Occ. Code 2001300

SENIOR BUDGET EXAMINER, GRADE 23

New York State Department of Civil Service

Classification Standard

Employees in this class review, analyze and make recommendations on assigned State agencies’ plans for the funding and operation of their programs; monitor the expenditure of approved resources for effective and efficient utilization; perform in-depth studies of related issues, programs and operations; and analyze and make recommendations on legislation in functional areas.

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

Under the supervision of a higher level Budget Examiner, positions in the class of Senior Budget Examiner examine assigned State agency plans for the funding and operation of their programs. Budgets are generally assigned on a functional basis and examiners at this level perform with considerable independence once they have developed an adequate background in a given functional area. Agency budgets assigned at this level normally have moderately complex program operations including various factors such as a number of different funds (state, local, federal, first instance, special funds), a large number of employees in a broad range of occupations, geographic dispersal of facilities and employees, and a variety of services provided. While the incumbent may assist in the training of lower level examiners, supervision of these examiners is not typical of this class.

A Budget Examiner, under supervision, normally examines assigned segments of agency budgets and may be responsible for an agency budget of relatively less complexity.

Positions classified as Associate Budget Examiner perform the same tasks as the Senior, and in addition normally exercise supervision over lower level examiners; participate in their selection, evaluation and training; and assist higher level budget officials and agency staff in developing new policies. Associate examiners are usually assigned those budgets with significant financial and/or program implications in relation to the total Executive Budget.

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

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

Gathers information on the functions of assigned agency or agencies to determine purpose, applicable laws and directives, programs, organization, and type of funds involved.

NOTE: The incumbent maintains a continuing dialogue with assigned agency fiscal and program supervisors to keep abreast of developments and changes in functional areas.

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

• Reviews agency budget request submissions for conformance with established guidelines and format.
• Reviews applicable program problem issues identified through various sources, such as Comptroller’s audit reports, agency Program Analysis reports, Budget in-depth studies, etc.
• Analyzes agency’s budget requests in above problem areas as well as agency’s justifications for new, continuing or expanding current program operations for reasonableness of need, cost and approach and reports to supervisor both verbally and in writing.
• May request agency to submit supplemental information in support of requests.
• Prepares and discusses with supervisor, a summary of the requests’ main fiscal and program issues and the strengths and weaknesses of the agency’s approach in each area.
• Formulates questions for use at informal and formal budget hearings based on the analysis and discussions with supervisory staff.
• May conduct and ask questions at informal hearings with agency staff to further clarify points of agency’s request.
• Identifies and recommends problem areas for special study consideration.
• Meets with supervisor, Director of the Budget and Deputy Director to discuss formal hearing questions and background information. Attends formal budget hearings as observer and advises supervisors on detailed matters as required.
• Prepares periodic written reports of anticipated recommendations per established format as budget analysis continues. Meets with supervisor and unit head to discuss, explain and revise recommendations, in order to develop a unit recommendation.
• Prepares, for supervisor’s review, a concise narrative and tabular summary of examination unit final recommendations on agency’s budget, per established format to assist the Director of the Budget and Deputy Director in their review of recommendations.
• Along with supervisor and unit head, meets with Director of the Budget and Deputy Director to discuss unit recommendations and establish final Budget Division recommendations to the Governor.
• Adjusts agency’s budget in accordance with Governor’s final decision on recommendations.

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

• Drafts Executive Budget document narrative descriptions and applicable tabular material relative to assigned budgets for review by superiors.
• Drafts appropriation bills and other legislation which may be required by specific program budgets for review by supervisors.
• In coordination with Fiscal Planning Unit, adjusts agencies' five-year expenditure estimates in accordance with final budget recommendations.
• Reviews drafts of pertinent portions of the Governor’s Annual Message and Budget Message to ensure technical and detailed accuracy.

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

• Meets with agency personnel to review agency plans to maintain expenditures within the prescribed ceiling and to develop reporting systems to monitor agency expenditure progress.
• Monitors compliance with approved expenditure plans by reviewing periodic activity and expenditure reports.
• Meets periodically with agency administrators to assess progress being made to attain program goals and expenditure plans and review the need to make adjustments.
• Meets with agency and Civil Service representatives to discuss and negotiate organizational and staffing changes required to implement new or changing programs or activities.
• Analyzes agency requests for transfer and interchange of funds and positions between program or organizational components to meet changing conditions and makes appropriate determinations as to legality and reasonableness of interchange.
• Reviews requests for new positions and reclassifications of existing positions and makes determinations based on approved organization structures, staffing patterns and availability of funds.
• Reviews recommendations of Capital Construction Unit for the release of capital appropriations to conform with continuing or emerging agency needs.
• Evaluates budgetary actions and decisions in given fiscal year to determine possible adverse impact on future annual budget requests.

