ASSOCIATE BUDGET EXAMINER, M-2

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 or capital improvement programs; monitor the expenditure of approved resources for effective and efficient utilization; perform in-depth studies of related issues, programs and operations; analyze and make recommendations on legislation in functional areas; and may supervise lower level staff engaged in these activities.

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

Under the supervision of a Budget Examiner at the Principal level or above, positions in the class of Associate Budget Examiner are responsible for the examination of State agency budgets having significant financial and/or program implications in relation to the total Executive Budget or the financial operations of significant authorities and other similar agencies. Budgets are typically assigned on a functional basis. Examiners at this level are expected to perform independently, and are assigned agencies or groups of agencies having complex program operations (complexity is determined by factors including the number of different funds, number of employees, range of occupations, geographic dispersal of facilities and employees, and variety of services provided). Positions at this level also assist in the development of new budget policies. Although supervisory responsibility is not necessary to support classification at this level, incumbents often supervise one or two lower level Examiners, who are directly responsible for a portion of the agency budgets assigned to the Associate. Incumbents may be designated as section heads in small examining units.

Senior Budget Examiners, under supervision, are responsible for examining the budgets of assigned agencies having moderately complex program operations.

  Positions classified as Principal Budget Examiner supervise major sections in Budget examination units and often act for the unit head in the latter’s absence. They work closely with the unit head in the review and evaluation of the programs and policies of their assigned agencies.

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

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

The following activities performed by an Associate Budget Examiner are described in detail in the classification standard for Senior Budget Examiner (Code #2001300). The level at which the Associate functions is described above in this standard.

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.

Prepares and reviews 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.

Supervises, 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.

Develops or supervises development of proposed Division of the Budget recommendations on legislation in assigned functional area.

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

In addition may supervise a small staff of Examiners in the activities listed above.

• Reviews summaries of incoming budget requests prepared by subordinates and agency staff, in order to formulate a recommendation concerning further analysis.
• Provides guidance to subordinate staff on work plans, techniques of analysis, and policy matters.
• Reviews questions prepared by subordinate examiners for use by the Budget Director at formal hearings.
• Reviews subordinate examiners’ budget recommendations for soundness and defensibility.
• Reviews and edits subordinates’ drafts of appropriation bills and other legislation.
• Reviews and edits subordinates' reports on special in-depth studies.
• Appraises subordinate employees’ work performance in order to formulate recommendations on work assignment, promotion, or training. Meets with subordinates to explain appraisal.
• Develops on-the-job training assignments for new or reassigned subordinate staff.
• Evaluates training opportunities in order to recommend staff’s assignment to same.

The incumbent has continuous communication, mostly oral, with high-level agency administrative staff, to explain Division of the Budget policies and recommendations and to foster an atmosphere of cooperation between the agency and the Division. The Associate conducts informal hearings on agency budget requests, asking questions of top-level agency personnel 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 Associate meets various on-site program supervisors and occasionally members of client populations served.

Within the Division of the Budget, the incumbent has daily face-to-face contact with supervisory and subordinate staff. The Associate frequently prepares and/or reviews written communications and reports. The incumbent also has periodic, mostly oral communication with other Budget Units.

Positions in this class are supervised by a higher level Budget Examiner who makes assignments, gives general direction and policy guidelines, is available for advice and assistance in problem areas, and reviews work performance for compliance with policy and established guidelines.

Incumbents of positions in this class often supervise one or two lower level Examiners, making assignments, providing guidance on work plans and methods, and reviewing recommendations and written reports. They assess subordinates’ work performance on the basis of personal observation at conferences and meetings, the soundness and clarity of written reports and recommendations, and comments from the assigned agency regarding rapport and effectiveness.

• Good knowledge of the organization of State Government and the budgetary effects of the interrelationships of specific agencies.
• Good knowledge of the Budget Examiner’s Manual, Budget Policy and Reporting Manual, Budget Request Manual and current Budget policy.
• Good knowledge of pertinent portions of the Civil Service Law, State Finance Law and the Comptroller’s Rules and Regulations.
• Good knowledge of State and federal budget processes.
• Good knowledge of the implications of State and federal laws and guidelines pertaining to assigned agencies and/or functional area.
• Good knowledge of assigned agencies’ programs, operations, goals, objectives and general background.
• Good knowledge of effective organization, management and budgetary principles and practices.
• Good knowledge of effective techniques and methods of conducting interviews and studies.
• Good knowledge of approved organizational structures and staffing patterns.
• Good knowledge of current reporting systems for program expenditures.
• Good knowledge of the State legislative process and the Bill Drafting Manual.
• Working knowledge of the principles and practices of supervision.
• Ability to apply 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, often 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.

One year of permanent service in a budget examining or research position allocated to Grade 23 or higher.

Reviewed: 7/02 

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.