGFM) is desirable.
• Minimum 3 to 5 years of progressively responsible experience in finance, accounting, budget, or related area.
• Knowledge of financial principles, budget planning, revenue forecasting, and long-range fiscal planning within public or private sector contexts.
• Knowledge of applicable laws, regulations, and accounting standards including IFRS, IPSAS, GAAP, or Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) guidelines.
• Proficiency in enterprise resource planning systems such as SAP (FI/CO), as well as financial reporting tools including Tableau, AfO, and Tagetik.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, particularly Excel including pivot functions and large-scale data analysis.
• Fluency in English required, knowledge of additional languages is an advantage.

Embedded within the Finance and Administration Department, the Budget Officer contributes to formulation of medium-term internal and externally-financed budgets by analyzing data and forecasting resource requirements for personnel, travel, seminars, and other discretionary items. Working closely with divisional teams and interdepartmental committees, this role strengthens the accuracy of budget execution and the quality of financial tools and reporting practices across the department.

Core Functions

• Contribute to formulation of medium-term budgets by analyzing budget data and forecasting resource requirements for personnel, travel, seminars, and other discretionary items.
• Prepare annual budget submissions and develop and track relevant objectives and scorecard indicators.
• Monitor use of internal and external resources throughout the year by analyzing data and preparing reports and written assessments.
• Prepare divisional devolved budgets and oversee monitoring of divisions' execution and accountability frameworks.
• Conduct analyses of resource allocation and expenditures based on in-depth knowledge of department budget policies and practices.
• Prepare medium-term projections for reimbursements from externally financed projects to support departmental staffing planning.
• Run and analyze monthly CD costing reports and provide suggestions for accounting policies related to departmental expenditures.
• Represent FAD on interdepartmental committees, task forces, and working groups related to budget issues.
• Collaborate with other departments to enhance budgetary and financial tools and work practices for internal and external resources.

Qualifications and Experience

• Advanced degree or university degree supplemented by a minimum of six years of relevant professional experience.
• Thorough knowledge of IMF budget procedures including familiarity with recent budget initiatives and strategies for further reform.
• Knowledge of IMF's capacity-building strategy and external financing processes.
• Considerable experience with budget-related financial systems, including ability to run queries and manage large datasets.
• Well-developed quantitative and analytical skills including advanced proficiency in Excel, pivot functions, and large-scale data organization.
• Ability to quickly adapt to new IT systems impacting budget operations.

Reporting to the finance leadership team, the Budget Officer leads preparation and negotiation of clinical research budgets across multiple studies, from drafting financial terms for collaboration contracts to administering allotted funds against approved milestones. Partnering with BIG groups, pharmaceutical companies, and foundations, this role ensures that grant reporting and budgetary compliance support the successful execution of research programs.

Primary Duties

• Prepare and negotiate clinical research budgets in coordination with project teams, following up throughout the project lifecycle.
• Administer allotted clinical research funds in accordance with the budget, agreed milestones, and approved procedures.
• Participate in negotiation of financial aspects of contracts for collaborations and clinical trials.
• Prepare financial reports for grants and ensure compliance with approved budgetary procedures.
• Propose and develop needed systems including new budget templates, SOPs, and policies to improve finance department efficiency.
• Act as main financial contact for study and project partners and sponsors including BIG groups, pharmaceutical companies, and foundations.

Skills and Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in finance, with experience in clinical research considered an advantage.
• Excellent capacity for analyzing data and numbers with particular attention to budget management.
• Attention to detail and strong analytical approach to financial information.
• Fluency in spoken and written English required.
• Knowledge of additional languages is a plus.

Accurate financial oversight of multiple business units depends on the Budget Officer, who prepares monthly, quarterly, and year-end closing reports in line with IFRS and Group guidelines while monitoring budget versus actual performance and leading data gathering from sales and production teams. Based within the finance function and serving as a business partner to non-finance departments, this role directly supports informed decision-making and financial discipline across the organization.

Duties

• Prepare monthly, quarterly, and year-end closing reports in line with IFRS and Group guidelines.
• Perform weekly, monthly, and ad-hoc management reporting.
• Monitor budget versus actual financials and KPIs for different business units and departments.
• Prepare profitability, cost analysis, Capex, and ad-hoc reports for management and other parties.
• Lead data gathering from sales, production, and other department heads during budget and forecast planning processes.
• Act as business partner to non-finance parties and help implement financial mindset across the organization.
• Ensure all activities and processes comply with organizational standards.

Experience and Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in economics, finance, or business administration.
• Minimum 3 years of experience in a similar finance or budget role.
• Sufficient knowledge of IFRS standards and their application in reporting.
• Proficiency in SAP (FI/CO), AfO, Tableau, and Tagetik for financial analysis and reporting.
• Proficiency in MS Office applications, particularly Excel.
• Excellent command of both written and spoken English.