Budget Analyst

Veterans Health Administration • Fort Bliss, TX

1d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Budget Analyst performs analytical, technical, and administrative work supporting budget formulation, execution, and financial oversight for a medical center. The position conducts studies and analyses to develop information for reporting, prepares administrative reports, and reviews short-range budgetary and program requirements for alignment with agency policy and Congressional intent.

The role evaluates operating plans and budget requests, prepares and consolidates estimates, forecasts obligations, monitors trends in the receipt and use of funds, and recommends adjustments to help meet financial plan objectives. It also supports internal controls, audits, and compliance through funding and obligation reconciliations, allotment verification, supplemental funding requests, and escalation of funding concerns. The work schedule is Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The position may be authorized for occasional, episodic, or short-term telework; it is not a virtual position. The position is permanent, and promotion to the full performance level may be possible when regulatory, qualification, and performance requirements are met; selection at a lower grade does not guarantee promotion.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship.
• For GS-07: one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least GS-05, or qualifying education (one full year of graduate-level education or superior academic achievement), or an allowable combination of education and experience.
• For GS-09: one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least GS-07, or a master's or equivalent graduate degree, two full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree, or a related LL.B. or J.D., or an allowable combination of education and experience beyond a bachelor's degree.
• Specialized experience may include budget formulation, presentation, or execution; problem-solving; using operating systems and software to manipulate data, run queries, and produce reports; and communicating orally and in writing about budget matters.
• GS-09 specialized experience includes knowledge of budget formulation and execution principles; reviewing, editing, and consolidating budget estimates; determining whether obligations, expenditures, and allotment requests comply with funding limits; conducting analyses and preparing reports; and forecasting obligations and reviewing budget submissions.
• Current and certain former federal employees must meet applicable time-in-grade requirements: 52 weeks at GS-05 for GS-07, or 52 weeks at GS-07 for GS-09.
• Submit an SF-50 demonstrating time-in-grade eligibility when applicable.
• Submit transcripts if qualifying based wholly or partly on education; foreign education requires a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency.
• Complete the application, questionnaire, and required online assessment.
• Register for Selective Service if applicable to males born after December 31, 1959.
• Complete required background/security investigation and online onboarding; provide acceptable identification for pre-employment requirements.
• Participate in the seasonal influenza vaccination program as required for Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel.
• Serve a one-year probationary period or two-year trial period, as applicable.

Responsibilities

• Evaluate operating plans for the reasonableness of workload, obligation, and outlay data; ensure monthly and annual trends are accurately reflected and recommend adjustments when needed.
• Prepare documents to process budget estimates and write reports describing the purposes for which funds were obligated or expended.
• Analyze budget requests and compile data for forecasting future obligations.
• Review, edit, and consolidate annual budget estimates from assigned organizations and programs into a unified budget request.
• Identify and analyze trends in the receipt, obligation, or expenditure of funds to support timely achievement of annual financial plan objectives and proper use of funds.
• Review initial budget submissions for compliance with planning guidance and alignment of non-medical financial assistance estimates with long-range planning targets.
• Anticipate potential Anti-Deficiency Act concerns and recommend preventive action to maintain resources within legal limitations.
• Initiate reallocation actions and allotment adjustments as needed.
• Develop specialized analyses using historical program data and prepare special studies and reports requested by the supervisor or higher-level management.
• Ensure the annual budget plan and subsequent changes are reviewed and approved by the Medical Center Director and escalated through appropriate channels.
• Verify that funding has been properly allotted in FMS; compare TDA to the ALLW table and coordinate funding checks with the CFO.
• Conduct IFCAP-to-FMS funding reconciliation, research and correct rejected reconciliations, and submit corrections for review and approval by the Supervisory Budget Analyst.
• Conduct IFCAP-to-FMS obligation reconciliation by reviewing the IFCAP running balance report, comparing it with applicable FCP and SOA reports, identifying discrepancies and root causes, and initiating corrections.
• Prepare and submit requests for supplemental funding beyond station authority to station leadership for approval; coordinate with the CFO and escalate to the VISN CFO when necessary.

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.
• Newly appointed federal employees may request, subject to approval and not guaranteed, credit for job-related non-federal experience or active-duty uniformed military service when determining annual leave accrual.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level