Job Description

This is a Position-Based Test conducted in accordance with CSC Rule 111A.

• Application Opening Date July 31, 2026
• Application Filing Deadline August 7, 2026 at 11:59PM (PDT)
• Recruitment ID PBT-0933-166846/ RTF0166845-01105087

WHO ARE WE?
San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC)

Headquartered in San Francisco, we have 2,300 employees operating across eight counties serving more than 2.7 million customers in the San Francisco Bay Area – 24 hours per day, 365 days per year.

Our Mission To provide our customers with high quality, efficient, and reliable water, power, and wastewater services in a manner that values environmental and community interests and sustains the resources entrusted to our care.

Our Vision We are an innovative utility leader, recognized for excellent results in service, safety, stewardship, and inclusiveness.

We are an award-winning and industry-leading utilities organization committed to our customers, community interests, and the environment. To learn more about our organization, please visit our website at https://www.sfpuc.org/

We are proud of our infrastructure and programs, but most importantly, we value our highly qualified and dedicated workforce which ensures that this vision becomes a reality.

To learn more about working at the SFPUC, visit our career site here

Under general direction of the Deputy CFO, the Budget Director will assist in the day-to-day operations of the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) Financial Strategy Division, (part of the Business Services Bureau) with responsibility for the SFPUC’s Operating and Capital budget. This position is responsible for the development and management of the SFPUC’s $2+ Billion annual operating budget, $1+ Billion annual capital budget and $12.5 Billion 10 Year Capital Plan.

The Budget Director is a senior manager who leads and supervises a team of five professionals in complex financial work. This critical leadership role is a key member of the SFPUC’s Financial Strategy team and a key advisor to leaders throughout the agency. The role requires both technical proficiency, excellent communication skills and political savvy to be successful.

Essential duties and responsibilities include but are not limited to:

1. Coordinates the SFPUC-wide biennial operating and capital budget development, implementation and amendment process, including the 10-year capital plan.
2. Leads the internal budget development process from end to end, including coordinating with senior leadership throughout the agency, leading internal deliberations and decision making, and managing the Commission adoption process.
3. Shepherds the budget through the Mayor and Board process, including representing the department with the Mayor’s Budget Office, Controller’s Office, Board of Supervisors and Board’s Budget and Legislative Analyst to ensure successful adoption.
4. Daily oversight of the SFPUC operating and capital budgets throughout the year, including directing the preparation, review, and distribution of detailed and complex financial analyses and management reports that provide information on status of budget/expenditures, appropriations, fund source/availability, and projected revenues and expenditures. For example, this includes oversight of quarterly budget variance reports, and presentation of these reports at Commission hearings.
5. Presents and effectively communicates complex financial information and policies in a clear and straightforward manner to a variety of audiences including senior management, and in various public settings such as the Commission and Board of Supervisors hearings.
6. Acts as the go-to person in the agency for budget matters, answering questions, developing solutions to problems and advising agency staff on how best to meet changing business needs within established citywide policies and procedures.
7. Serves as the liaison between the SFPUC and the Mayor’s Budget Office, Controller’s Budget and Analysis Division and the Board’s Budget and Legislative analyst. Builds and maintains excellent working relationships with these stakeholders.
8. Directs a team of professional staff in a highly complex, fast-paced working environment. Assures accuracy across the budget team’s work, including analysis, reporting and budget and other financial system entries. This also includes coaching, career development and a focus on a good team culture, with the goal of good performance and staff retention.
9. Works cross-functionally with other leaders in finance including the Director of Financial Planning and the Capital Finance (Debt) Director to ensure open communication and proactive collaboration.
10. Development and presentation of other as-needed financial reports and analysis to senior management.
11. Participates in the SFPUC’s Capital Planning Improvement Initiative Project, supporting the project as needed from the budget perspective and contributing to its goals.
12. May direct development of financial policies and procedures to further SFPUC’s financial sustainability and compliance with local, state and federal mandates.
13. Manages the transition to a new internal budget development IT system and works with IT on issues related to financial reporting to ensure SFPUC management has accurate monthly financial information.
14. Prepares and provides oversight of indirect cost plans or other overhead allocation plans.
15. Leads the development of budget related publications such as the Biennial Budget Book, Capital Plan Report, internal Budget Detail reports and other related reports and publications.
16. Performs other related duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications: Minimum qualifications reflect the lowest level of acceptable education and/or experience required of an individual such that the individual reasonably could be expected to satisfactorily perform the duties of the position. Candidates must meet all the requirements established by the MQs to be considered for the position.

