Budget Analyst

Veterans Health Administration • Houston, TX

1d • Onsite

About The Position

This position is in the Financial Resources Management Service at the Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center in Houston, Texas. The Budget Analyst provides financial advice and assistance for the medical center’s internal operations, including education, research, operations, and maintenance programs, supporting the Budget Officer and Chief Financial Officer in meeting the facility’s mission and objectives.

The position develops and reviews budget forecasts and funding estimates, analyzes historical and current financial data, and prepares integrated budget materials for management and approval authorities. It advises and assists program officials and medical center staff on budget matters, analyzes fund usage and program costs, monitors budget systems, and helps resolve budget-management issues. The analyst uses VISTA, VSSC, Microsoft Excel, and other databases to gather and report budgetary data, collaborates with program officials on fund inquiries, and processes funding and cost transfers.

The work schedule is Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., subject to agency needs. Telework may be authorized and eligibility is discussed during the interview. This is not a virtual position. The work is primarily sedentary and performed in an adequately lighted, heated, and ventilated office; occasional meetings or visits to warehouses and supply areas may involve walking, standing, or carrying light items.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship.
• Meet the applicable time-in-grade requirement: for GS-11, 52 weeks at GS-9 for current or former federal employees covered by the requirement.
• One year of specialized experience equivalent to at least GS-9, including relevant budget forecasting and submissions, budget problem-solving, review of fund requests and expenditures, financial-data analysis using budgetary and accounting systems, Microsoft Office use, guidance to program officials, and budget execution monitoring; or qualify through the stated education or education-and-experience combination.
• For the education-only route, a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree, three full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree, or a related LL.M.; transcripts are required.
• For the combined education-and-experience route, successfully completed graduate education beyond the first two graduate years or 36 semester hours, combined with specialized experience; the coursework must demonstrate relevant knowledge, skills, and abilities, and transcripts are required.
• Complete the required application steps, questionnaire, and online assessment.
• Register with Selective Service if applicable to males born after December 31, 1959.
• Complete a background/security investigation and online onboarding, and provide acceptable identification for pre-employment requirements.
• Participate in the seasonal influenza vaccination program as a condition of employment.
• Serve the required one-year probationary period or two-year trial period, as applicable.

Responsibilities

• Instruct management officials during budget calls and other budget formulation processes.
• Prepare detailed analyses and estimates of annual funding needs for one or more future budget years.
• Review historical fund utilization and direct development of data for annual and long-range budget formulation.
• Gather, compare, and correlate information about current and future programs and activities with projected operating costs.
• Review historical data and current trends to validate and consolidate requests and estimates for an integrated medical center budget forecast.
• Direct compilation and coordination of presentation materials and format them according to legislative and regulatory guidance and reviewing-authority requirements.
• Review budget materials for briefings to senior officials, ensure Department priorities and objectives are addressed, and tutor presenters on budget proposals.
• Analyze and forecast program fund usage; interpret reports and financial data; and predict the effects of program changes.
• Provide advice and assistance on financial matters and resolve budget-management problems, questions, and situations.
• Monitor established budget-management systems and programs.
• Plan and carry out projects to improve the efficiency and productivity of organizations and employees in administrative support activities.
• Identify, analyze, and recommend solutions to budgetary problems and situations.
• Provide staff and management officials with budgetary data concerning fund allocation and utilization, applied costs, and workloads for medical care programs.
• Use VISTA, VSSC, Microsoft Excel, and databases to gather data and prepare budgetary reports.
• Collaborate with program officials to prepare replies to Central Office and VISN fund inquiries, including inquiries concerning Homeless, Prosthetics, MCCR, and Office of Academic Affiliation programs.
• Communicate established policies and procedures courteously and tactfully to customers, veterans, representatives, visitors, and VA staff.
• Process transactions related to transfers of funding and costs.

Benefits

• Federal employees and their families have access to a comprehensive benefits package; specific benefits depend on position type and should be confirmed with the hiring agency.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree