Budget and Finance Director

Hamilton County, Ohio • Cincinnati, Ohio • Full Time • $44.27–$44.27 / hour

Posted on Thu, Oct 8, 2026

Budget and Finance Director (4951-50) Deadline to apply: October 20, 2026 Work Location: Various County Locations Work Hours: 40 hours/week Pay Range: $44.27-$59.43 New hires should expect to start at the minimum rate of $44.27/hour. Placement above the minimum may be considered in limited circumstances based on directly related qualifications and experience. Highly Competitive Employee Benefits Package and Generous Paid Time Off

11 Paid Holidays, immediately begin accruing paid vacation and sick time, earned personal days, and paid parental leave.
Ohio Public Employees Retirement System, including a 14% employer contribution and a defined benefit option.
Comprehensive benefits including medical, HRA, dental, vision, employer-paid life insurance, long-term disability, tuition reimbursement, Public Service Loan Forgiveness eligibility, free on-site parking, wellness incentives, an Employee Assistance Program, access to free medical and prescription services through the County’s designated provider, and behavioral and mental health resources.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION: Under general direction, the Budget & Finance Director serves as HCEO’s senior fiscal leader and directs the Budget & Finance function, with responsibility for its overall management, administration, and continuous improvement. The Director leads the development and administration of HCEO’s operating and capital budgets and provides financial oversight for other entities, programs, projects, or initiatives for which HCEO provides fiscal administration or financial coordination. The position oversees financial planning and analysis; revenue, expenditure, and cash-flow monitoring; financial administration of capital projects and grants; governmental and management reporting; purchasing and contract administration; audit coordination; fiscal compliance; and related financial systems, internal controls, and processes. The Director serves as a key advisor to senior leadership and operational departments on budgetary, financial, procurement, and compliance matters. The Director is accountable for the effective management and development of assigned staff and for the quality, timeliness, continuity, and accountability of work performed by the Budget & Finance team. The position establishes priorities and performance expectations; delegates, coordinates, and reviews work; provides regular coaching, feedback, training, and cross-training; develops employee capability and continuity of critical functions; and addresses performance or conduct concerns as appropriate. The Director evaluates and improves division practices, workflows, and internal controls and is expected to lead through effective delegation and oversight while remaining directly engaged in complex fiscal matters that require director-level judgment. ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS OF THE POSITION: For purposes of 42 USC 12101:

Manages HCEO Budget & Finance operations and personnel
Directly supervises assigned staff; establishes clear roles, work priorities, performance expectations, and accountability; appropriately delegates, coordinates, and reviews work while maintaining oversight for accuracy, timeliness, and service
Monitors workload and work quality; provides regular coaching, feedback, training, cross-training, and employee development; builds staff capability and continuity of critical functions
Evaluates performance and addresses performance or conduct concerns; approves or disapproves leave requests and takes or recommends other personnel actions within delegated authority
Participates in recruitment, selection, compensation, and employee-relations matters;
Develops and implements division procedures and work practices consistent with departmental policy.
Plans, develops, and administers annual budgets and ongoing fiscal operations for HCEO and other entities, programs, projects, or initiatives for which HCEO provides fiscal administration or financial coordination.
Monitors and forecasts revenues, expenditures, cash balances, encumbrances, and other financial activity.
Prepares or oversees monthly, quarterly, and other budget-to-actual and financial performance reporting; reviews and approves or authorizes fiscal transactions within delegated authority, including disbursements, internal transfers, journal entries, purchase orders, travel reimbursements, and related transactions.
Recommends, develops, implements, and periodically evaluates fiscal policies, procedures, internal controls, and workflows; and advises leadership and departments regarding budget availability, funding, fiscal requirements, and financial impacts.
Directs and performs financial administration and reporting for capital improvement projects, grants, and intergovernmental programs from project setup through final closeout.
Coordinates project legislation and financial setup; establishes and monitors project cash, appropriations, encumbrances, purchase orders, funding shares, and payment activity.
Reviews project payments and prepares funding summaries
Prepares reimbursement requests, expense billings, grant financial documentation, and project closeout materials.
Coordinates fiscal activities for municipal road and township funding programs, transportation improvement districts, state public works and transportation programs, and other federal, state, and local funding sources.
Prepares or oversees required fiscal reports and schedules, including information and schedules supporting the County’s Annual Comprehensive Financial Report, the Schedule of Expenditures of Federal Awards, grant reporting, roadway and bridge infrastructure reporting, fringe-benefit reporting, state financial reporting for related entities or programs, annual report financial data, and other required reports.
Administers HCEO central purchasing and competitive procurement functions for goods and services, excluding road and bridge capital improvement program construction contracts unless otherwise assigned.
Monitors procurement needs and contract or bid expirations; prepares or coordinates invitations to bid, specifications, contracts, and required approval documentation.
Coordinates required County Purchasing and Board of County Commissioners approval processes; establishes and monitors purchase orders; verifies contract pricing and billing.
Assists departments with procurement requirements and contract administration.
Coordinates agency-wide inventory control and required inventory reporting as assigned.
Serves as HCEO’s fiscal representative and liaison during state, county, grant, and other audits.
Coordinates and responds to audit requests and supporting documentation.
Communicates with the County Auditor, Board of County Commissioners, state transportation and public works agencies, grantors, municipalities, and other governmental or partner agencies regarding fiscal procedures and requirements.
Provides cash-flow and financial information.
Coordinates financial documentation related to claims involving HCEO vehicles, equipment, or property with Risk Management.
Coordinates the annual Tax Map subsidy reimbursement and review or handoff of property tax bills.
Consults with contracting or partner agencies regarding fiscal and budget matters.
Prepares ad hoc financial analyses, data sets, and management reports in response to operational, organizational, or policy needs
Prepares and coordinates Board of County Commissioners agenda items, resolutions, minutes, and supporting fiscal documentation and attends pre-agenda meetings as required
Participates in committees, interview panels, strategic initiatives, financial or enterprise resource planning system evaluation and implementation, and other cross-functional projects
Attends meetings, training, and professional development as required.
Meets all job safety requirements and applicable safety standards that pertain to essential functions.
Demonstrates regular and predictable attendance and may be required to work outside normal business hours during budget cycles, audits, fiscal year-end activities, emergencies, or other operational needs.
Performs other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS: An example of acceptable qualifications: Bachelor's Degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in Business Administration, Public Administration, Accounting, Finance, Planning, or a closely related field and five (5) years of work experience in fiscal planning and administration, including experience with computerized financial or data systems; or any equivalent combination of education, experience, and training which provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities. PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS: Demonstrated experience directly supervising and developing staff, including delegation, coaching, performance evaluation, cross-training, and addressing performance concerns, is preferred. Additional relevant experience in public-sector or governmental finance, particularly Ohio county or local government; budget development and monitoring; governmental accounting and financial reporting; capital-project and grant financial administration; audit coordination; public procurement and contract administration; and financial or enterprise resource planning systems is also preferred. LICENSURE OR CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS: Must possess a valid driver's license issued by the state of residency and remain insurable under the County's vehicle insurance requirements. MINIMUM ACCEPTABLE CHARACTERISTICS: (*indicates developed after employment) Knowledge, Skills, And Abilities Knowledge of: County and departmental goals and objectives;* County and departmental policies and procedures;* supervisory and management principles and practices, including delegation, workload planning, performance management, coaching, employee development, cross-training, and continuity planning; employee training and development; governmental budgeting and accounting; generally accepted accounting principles and applicable governmental accounting and reporting standards; Ohio Revised Code and other requirements applicable to agency budgeting and fiscal administration; budget development, forecasting, and financial planning; revenue, expenditure, cash-flow, and variance analysis; capital-project and grant financial administration; grant compliance and reporting; public purchasing, competitive procurement, and contract administration; accounts payable and receivable processes; internal controls, segregation of duties, audit practices, and financial recordkeeping; inventory control; and financial, accounting, enterprise resource planning (ERP), procurement, reporting, and records-management systems. Skill in: Leading and supervising staff; setting expectations and priorities; delegating and balancing workloads; reviewing work product; coaching and providing constructive feedback; evaluating performance; developing employees through training and cross-training; and addressing performance concerns; developing, administering, and monitoring complex budgets; financial analysis, forecasting, reconciliation, and reporting; reviewing fiscal transactions and supporting documentation for accuracy and compliance; developing and improving fiscal policies, procedures, workflows, and internal controls; administering capital-project and grant financial activity; preparing reimbursement requests, billings, audit schedules, procurement documents, and professional financial reports; advanced use of Microsoft Excel for financial analysis, modeling, reconciliation, and reporting; proficient use of Microsoft 365 applications including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams, SharePoint, and OneDrive; Adobe Acrobat Pro; financial, ERP, procurement, reporting, records-management, and data-visualization tools; organizing, validating, and presenting financial data; and presenting financial information clearly to technical and non-technical audiences. Ability to: Exercise independent judgment and discretion; lead through effective delegation, oversight, coaching, and accountability while personally performing or reviewing complex fiscal work that requires director-level judgment; establish clear expectations, monitor results, and maintain accountability for team performance; develop employee capability and continuity of critical functions; address performance or conduct concerns in a timely and appropriate manner; define complex financial or operational problems, collect and analyze data, establish facts, and draw sound conclusions; interpret and apply laws, regulations, grant requirements, contracts, policies, and accounting guidance to specific fiscal situations; translate financial information into clear analysis and practical recommendations; maintain accurate financial records and strong internal controls; identify financial, process, control, reporting, or system risks and gaps and develop or implement appropriate improvements; prioritize and manage multiple budgets, projects, grants, procurements, audits, and deadlines; communicate effectively orally and in writing with employees, leadership, elected officials, auditors, governmental agencies, vendors, contractors, grantors, and the public; handle sensitive or confidential financial and personnel information appropriately; collaborate across departments and agencies; develop and maintain effective working relationships; adapt to changes in financial systems, regulations, funding requirements, and organizational priorities; and travel to and gain access to County facilities or project locations as required. EQUIPMENT OPERATED: The following are examples only and are not intended to be all inclusive: Desktop or laptop computer; mobile devices; calculator; printer, scanner, copier, telephone, and presentation equipment; financial, accounting, enterprise resource planning (ERP), procurement, reporting, and records-management systems; and other standard modern business office equipment. INHERENTLY HAZARDOUS OR PHYSICALLY DEMANDING WORKING CONDITIONS: Employee primarily works in an office environment and regularly uses a computer and other office equipment. Work may require travel to County facilities, meetings, or project locations and occasional exposure to traffic, construction or maintenance activity, uneven surfaces, and weather conditions during site visits. Employee may sit or stand for extended periods and occasionally lift, carry, push, or pull office materials or equipment weighing up to 20 pounds. Note: In accordance with the U.S. Department of Labor physical demands strength ratings, this is considered light work. In cases of emergency, unpredictable situations, and/or department needs, may be required to lift, push, pull, and/or carry objects heavier than D.O.L. strength ratings recommend.

More live finance_director roles

Browse all live jobs · Accounting & finance salary data

What the data says about this job

Advertised pay for Finance Director: a median of $165,000 across 749 priced postings. This posting advertises $92,082 to $92,082, 44% below that median. Explore the market

Measured from employers' own postings and public filings. How we measure

View the interactive listing →