• Education Possession of a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university; AND
• Experience Eight (8) years of progressively responsible professional experience in budgeting, financial planning, or financial management, including coordinating, preparing, monitoring, and managing complex operating and capital budgets for a large public-sector utility (water, wastewater, and/or power) agency with an annual budget exceeding $1 billion, of which three (3) years must include supervising professionals performing similar work.

Education Substitution: Applicants may substitute up to two (2) years of the required education with additional qualifying experience in professional experience in budgeting, financial planning, or financial management, including coordinating, preparing, monitoring, and managing complex operating and capital budgets for a large public-sector utility (water, wastewater, and/or power) agency with an annual budget exceeding $1 billion.

Note: One year of full-time employment is equivalent to 2000 hours. (2000 hours of qualifying work experience is based on a 40-hour work week.)

Applicants must meet the minimum qualification requirement by the final filing date unless otherwise noted. Applicants who meet the minimum qualifications are not guaranteed to advance through all of the steps in the selection process.

Desirable Qualifications:

The stated desirable qualifications may be used to identify job finalists at the end of the selection process when candidates are referred for hiring.

• A master’s degree in business administration, finance, public administration, economics or related field
• Experience with both operating and capital expenditures within the public sector

Every application is reviewed to ensure that you meet the minimum qualifications as listed in the job ad. Please review our articles on Employment Application and Minimum Qualifications and Verification of Experience and/or Education for considerations taken when reviewing applications.

Verification: Applicants may be required to submit verification of qualifying education and experience at any point during the recruitment and selection process. If education verification is required, information on how to verify education requirements, including verifying foreign education credits or degree equivalency, can be found at How to Verify Education Requirements

Experience claimed in self-employment will only be accepted if supported by documents verifying income, earnings, business license and experience comparable to minimum qualifications above. Copies of income tax papers or other documents listing occupation and total earnings must be submitted.

Verification of required valid licensure/certification typically must be a photocopy of the license/certificate including the name of the issuing agency as well as the name of the license/certificate holder, license/certificate number, and expiration date.

Falsifying one's education, training, or work experience or attempted deception on the application may result in disqualification for this and future job opportunities with the City and County of San Francisco.

All work experience, education, training and other information substantiating how you meet the minimum qualifications must be included on your application by the filing deadline. Information submitted after the filing deadline will not be considered in determining whether you meet the minimum qualifications.

Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of a completed City and County of San Francisco application.

Applications completed improperly may be cause for ineligibility, disqualification or may lead to lower scores.

Additional Information

Compensation and Benefits: The normal annual salary range is listed above. Appointment above the maximum of the normal range may be considered based on documented and substantiated recruitment and retention issues or exceptional skills. A special approval process is necessary for appointment above the normal salary range.

In addition, the City and County of San Francisco (City) offers comprehensive benefit programs which include:

• Medical, Vision, Dental, and Life insurance

• Long-term disability plan; Flexible Spending Accounts

• Pension Plan; Retiree Healthcare; Deferred Compensation Program

• Paid Management Training Program; Wellness Program

• Paid Vacation, Holidays, Sick Leave; Management Leave

Learn more about the City’s Management Benefits

Selection Procedures:

After application submission, candidates deemed qualified must complete all subsequent steps to advance in this selection process, which includes the following:

Minimum Qualification Supplemental Questionnaire (MQSQ): (Weight: Qualifying) Candidates will be required to complete a MQSQ as part of the employment application at a later time. This MQSQ is designed to obtain specific information regarding an applicant's experience in relation to the Minimum Qualifications (MQ) for this position. The MQSQ will be used to evaluate if the applicant possesses the required minimum qualifications.

Behavioral Consistency Questionnaire (BCQ) Evaluation (Weight:100%):

Applicants who meet the minimum qualifications will be sent a Behavioral Consistency Questionnaire (BCQ) Examination via electronic mail after the closing of this filing period. The BCQ Exam is designed to measure the knowledge, skills and/or abilities in job-related areas required for the position. Applicants will be given a deadline to return the BCQ Exam. Those who do not respond by the established deadline will not be eligible to continue in the examination process and will not be added to eligibility list resulting from this process. All applicants’ responses to the BCQ Exam are subject to verification. The BCQ Exam component may include but not be limited to:

• Experience with development, oversight and management of a large and complex budget, within the public sector and including both operating and capital expenditures.
• Experience directing and managing a team undertaking complex financial analysis. This includes setting vision and direction, creating a motivating culture and team environment, monitoring, review and oversight of complex analytical work, coaching/mentoring, performance management and appraisal and supporting career development of staff.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to communicate complex financial or policy matters in a clear and straightforward way. Confidence in public speaking and presenting to a variety to internal and public audiences. Ability to explain trade-offs, persuade, influence and negotiate.

