DSHS ESA Budget Manager

Budget Manager

Bring your budget and financial analysis expertise to support financial oversight and decision-making as part of a collaborative team.

As a Budget Manager for the Division of Finance and Financial Resources (DFFR) within the Economic Services Administration (ESA), you'll be an essential part of managing and monitoring ESA's large and complex budget— at the intersection of data, policy, and people. The Economic Services Administration connects Washington residents to critical services and supports. The Division of Finance and Financial Resources plays a central role in ensuring those services are funded effectively and compliantly — overseeing division-level administrative budgets, developing cost estimates and projections, working with the division's accounting section on grants management and federal and statutory reporting, and coordination with professionals across different program areas and the DSHS Central Budget Office. This position reports to the Budget Administrator and works cross-functionally across ESA leadership and staff to develop and execute ESA's $3.4 billion biennial budget. If you're an experienced budget professional who thrives in complex environments, enjoys working at the intersection of finance and policy, and wants your work to have real public impact — we'd like to hear from you.

This is a hybrid/flexible position, with the option to conduct the majority of work remotely. Apply now. Who Should Apply You're a fit if you have:

• A bachelor's degree from an accredited university in accounting, finance, business, public administration, or a closely related field.
• At least three years of professional experience in budgeting or financial analysis working with a large organization and complex budget processes
• Expert / advanced excel skills — complex modeling, pivot tables, and nested functions
• Analytical skills for financial research and modeling across multi-system environments
• The ability to translate complex financial data into clear, accessible language for non-financial audiences
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, including presenting to diverse stakeholders
• Comfort working independently and making judgment calls in areas with little precedent

Note: Additional qualifying experience substitutes year-for-year for the education requirement. Some of What You'll Do

• Own assigned budgets end-to-end — requests, allotments, projections, and status reporting
• Develop budget decision packages for potential inclusion in the Governor's budget proposal
• Monitor, analyze, and report on ESA's fiscal status with precision
• Evaluate financial impacts of federal and state laws and rules to inform accurate decision-making
• Provide strategic fiscal guidance to program managers, administrators, and division directors
• Review and analyze legislative proposals for policy and budget impacts
• Build and maintain strong working relationships across multiple partner teams

What We're Looking For The right person here isn't just technically strong — they're a confident, collaborative advisor who enjoys bringing clarity to complexity. You should be:

• Data-Driven and Analytical — you dig into the numbers and surface the story behind them
• Independently Decisive — you can make sound judgment calls with limited guidance
• A Skilled Communicator — equally effective writing a fiscal note and presenting to an executive
• A Relationship Builder — you'll regularly coordinate with Division Directors and leadership teams across ESA
• Comfortable with Ambiguity — this role requires independent thought in areas that don't always have a clear playbook

To Apply Click the green "APPLY" button to submit your application — be sure to include:

• Your resume
• Your cover letter
• Three professional references