Interview Questions for a Budget Manager

A budget manager operates within the finance department of an organization and typically reports to a director, or head of finance. Common duties of the budget manager include planning, management, organization, direction, supervision, and performance of budgeting activities. Budget managers operate in the public sector working for cities, towns, and other jurisdictions. They also operate in the private sector. Interview questions for a budget manager position would be used to test your skills in these areas.

A request you are likely to hear near the start of a budget manager interview is "tell me about your experience in managing budgets." This is a non-leading general question used to determine how broad and deep your budget management experience goes. Your answer should include an overview of the major common budget processes you led or were involved with. It should also demonstrate your importance to the organization in the process.

In its May 2009 Budget Manager Job Description, the City of Morgan Hill, California, noted the importance of the manager setting five-year revenue and expense projections. An organization you interview is likely to want to know that you understand budget forecasting and have experience preparing formal budgets for future projections. Your answer should include specific references to budget planning processes used in your company. Where appropriate, you might note the general size of the budget (large, medium, small) to give a sense that you have that experience.

Budgeting and budget management functions are typically performed using budget management software programs. You are likely to hear a question about your familiarity with various software tools. Signifying the importance of this type of question, a sample budget manager resume on the Resume Sample site lists "Experience with Oracle Financial systems, Excel spreadsheets, Peoplesoft and Axess" first on the summary of qualifications. Familiarity with multiple programs helps. If possible, research the company ahead of time to learn what it uses. This shows strong interest and may offer insight on whether you know the software, or can easily learn it.

You may hear a question like "What is your ideal supervisor like?" A budget manager is sometimes the highest finance position in a small business. However, medium-to-large organizations usually have a director of finance, or a head of finance. The interviewers, possibly including that person, want to see if you are a good match for their workplace. Again, researching the company and its director is advised. Otherwise, sharing your ability to maintain a strong relationship with one or more previous supervisors is a huge value.