Budget Analyst GS-0560 - HUD LEARN

1 Budget Analyst GS-0560 Career Path Guide April, 2015 (This page intentionally left blank.)HUD LEARN | Budget Analyst Career Path Guide Budget Analyst Career Path Guide TABLE OF CONTENTS Budget ANALYSIS G-0560 .. 1 Career Path Guide .. 1 Your Career as a Budget Analyst SNAP SHOT .. 1 Your Expertise .. 1 Previous Experience .. 1 Key Duties and Responsibilities GENERAL ALL GS LEVELS .. 1 Competencies ALL GS LEVELS .. 2 Career Development - ALL GS LEVELS .. 3 The Importance of Mentoring .. 4 Advancement .. 4 Budget Analyst GS-5 .. 5 Budget Analyst GS-7 .. 7 Budget Analyst GS-9 .. 10 Budget Analyst GS-12 .. 17 Supervisory Budget Analyst GS-12 .. 20 Budget Analyst GS-13 .. 23 Supervisory Budget Analyst GS-13 .. 26 Budget Analyst GS-14 .. 29 Supervisory Budget Analyst GS-14 .. 33 Budget Officer GS-14 .. 36 Budget Analyst GS-15 .. 39 Supervisory Budget Analyst GS-15 .. 41 Budget Officer GS-15 .. 44 HUD LEARN | Budget Analyst Career Path Guide 1 | Budget Analyst Career Path Guide Budget Analysis GS-0560 Career Path Guide The Budget Analyst is a HUD Mission Critical Occupation meaning that it is core to carrying out the primary mission of the Department.

2 Whether you aspire to be a senior leader or choose to deliver steady technical expertise as a HUD Community Planning & Development professional, your contributions to the mission are valued and essential. The purpose of this career path guide is to provide you with a realistic preview of typical experiences, responsibilities, and duties associated with this occupation as well as strategies for developing and advancing your professional development as you grow your career at HUD. Your Career as a Budget Analyst SNAP SHOT Government Budget analysts occupy two broad types of positions: Budget Analyst and Budget Officer. As a Budget Analyst , you are in a position that involves analytical, technical, and administrative duties in one or more phases of the budgetary process: Budget formulation and justification, presentation and enactment, or execution. Budget analysts are responsible for a segment of an organization's Budget , programs, and/or organizational structure that is less than the full scope of budgetary operations for the organizational component.

3 A Budget Analyst also may develop budgetary guidance. There are also Supervisory Budget Analysts. A Budget Officer is a supervisory or non-supervisory position with delegated authority and responsibility for the total budgetary operations of an agency or other organizational segment. Your Expertise Your role requires knowledge and skill in applying Budget -related laws, regulations, policies, precedents, methods and technique. You need to have a high level of familiar on the following topics, in order to provide advice to program managers, agency administrators, and others: the amounts and types of funding available; the purposes for which the money in the Budget may be legally used; the time-frames within which available Budget funds or authority must be used; trends in the obligation and/or expenditure of funds; and, the effects of budgetary changes on related activities ( , purchase of office supplies and equipment, maintenance of buildings and grounds, hiring of personnel, and payment for travel expenses).

4 Previous Experience It is advantageous for the Budget Analyst to have experience in the following areas: analyzing problems to identify significant factors, gather pertinent data, and recognize solutions; planning and organizing work; and communicating effectively orally and in writing. Experience in gathering, assembling and analyzing sources of factual information, including accounting reports, payroll records, work reports, inventory or supply data is also valuable, as is the ability to analyze and evaluate program effectiveness, problems, trends, and accomplishments. Key Duties and Responsibilities GENERAL ALL GS LEVELS The Budget Analyst role is often a process generalist, in that they are involved in all phases of the budgetary process. Some Budget analysts specialize in a particular phase of the Budget process, and have broad responsibility for multiple programs or organizational components. The three phases co-exist during the fiscal year.

5 When the approved operating Budget for the current fiscal year is in the execution phase, the proposed Budget for the following fiscal year is in the presentation/enactment phase, and the Budget request for two years HUD LEARN | Budget Analyst Career Path Guide Budget Analyst Career Path Guide | 2 hence is in the formulation phase. The Budget cycle for a single Budget year covers nearly three calendar years. Below is a brief description of each: Budget Formulation the process of preparing detailed analyses and estimates of annual funding needs for one or more future Budget years. The process begins with the gathering, comparing, and correlating information about projected costs of current and future programs and activities. Analysts then determine costs and benefits of different levels of program operations. Finally, analysts put the recommended Budget for the desired level of program operations into a format consistent with existing legislative and regulatory guidance and acceptable to reviewing and approving authorities.

