Occ. Code 2001200

BUDGET EXAMINER, GRADE 18

 

New York State Department of Civil Service

Classification Standard

NATURE OF WORK

Employees in this class review, analyze, and make recommendations on the funding and program and capital construction plans of assigned State agencies, or portions thereof; monitor the expenditure of approved funds for effective and efficient utilization; analyze and make recommendations on legislation; and may participate in studies of budgetary issues and agency programs and operations.

Positions in this class are found only in the Executive Department, Division of the Budget.

CLASSIFICATION CRITERIA AND DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS

Under the supervision of a higher level Budget Examiner, positions in the Budget Examiner class examine assigned State department, authority, Commission and other agency plans for the funding and operation of programs. Budgets are generally assigned on a functional basis, and those assigned at this level involve agencies with the least complex programs. (Factors determining complexity include the number of different funds, the number of employees, the range of occupations, geographic dispersal of facilities and employees, and the variety of services provided.) Budget Examiners may also analyze segments of the budgets of large, complex agencies.

Positions classified as Senior Budget Examiner perform the same tasks as Budget Examiners, but usually have full responsibility for the budgets of agencies with moderately complex programs. In addition, they are expected to perform their duties with considerable independence.

Positions which perform budget related functions within a specialized field are classified under parenthetics such as Budget Examiner (Public Finance).

Positions involved in the preparation of State agency budget estimates and justifications are classified in the Budgeting Analyst Series.

TYPICAL ACTIVITIES, TASKS AND ASSIGNMENTS

Analyzes assigned State agencies’ annual, supplemental, and deficiency budgets, or portions thereof, and develops proposed Division of the Budget recommendations for review by higher level budget officials.

Prepares drafts of narratives and other documents relating to recommended budget appropriations in assigned area.

Monitors agency program and fiscal operations to ensure that assigned budgets are executed in accordance with approved plans, applicable statutes, and administrative guidelines.

Participates in in-depth studies of issues, programs or operations in assigned agencies or functional areas, and makes recommendations for review by supervisors.

Develops proposed Division of the Budget recommendations on legislation in assigned functional area, using the Budget Examiner’s Manual as a guide.

Prepares draft responses to inquiries received by the Director of the Budget or the Executive Chamber, in assigned functional areas.

RELATIONSHIPS WITH OTHERS

The incumbent has frequent communications, mostly oral, with assigned agency administrative and program personnel, reviewing budget requests, giving interpretations of budget guidelines, obtaining current information on agency programs and plans, discussing organizational changes, and monitoring program expenditures. The Examiner attends informal hearings on agency budget requests, and may ask questions of administrative personnel in order to clarify written requests. The incumbent may also meet with agency officials and Civil Service analysts on program changes and proposed reorganizations. In conducting periodic field studies of agency programs, the incumbent meets program supervisors and, occasionally, members of the client populations served.

Within the Division of the Budget, the incumbent has daily face-to-face contact with supervisory staff regarding work schedules, assignments, and work progress reports, and receives guidance in problem areas. While most of this contact is oral, there is frequent written communications, including recommendations on budget matters, for review by supervisory personnel. The incumbent has periodic and mostly oral communications with other Budget Units.

NATURE OF SUPERVISION

Positions in this class are normally supervised by Budget Examiners at the Associate or Principal levels, who make assignments, provide direction and guidelines, are available for advice and assistance in problem areas, and review work performance for compliance with policy and established guidelines. The supervisor assesses the Examiner’s work performance on the basis of personal observation at conferences and meetings, the soundness and clarity of reports and recommendations, and comments from assigned agencies regarding rapport and effectiveness.

JOB REQUIREMENTS

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Satisfactory completion of a two-year traineeship as a Budget Examiner Trainee.

 

 

 Reviewed: 9/02

 

NOTE: Classification Standards illustrate the nature, extent and scope of duties and responsibilities of the classes they describe. Standards cannot and do not include all of the work that might be appropriately performed by a class. The minimum qualifications above are those which were required to appointment at the time the Classification Standard was written. Please contact the Division of Staffing Services for current information on minimum qualification requirements for appointment or examination.