Conducts or participates in in-depth studies of issues, programs or operations of assigned agencies’ budgets or general functional area and makes appropriate recommendations for review by higher level budget officials.

• Meets with supervisor and discusses assigned problem project and possible approaches. May receive guidance on approach to be used.
• Confers with concerned parties (Budget staff units, affected and/or interested agency staff) and obtains pertinent information through various means such as on-site observations, interviews, conferences, questionnaires and reports.
• Analyzes data in relation to the problem to be solved.
• Prepares written memoranda on project status to inform and elicit guidance from supervisors.
• Develops recommendations which may include alternate recommendations for action based on findings, for review by supervisor.
• Meets with supervisors and other affected parties to discuss study findings’ impact on assigned budgets and to develop appropriate implementation guidelines.
• Performs follow-up studies to measure impact and assess validity of actions taken.

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

• Analyzes assigned legislation to determine subject and purpose.
• Reviews pertinent sections of current statutes to assess impact of proposed legislation.
• Evaluates probable fiscal, administrative, program and social impacts and technical accuracy of the legislation to present arguments both for and against the legislation.
• Estimates the short and long-range budgetary impact of bill’s provisions on affected parties to alert them of the effect on their existing financial plans.
• Assesses the validity and significance of known factors to make a recommendation representing the Division of the Budget’s position.
• Prepares memorandum per established format informing the Director of the Budget and Governor’s Counsel of recommended actions and potentially conflicting and supporting positions.

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

The incumbent has almost daily 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 Senior normally conducts informal hearings on agency budget requests, usually at the agency in a face-to-face situation, asking questions of such personnel as the First Deputy Commissioner, Director of Finance, Administrative Officer and program supervisors in order to clarify written requests. The incumbent periodically meets with agency officials and Civil Service analysts on program changes and proposed reorganizations. In conducting periodic field studies of assigned agency programs, the Senior meets various on-site program supervisors and occasionally members of client populations served. Other than the field studies and periodic written draft responses to inquiries in the given functional areas, the Senior has little contact with the general public.

Within the Division of the Budget, the incumbent has daily face-to-face contact with supervisory staff regarding work schedules and assignments, work progress reports and receives guidance in problem areas. While most of this contact is oral, there is frequent written communication, including recommendations on budget matters for review by supervisory personnel including the Unit Head, Deputy Director and the Director of the Budget. In this review, the Senior orally defends recommendations and supplies additional details when appropriate. The incumbent has periodic and mostly oral communications with other Budget Units such as the Program Analyses and Review Unit on problem issue identification, the Fiscal Planning Unit on agency expenditure ceilings and income and expenditure projections and Federal Relations Unit on fiscal effect of Federal policy on program. The incumbent normally assists in the training of lower level examiners.

Depending on the nature of the assignment, there may be frequent oral communications with Executive Chamber personnel.

Positions in this class are supervised by a higher level Budget Examiner who makes assignments, gives general direction and guidelines, is available for advice and assistance in problem areas, and reviews work performance for compliance with policy and established guidelines. The supervisor assesses the Senior’s work performance on the basis of personal observations at conferences and meetings, the soundness and clarity of reports and recommendations as well as comments from the assigned agency regarding rapport and effectiveness.

Employees in this class may assist in the training of lower level examiners, but typically do not exercise supervision over them.

• Working knowledge of the organization of State Government and the budgetary effects of the interrelationship of specific agencies.
• Working knowledge of the Budget Examiner’s Manual, Budget Policy and Reporting Manual, Budget Request Manual and current Budget policy.
• Working knowledge of pertinent portions of the Civil Service Law, State Finance Law and the Comptroller’s Rules and Regulations.
• Working knowledge of State and federal budget processes.
• Working knowledge of the implications of State and federal laws and guidelines pertaining to assigned agency and/or functional area.
• Working knowledge of assigned agency programs, operations, goals, objectives and general background.
• Working knowledge of effective organization, management and budgetary principles and practices.
• Working knowledge of effective techniques and methods of conducting interviews and studies.
• Working knowledge of approved organizational structures and staffing patterns.
• Working knowledge of current reporting systems for program expenditures.
• Basic knowledge of the State legislative process and the Bill Drafting Manual.
• Ability to recognize organizational and budgetary principles in the analysis of agency proposals.
• Ability to plan and organize the gathering of data and select that which is significant.
• Ability to recognize the implications of present and projected resources in evaluating existing and proposed programs and legislation.
• Ability to identify and recognize alternative solutions to administrative, budgetary and organization problems.
• Ability to orally relate to others, occasionally in stressful situations, in the process of negotiating the allocation of resources.
• Ability to communicate in writing, preparing clear, concise and convincing documents recording the analysis of program proposals or in support of a recommendation.

Positions of Senior Budget Examiner are normally filled by promotion of those having at least one year of permanent service as Budget Examiner.

 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.