06/08/2007 07820

EXECUTIVE BUDGET SPECIALIST 1

DEFINITION:

This is beginning level fiscal policy, legislative review, and budget analysis work in the Governor’s Budget Office.

An employee in this job assists in the analysis and development of policy and legislative reviews for a community of practice of government agencies and provides technical oversight to agency budget activities. Work involves the examination and analysis of departmental budgets throughout the budget and rebudget cycles and the provision of direction to agencies for the implementation and monitoring of programs. Work includes participating in studies of current policy problems, assessing the social, economic and fiscal implications of alternatives, and assisting in the development of fiscal policy recommendations. Duties also include beginning level assignments related to the review of proposed legislation and regulations, their potential impact on the budget, and preparation of recommendations to support or reject proposals. Work includes participating in meetings with local, state and federal officials to gather information and identify program and policy conflicts in governmental services; contacting program recipients, providers and managers to gather information to support research findings; and providing technical advice to agency executives and fiscal officers on difficult budgetary problems. A significant aspect of this work is the communication of fiscal policy, legislative reviews and budget analysis reports through various media, including public presentations and electronic documents. This job is differentiated from the higher level by a focus on budget analysis and the provision of assistance to higher level executive budget specialists on complex matters of fiscal policy and development. Work is assigned by an executive budget specialist supervisor or manager and reviewed through discussions and written reports for soundness, completeness, and adherence to state budgetary and fiscal policies.

EXAMPLES OF WORK:

Examines budget estimates for completeness, accuracy, and conformance with procedures, regulations, and policies.

Examines requests for budget revisions and drafts correspondence to explain why budget revisions are being altered or denied.

Provides technical advice and assistance to agency officials in the preparation of departmental budgets, including the interpretation of budget policies.

Prepares and assembles fiscal and statistical data, charts, graphs, and reports for use in budgetary evaluations and budget hearings.

Participates in the development of instructions for the preparation, analysis, and control of departmental budgets.

Participates in meetings with federal, state and local officials to gather information and identify areas of program and policy conflict in segments of governmental services.

Reviews state programs in a community of practice and develops fiscal policy recommendations as part of a major study.

Assists in the design and conduct of research on selected specialized policy issues and develops recommendations.

Provides input on information submitted to legislative committees as to research considerations and interpretation of policy recommendations.

Provides direction to agencies to implement programs and to report on the progress of implementation.

Attends meeting and budget hearings with high level government officials to communicate fiscal policy and budget analysis information.

Reviews proposed legislation and prepares fiscal notes.

Assists in the development of comments on legislation to present a position on the bill.

Participates in the preparation of amendments to bills.

Performs the full range of supervisory duties.

May participate in the performance of subordinates’ work consistent with operational or organizational requirements.

Performs other duties as assigned.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGES, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

Knowledge of principles and methodology used in fiscal analysis including trends analysis/modeling techniques, economic analysis, cost accounting, cost estimating, fiscal planning, fiscal management and budgeting.

Knowledge of the principles and methodology used in the collection, analysis, and presentation of statistical, economic, or administrative data.

Knowledge of techniques used in policy research, program analysis and planning.

Knowledge of the structure and operations of state government, and its relationship to Federal, regional and local governments.

Knowledge of standard office software, such as word processing, spreadsheet, and presentation packages.

Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships.

Ability to communicate effectively orally.

Ability to communicate effectively in writing.

MINIMUM EXPERIENCE AND TRAINING:

Successful completion of the Executive Budget Associate training period;

                                                                                                                            or

One year as a Budget Analyst 2;

                                                                                                                           or

An equivalent combination of experience and training.