6 Budget Presentation/Enactment Congressional review of the President's Budget formally marks the start of the presentation/enactment phase of the Budget process. This phase is formal, as distinguished from those Budget presentations and reviews of a less formal nature, that take place within agencies prior to submission of the President's Budget to Congress. Before considering appropriations for a specific program, Congress must first enact legislation, referred to as enabling legislation that authorizes an agency to carry out the program. Such legislation provides Budget authority for the program, and may also set limitations on the amount of money that can be spent to carry it out. Congress, at its will, authorizes agencies to operate for one or more years. Budget Execution the phase during which OMB makes funds in the approved fiscal year Budget available to agencies to carry out their missions, functions, and programs. OMB makes these funds available on a time-phased basis ( , quarterly, or for specific projects) through the apportionment process.

7 The apportionment process consists of a system of administrative controls intended to achieve the most economical and efficient use of funds available by preventing the need for supplemental or deficiency appropriations, or lapses of Budget authority. Agencies further control their own obligation and expenditure of funds available through a similar distribution of allotments and sub-allotments that are distributed on a time-phased, project, or other basis. During the Budget execution phase, agency Budget and program officials monitor, check, and control the use of agency funds. Competencies ALL GS LEVELS The competencies below are relevant to all Budget Analysts across all GS Levels. Knowledge, skills and abilities are also presented by specific GS Level. Competency Description Federal Budget Process Makes appropriate interpretations and applications of substantive and procedural statutory, regulatory, and administrative requirements to formulate, justify, defend, execute, evaluate and report on use of Federal resources.

8 Executes Budget activities in compliance with appropriate requirements, advises organizational leaders on compliance requirements and options, and uses flexibility in requirements to achieve the greatest possible effectiveness and efficiency in Budget development and administration, aligned with the mission and goals of the organization. Budgetary Accounting and Control Accurately and consistently applies Budget controls and financial management systems and procedures. Uses generally accepted accounting principles, policies, procedures and Federal accounting structures, following and applying new developments as appropriate, to ensure proper use and accounting of the organization s funds, integrity of the organization s financial records, and support of HUD LEARN | Budget Analyst Career Path Guide 3 | Budget Analyst Career Path Guide the organization s financial status and procedures during audits. Federal Legislation, Regulations and Guidance Analyzes and applies legislative actions, regulations, and guidance to formulate, execute, provide accurate advice, and report on Budget activities that improve organizational access to and effective, efficient use of resources to fulfill mission, responsibilities, and priorities.

9 Budget Development and Justification Participates in or leads Budget development and justification, resulting in approved budgets that support, reflect, and enable achievement of the organization s strategic goals and implementing programs and priorities. Develops budgets that comply with congressional, OMB, and agency guidelines and procedural requirements. Writes justifications and responses to information requests that clearly, persuasively, and accurately demonstrate relationships between Budget proposals and achievement of goals. Creates Budget proposals and descriptions that reflect appropriate selection and application of budgeting models and strategies. Works cooperatively and effectively with organizational leaders and oversight representatives. Planning and Performance Evaluation Applies an appropriate strategic planning process, including a systematic evaluation component, and anticipates, analyzes, and develops solutions to budgetary and programmatic issues.

10 Provides clear, accurate, and persuasive evidence for effectiveness of proposed strategies and solutions, resulting in implementation of a process for planning, evaluation, and issue analysis and resolution that improves efficiency and effectiveness of use of resources and that has the confidence of organization and oversight leadership. Career Development - ALL GS LEVELS You are encouraged to take control of your career by participating in targeted developmental activities, taking relevant training, and seeking diverse and demanding assignments that will allow you to develop your skills. Continually learning and investing in your education and training will help you better tackle obstacles on your job as well as increase the likelihood of your career advancement as a Budget Analyst . Participate in training and development areas that strengthen your skills in the following areas: Contract and subcontract management Understanding stakeholders managing multiple stakeholders; understanding the strategic roles of stakeholders Project management managing multiple projects; working on and orchestrating cross-functional teams Communicating effectively to technical and business audiences Consensus building Customer service Technical writing Team building HUD LEARN | Budget Analyst Career Path Guide Budget Analyst Career Path Guide | 4 Study and continuously revisit the following resources: The United States Budget in Brief The Budget of the United States Government The Appendix to the Budget of the United States Government Office of Management and Budget Circular No.