Salary : $149,568.00 - $181,872.00 Annually
Location : City Hall, 20 Civic Center Plaza, Santa Ana, CA
Job Type: Full-time
Job Number:
Department: Finance and Management Services
Opening Date: 09/24/2026
Closing Date: Continuous
Bargaining Unit: SAMA

Description
Under the direction of the Executive Director and Assistant Director of the Finance and Management Services Agency, the Budget and Research Manager is a key management position responsible for leading the Budget Office and overseeing the development, administration, analysis, and monitoring of the City's operating and capital budgets. The position provides strategic direction for the City's budget process and long-term financial planning and serves as a key advisor on complex budgetary and financial matters. The position requires a strong understanding of municipal finance, budget development, financial forecasting, and organizational analysis, as well as the ability to translate complex financial information into clear recommendations for executive management and elected officials.
Candidates must possess a minimum of four years of increasingly responsible professional and administrative experience in governmental budgetary and financial activities including administrative, productivity, and organizational analysis, including two years of supervisory experience, supplemented with at least a Bachelor's degree in public or business administration, finance, economics, accounting, or a related field.

This recruitment is continuous with a first review of applications deadline of 11:59pm, Wednesday, October 14, 2026. This recruitment can close at any time without notice after this deadline.
Essential Functions Include But Are Not Limited To

• Responsible for the development and management of the City budget.
• Manages the Budget and Research Office.
• Analyzes proposed department budgets for accuracy, impact on City resources, and adherence to established budget and financial policy.
• Attends and makes presentations at City Council, Council Committee, and community budget outreach meetings, as needed.
• Provides direction and makes recommendations to the City Manager Budget Team (City Manager, Executive Director and Assistant Director of Finance and Management Services Agency) regarding budget requests.
• Coordinates the preparation of proposed budget documents for presentation to the City Council.
• Conducts complex research and prepares reports on financial matters, including the City's forecasts and projections.
• Recommends and implements procedures related to monitoring and budgeting for Citywide projects.
• Tracks and researches current and future legislation that may affect the City's budget and finances, management methods, and administrative and operating systems and procedures.
• Oversees department budget request preparation and approval process.
• Analyzes and provides fiscal control of budgetary expenditures.
• Analyzes organizational issues, structure, staffing, operations, procedures, and policies to establish best practices.
• May serve as part of a labor relations team.
• Conducts budget team conferences.
• Performs other related functions as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications
Four years of increasingly responsible professional and administrative experience in governmental budgetary and financial activities including administrative, productivity, and organizational analysis, including two years of supervisory experience. Graduation from an accredited four-year college with a degree in public or business administration, finance, economics, accounting, or a related field. Possession of the following knowledge, skills, and abilities:

DESIRABLE KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES
Knowledge of: principles and practices of public administration, municipal finance, budgeting and budget procedures, research techniques, forecasting, cost recovery methods, and procedures and organizational structure; principles and practices of effective supervision.

Ability to: gather, organize, analyze, and interpret data; draw sound conclusions from assembled information; develop alternative solutions to problems; present research findings and ideas concisely and effectively orally and in writing; utilize Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and Access) and related software; understand systems analysis related to the automation process of budget administration; exercise resourcefulness in addressing and resolving problems; establish and maintain effective working relationships with municipal officials, managers, employees, and the general public.
Selection Process
All applicants are required to complete and submit a City application form online and answer the supplemental questionnaire. Resumes or faxed copies will not be accepted in lieu of the City online application.Stating "See Resume" is not an acceptable substitute for a completed application. To apply, click on the "Apply" link located at the top of this page. New users must create an account first. Click on this link for instructions on how to set up your account and apply for the first time:

Applications will be reviewed by the Human Resources Department. Those applicants possessing the most pertinent qualifications will be invited to continue in the selection process, which will include:

Writing Skills Examination (Tentatively scheduled for October 16, 2026): (Qualifying) will evaluate the candidate's subject matter knowledge, analytical and writing aptitude. The areas that will be evaluated may include: analytical thought process and proper English and grammar usage, clarity, conciseness, organization, content, and logical progression from one idea to the next. Candidates need a minimum passing score in order to continue in the selection process.
Oral Interview Examination (Tentatively scheduled for October 28, 2026): (Weight of 100%) will evaluate the candidates' experience, training, education, and abilities in relation to those factors which are essential for successful performance on the job. Candidates need a minimum passing score in order to be placed on the eligible list.
Candidates must achieve a passing score in every component of the selection process in order to be placed on the eligible list. The Human Resources Department may waive one or more examination components. When one weighted examination component is waived, the remaining section will receive a weight of 100%.



How many years of responsible professional and administrative experience in governmental budgetary and financial activities including administrative, productivity, and organizational analysis do you possess?

• None
• Less than 2 years
• At least 2 years, less than 4 years
• At least 4 years, less than 6 years
• At least 6 years, less than 8 years
• At least 8 years or more

02

How many year(s) of supervisory experience do you possess?

• None
• Less than 1 year
• At least 1 year, less than 2 years
• At least 2 years, less than 3 years
• At least 3 years or more

03

What is the highest level of education that you have completed?

• Did not graduate high school / did not obtain GED
• Graduated high school / obtained GED
• Completed some college-level coursework or obtained Associate degree
• Obtained Bachelor's degree
• Obtained Graduate degree

04

Please select the public sector agency which your governmental budgetary and financial activities experience is from. (If multiple - select the most tenured/highest professional exp)

• Municipal Agency (e.g. City)
• County Agency
• State/Federal Agency
• Special District (e.g. water utility, fire, community services)
• Public Education (e.g. school district)
• Private Sector only
• None

05

Describe your experience analyzing financial information to support budgetary and operational decisions in a public sector organization. Include examples involving revenue and expenditure analysis, financial forecasting, identifying budget trends or risks, and presenting recommendations to management or elected officials. If none, type N/A.
06

Describe your experience developing or updating an indirect cost allocation plan. Include the methods and cost drivers used to allocate costs, how you ensured allocations were reasonable and supportable, and how the results were used for budgeting or financial planning. If none, type N/A.
07

Describe your experience with personnel costing and budgeting. Include the methods and assumptions used to project salaries and benefits, account for vacancies or position changes, and ensure personnel costs were accurate and reasonable. If none, type N/A.
Required Question