Budget Director

Cary, North Carolina, is a thriving, forward-looking, and diverse community nationally recognized for its exceptional quality of life and top-tier municipal services. More than 190,000 residents within 61 square miles call Cary home, making it the seventh-largest municipality in North Carolina. Conveniently located between Raleigh, the state capital, and Research Triangle Park, the largest research and technology hub in the United States, Cary offers unparalleled access to innovation, education, and opportunity. Within a two-hour drive, residents enjoy both the scenic Blue Ridge Mountains and the pristine beaches of the Atlantic coast.

About Cary

Cary has been nationally recognized for decades as a community of excellence. Our police, fire, and parks departments are nationally accredited. We are one of only nine entities in the country with Triple-A ratings from Moody's, Standard & Poor's, and Fitch for both General Obligation Bonds and Water and Sewer Revenue Bonds. For 40 consecutive years, the Town has earned the Government Finance Officers Association's Distinguished Budget Presentation Award, as well as its Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting. Cary consistently outperforms national averages in home values, job creation, household income, and population growth. The community benefits from an educated workforce, excellent public schools, universities, major health care facilities, and a strong regional economy.

Cary Governance

Cary is known for its long-standing commitment to operational excellence and innovation in local government. Every day, we work to enrich lives by creating exceptional experiences and delivering services that help our community thrive and prosper. Our success is built on strong partnerships between citizens, council, staff, and businesses, who all share a belief that local government can be a trusted, forward-thinking partner. At Cary, we don’t just follow best practices—we set them. We lead with professionalism, collaboration, and a mindset of continuous improvement. We embrace change, challenge assumptions, and learn as we go.

Cary’s culture of collaboration and innovation, known as “OneCary,” fosters an environment where leaders and teams are empowered to bring forward new ideas and solutions. Our OneCary culture is grounded in adaptive leadership and guided by values that shape everything we do.

About the Role

The Town of Cary's Budget Office sits within the Town Manager's Office and serves as a central resource for the development and management of the Town's operating and capital budgets. Working in close partnership with the Finance Director, Town Manager, Assistant Town Managers, and staff throughout the organization, the Budget Office plays a critical role in shaping the fiscal decisions that support Cary’s services, infrastructure, and long-term priorities.

The Budget Director engages with residents, staff, executive leadership, and elected officials, providing the analysis, context, and guidance that informs sound fiscal decision-making. This role requires not only technical expertise but also the ability to translate complex financial information into clear, accessible insight for diverse audiences.

The Budget Office is entering an exciting new chapter. After years of operating under a Budget Manager structure, Cary is re-establishing the Budget Director role—reflecting the growing scope, complexity, and strategic importance of the organization’s financial planning efforts. Reporting directly to an Assistant Town Manager, the Budget Director will lead a team currently consisting of two Budget Analysts, with plans to expand by adding a Capital Planning Manager as the office evolves. This is a unique opportunity to intentionally shape the Budget team and function.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a key contributing member of Cary’s management team and lead the overall operations of the Budget Office.
• Think strategically about resource allocation and translate Council and community priorities into sound operating and capital budgets.
• Help decision-makers at every level understand the financial trade-offs behind service level choices.
• Communicate complex financial information with clarity and confidence to elected officials, department heads, and residents.
• Strengthen the office’s foundation by enhancing structure and processes, implementing best practices, and positioning the team as a strategic, high-performing partner.
• Lead and develop a team of Budget Analysts, with plans to expand the team to include a Capital Planning Manager.

Qualifications

The ideal candidate is passionate about local government budgeting and energized by the opportunity to shape fiscal strategies that make a real impact in Cary’s community.