A passing score must be achieved on the BCQ Exam in order to continue in the selection process and be placed on the eligible list. Candidates will be placed on the eligible list in rank order according to their final score. Candidate scores on this examination may also be applied to other announcements involving other job titles, when directed by the Human Resources Director.

The department may administer additional position-specific selection procedures to make final hiring decisions.

Eligible List/Score Report: A confidential eligible list of applicant names that have passed the civil service examination process will be created, and used for certification purposes only. An examination score report will be established, so applicants can view the ranks, final scores and number of eligible candidates. Applicant information, including names of applicants on the eligible list, shall not be made public unless required by law. However, an eligible list shall be made available for public inspection, upon request, once the eligible list is exhausted or expired and referrals resolved. The eligible list/score report resulting from this civil service examination process is subject to change after adoption (e.g., as a result of appeals), as directed by the Human Resources Director or the Civil Service Commission.

The duration of the eligible list resulting from this examination process will be of twelve (12) months, and may be extended with the approval of the Human Resources Director.

Certification: The certification rule for the eligible list resulting from this examination will be Rule of the List. The hiring department may administer additional position-specific selection procedures prior to making final hiring decisions.

To find Departments which use this classification, please see here

Terms of Announcement and Appeal Rights: Applicants must be guided solely by the provisions of this announcement, including requirements, time periods and other particulars, except when superseded by federal, state or local laws, rules or regulations. Clerical errors may be corrected by the posting the correction on the Department of Human Resources website at here

The terms of this announcement may be appealed under Civil Service Rule 111A.35.1. The standard for the review of such appeals is ‘abuse of discretion’ or ‘no rational basis’ for establishing the position description, the minimum qualifications and/or the certification rule. Appeals must include a written statement of the item(s) being contested and the specific reason(s) why the cited item(s) constitute(s) abuse of discretion by the Human Resources Director. Appeals must be submitted directly to the Executive Officer of the Civil Service Commission within five business days of the announcement issuance date.

Additional Information Regarding Employment with the City and County of San Francisco

• Information About The Hiring Process
• Conviction History
• Employee Benefits Overview
• Equal Employment Opportunity
• Disaster Service Worker
• ADA Accommodation
• Veterans Preference
• Seniority Credit in Promotional Exams
• Right to Work
• Copies of Application Documents
• Diversity Statement

How to Apply: All job applications for the City and County of San Francisco must be submitted through our online portal. Please visit https://careers.sf.gov/ to begin your application process.

Computers are available for the public (9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday) to file online applications in the lobby of the Dept. of Human Resources at 1 South Van Ness Avenue, 4th Floor and at the City Career Center at City Hall, 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place, Room 110.

Ensure your application information is accurate, as changes may not be possible after submission. Your first and last name must match your legal ID for verification, and preferred names can be included in parentheses. Use your personal email address, not a shared or work email, to avoid unfixable issues.

Applicants may be contacted by email about this recruitment and, therefore, it is their responsibility to ensure that their registered email address is accurate and kept up-to-date. Also, applicants must ensure that email from CCSF is not blocked on their computer by a spam filter. To prevent blocking, applicants should set up their email to accept CCSF mail from the following addresses (@sfgov.org, @sfdpw.org, @sfport.com, @flysfo.com, @sfwater.org, @sfdph.org, @asianart.org, @sfmta.com, @sfpl.org, @dcyf.org, @first5sf.org, @famsf.org, @ccsf.edu, @smartalerts.info, and @smartrecruiters.com).

Applicants will receive a confirmation email from notification@smartrecruiters.com that their online application has been received in response to every announcement for which they file. Applicants should retain this confirmation email for their records. Failure to receive this email means that the online application was not submitted or received.

Recruitment Analyst Information: If you have any questions regarding this recruitment or application process, please contact the analyst, Laurie Gee via email at LGee@sfwater.org

The City and County of San Francisco encourages women, minorities and persons with disabilities to apply. Applicants will be considered regardless of their sex, race, age, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition (associated with cancer, a history of cancer, or genetic characteristics), HIV/AIDS status, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, military and veteran status, or other protected category under the law.