Project Manager II-Budget, Audit, & Performance

City of Atlanta•Atlanta, GA

About The Position

The Budget, Audit, and Performance Project Manager II, with a specialized focus on forensic budgeting and performance auditing, is a core member of the Mayor’s Office of Innovation and Performance (MOIP). This role is centered on managing complex projects that integrate financial planning with strategic delivery outcomes. The incumbent uses advanced analytical and forensic techniques to evaluate the cost-effectiveness and efficiency of programs, identify opportunities for process innovation, and ensure that resource allocation is directly tied to achieving key organizational performance goals.

Requirements

Strategic Financial Acumen: Deep understanding of how financial decisions impact operational delivery and strategic goal attainment.
Forensic & Data Experience: Ability to apply investigative techniques to financial data to diagnose complex process failures and identify recovery or efficiency opportunities.
Tools: Expert proficiency in financial modeling and data visualization tools (e.g., advanced Excel, Power BI, Tableau, SQL).
Understanding of project management methodologies (Agile, Scrum, etc.).
Ability to monitor budgets and manage projects concurrently, from ideation to closure.
Strong proficiency in project management tools (Microsoft Project, Excel).
Experience in developing and delivering engaging training content.
Strong facilitation and presentation skills.
Exceptional problem-solving skills.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including active listening.
Ability to handle sensitive financial and personnel information with the utmost discretion and confidentiality.
Ability to articulate complex information clearly and concisely to technical and non-technical audiences.
Ability to anticipate needs and take initiative to improve processes and resolve issues.
Meticulous attention to detail.
Exceptional ability to plan, organize, and prioritize work effectively to meet deadlines.
Resourceful, results-oriented approach to work.
Ability to navigate bureaucracy while driving meaningful change.
Strong problem-solving & adaptability to shifting priorities.
Clear communication, public speaking, and facilitation abilities.

Responsibilities

Define project scope, goals, workflows, and deliverables in collaboration with stakeholders, the executive director, and other senior management.
Develop comprehensive project plans, including detailed work breakdown structures (WBS), timelines, resource allocation, and budget estimates.
Identify and secure necessary resources (human, financial, technological) for project execution.
Conduct thorough risk assessments and develop mitigation strategies.
Incorporate performance data into planning, project scope development, and workflows.
Lead the integration of strategic goals and performance metrics into the annual budget process, ensuring that financial resources are directly aligned with MOIP's innovation and delivery priorities.
Manage financial planning and performance projects, including the development of cost-benefit analyses, return on investment (ROI) models for new initiatives, and strategic financial risk assessments.
Design and manage models that link funding levels directly to measurable program outcomes, moving beyond traditional input-based budgeting.
Collaborate with MOIP teams to redesign budgeting and financial reporting processes to increase agility, speed, and accuracy, supporting a culture of rapid innovation.
Conduct targeted, deep-dive investigations (forensic audits) into operational budgets and program spending to uncover inefficiencies, redundancies, and potential areas of resource waste or misallocation.
Annually, map existing department key performance indicators (KPIs) to budget allocations and track monthly spending to ensure project progress and provide timely alerts to potential risks related to spending.
Analyze complex financial and operational data to establish accurate program unit costs, benchmark against industry best practices, and identify substantial cost-saving opportunities without compromising delivery quality.
Use financial data (budgeted vs. actuals) in conjunction with performance data (targets vs. results) to diagnose failure points in program delivery and recommend corrective financial and operational adjustments.
Develop and implement proactive financial monitoring tools to ensure budget execution is consistent with strategic intent and mitigate risk related to fraud, waste, or abuse.
Communicate project status, risks, and issues regularly to stakeholders, team members, and the executive director through various reporting mechanisms (e.g., status meetings, dashboards, written reports).
Prepare high-impact dashboards and reports for the executive director and executive leadership, clearly articulating the financial implications of performance results and recommended innovation opportunities.
Act as an internal financial consultant to program managers across the organization, advising them on cost modeling, efficiency targets, and budget optimization for strategic initiatives.
Lead workshops and training sessions to embed performance-based financial discipline and transparency throughout the organization.
Establish and enforce quality standards for project deliverables.
Conduct post-project reviews and lessons learned sessions to identify areas for improvement.
Document project outcomes, best practices, and close out all project-related items.
Ensure adherence to established project management methodologies (e.g., Agile, Scrum, Waterfall, Hybrid) and best practices.
Manages medium to large-scale projects, including leading project meetings, facilitating project team interaction, managing scope, managing deadlines, managing project budgets and ensuring on-time delivery of solutions.
Uses project management tools and data-driven analysis to identify problem areas and opportunities.
Develops performance improvement recommendations and implementation plans within budget/policy constraints and evaluates the impact of change on service delivery, productivity, and cost efficiency.
In concert with the Executive and Deputy Director, sets targets, designs, and implements action-oriented plans to drive tangible results for the department.
Partners with and guides the department in identifying strategic opportunities and developing clear and appropriate implementation plans to deliver results on initiatives.
Produces clear, concise, and consistent deliverables to communicate problems and recommendations.
Presents project updates, findings, and results.
Supports the strategic framework and best practices for budget and performance.
Manages and maintains strong relationships with colleagues across the organization.
Takes initiative to identify solutions effectively.
Perform other duties as assigned.