How to hire a budget manager

How to hire a budget manager, step by step

Here's a step-by-step budget manager hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a budget manager job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new budget manager
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a budget manager do?

Post a budget manager job for free, promote it for a fee

Post free

1. Identify your hiring needs

   The budget manager hiring process starts by determining what type of worker you actually need. Certain roles might require a full-time employee, whereas part-time workers or contractors can do others.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   A budget manager's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, budget managers from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   The following list breaks down different types of budget managers and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of Budget Manager	Description	Hourly rate
   Budget Manager	Financial managers are responsible for the financial health of an organization. They produce financial reports, direct investment activities, and develop strategies and plans for the long-term financial goals of their organization.	$25-52
   Manager Finance Planning And Analysis	A manager finance planning and analysis oversees the daily operations of a company's financial planning department. They typically have administrative duties such as setting goals and guidelines, establishing timelines and budgets, delegating tasks among teams and staff, and reviewing financial reports regularly... Show more	$36-71
   Manager/Finance Accounting	A manager of finance accounting's role is to oversee the financial activities in a company or organization. Their responsibilities revolve around coordinating with other departments to gather financial data, analyze the revenues and expenditures, and develop written reports and presentations... Show more	$31-61

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Financial Analysis
   • Budget Management
   • Financial Management
   • Budget Development
   • Payroll
   • Variance Analysis
   • Financial Data
   • Budget Preparation
   • Process Improvement
   • Accruals
   • Internal Controls
   • Financial Models
   • Financial Performance
   • Capital Budgets

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage senior financial analysts responsible for evaluating the financial risks of a portfolio of large property and casualty insurance programs.
   • Prepare financial statements in accordance with GAAP.
   • Assist controller in developing and maintaining accounting policies and procedures to comply with GAAP and , 10Q & 10K filing.
   • Process payroll for community assistants in residence halls.
   • Review contracts and develop appropriate accruals base on timetables.
   • Work with finance to accurately produce monthly billing reconciliations and client facing accruals.

   More budget manager duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your budget manager job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A budget manager salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, budget managers' average salary in hawaii is 40% less than in new york.
   • Seniority. Entry-level budget managers earn 53% less than senior-level budget managers.
   • Certifications. A budget manager with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in a budget manager's salary.

   Average budget manager salary

   $76,243yearly

   $36.66 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level budget manager salary

   $52,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 21, 2025

   Average budget manager salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$99,557	$48
   2	New York	$99,110	$48
   3	New Jersey	$92,552	$45
   4	Virginia	$86,973	$42
   5	Washington	$86,434	$42
   6	District of Columbia	$85,468	$41
   7	Oregon	$84,290	$41
   8	Missouri	$83,986	$40
   9	Colorado	$83,081	$40
   10	Massachusetts	$81,595	$39
   11	Maryland	$79,433	$38
   12	Georgia	$78,658	$38
   13	Wisconsin	$77,236	$37
   14	Kansas	$77,043	$37
   15	Arizona	$71,350	$34
   16	North Carolina	$71,265	$34
   17	Texas	$71,062	$34
   18	Minnesota	$70,832	$34
   19	Iowa	$68,636	$33
   20	Florida	$66,008	$32

   Average budget manager salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Apple	$135,003	$64.91	14
   2	Bristol-Myers Squibb	$110,061	$52.91	3
   3	Stanford University	$103,927	$49.96	11
   4	ADM	$103,616	$49.82	17
   5	Columbia University in the City of New York	$101,100	$48.61	7
   6	Regeneron	$100,800	$48.46	2
   7	Icma-rc	$97,547	$46.90	3
   8	Getty Images	$96,303	$46.30
   9	Kforce	$94,491	$45.43	118
   10	Good Shepherd Rehabilitation Network	$93,046	$44.73	1
   11	Magellan Health	$92,833	$44.63
   12	International Rescue Committee	$92,134	$44.30
   13	Larkin Community Hospital	$91,594	$44.04	1
   14	Rutgers University	$91,314	$43.90	2
   15	Chicago Public Schools	$90,735	$43.62
   16	Northrop Grumman	$89,247	$42.91	25
   17	BNSF Railway	$88,949	$42.76	1
   18	NICE Actimize	$87,565	$42.10
   19	Signature Healthcare	$86,017	$41.35
   20	University of Massachusetts Boston	$85,466	$41.09

4. Writing a budget manager job description

   A budget manager job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. Below, you can find an example of a budget manager job description:

   Budget manager job description example

   About us
   
   At Peoples Natural Gas, a subsidiary of Essential Utilities, Inc., we are more than just an energy provider. We are a company that is truly passionate about serving our customers.
   
   Peoples Natural Gas is an energy company in Pennsylvania, providing Western Pennsylvania with clean, safe and reliable natural gas for more than 130 years and has a combined workforce of almost 1,300 employees. Peoples has been a committed partner and leader in the natural gas industry, currently providing reliable energy to more than 700,000 customers. Our vision of Making Lives Better is redefining the way we serve our customers. We are committed to being an environmental leader utilizing technology and innovation to create cleaner, more reliable energy sources.
   
   Job Summary
   
   What you will do:Do you thrive on leveraging data to drive big picture strategic initiatives? If so, Peoples Natural Gas has an exciting opportunity for you as a Financial Analysis and Budget Manager! Reporting to our Director of Finance and Rates, you will play a key role in steering business decisions by managing and guiding the budget and financial processes at Peoples for all of the natural gas businesses. Responsibilities of this role are to:• Lead the preparation of the monthly income reasonability process and internal earnings call financial analysis package.• Develop, prepare, administer, and supervise the preparation of annual budgets, 5-year plan and monthly forecasts.• Present financial results to leadership.• Coordinate efficient interfaces with Treasury, Rates, Tax, Corporate, Human Resources and all operating divisions to ensure comprehensive planning and budgeting.• Manage the capital structure of the natural gas businesses including the preparation of multi-year cash forecasting models and work with Treasury to design debt borrowing and equity plans.• Support rate filings including the potential to be a subject matter expert witness in base rate case proceedings before state public utility commissions.• Lead a team of 3 direct reports.
   
   Basic Qualifications
   
   What you will bring:• Ability to produce timely financial data that leads to business decisions • Willingness and excitement around learning the natural gas business including the regulatory aspects of finance• Demonstrated experience in leadership role• Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, or related field • At least 8 years of relevant work experience • SAP experience preferred• MBA, CFA or CPA desirable
   
   Peoples is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer dedicated to the goal of building a culturally diverse and inclusive workforce. We strongly encourage applications from women, minorities, individuals with disabilities and veterans. Employment decisions are based upon job-related reasons, regardless of an applicant's race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, disability, marital status, genetic information, protected veteran status or any other status protected by law. Peoples Natural Gas is committed as an equal opportunity employer. To maintain the integrity of the recruitment process and to avoid real or perceived conflicts of interest due to employment and/or assignment of family members and personal referrals, specific guidelines apply to the hiring and assignment of these individuals, including, but not limited to:• Family members cannot result in a supervisor/subordinate reporting relationship• Family members cannot work in the same department

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right budget manager for your business:

   • Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your budget manager job on Zippia to find and recruit budget manager candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   During your first interview to recruit budget managers, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

   Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates can move on to the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new budget manager

   Once you've selected the best budget manager candidate for the job, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, this letter should include details about the benefits and perks you offer the candidate. Ensuring that your offer is competitive is essential, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and you should be open to discussion. After you reach an agreement, the final step is formalizing the agreement with a contract.

   It's equally important to follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   To prepare for the new employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

   Sign up to download full list

   Sign up

How much does it cost to hire a budget manager?