WHAT DOES A BUDGET ANALYST DO?

The Budget Analyst ensures that projects adhere to set timelines and budgets by conducting detailed reviews of plans and forecasts. They streamline procurement and manage critical datasets, while effectively communicating any necessary project adjustments to departmental teams. By collaborating with various internal and external stakeholders, Budget Analysts develop and refine processes and reports that drive strategic business outcomes, thereby maintaining stringent oversight of budget execution and financial modeling.

A Review of Professional Skills and Functions for Budget Analyst

1. Budget Analyst Details

  • Communication: Communicate with both technical and non-technical audiences.
  • Budget Execution: Perform a wide range of analytical, technical, and collaborative functions in the execution of the annual NHTSA budget.
  • Fund Allocation Analysis: Analyze appropriations to determine the appropriate allotment of funds for individual NHTSA programs.
  • Documentation Preparation: Prepare tables summarizing the allotments, and prepare legal documents granting the allotments to appropriate NHTSA officials.
  • Technical Support: Provide technical assistance and financial data to various stakeholders on various budgetary matters.
  • Document Preparation: Prepare a wide range of documents (memoranda, letters, budget materials, emails, Q&As, briefing materials, etc.).
  • Advisory Services: Provide advice, guidance, and information to NHTSA's highest management, OST, OMB, and congressional staff.
  • Financial System Guidance: Provide guidance and assistance regarding financial systems to resource management staff and support staff across the command to ensure accurate financial reporting.

2. Budget Analyst Responsibilities

  • Project Delivery Assurance: Ensures that the project is delivered on time and within scope/budget of the proposal.
  • Plan Review: Review plans to determine costs, timeline, and funding.
  • Data Management: Procures and manages datasets required to support the department.
  • Change Communication: Clearly articulates necessary project changes to the department.
  • Process Development: Works with others both inside & outside of the department to develop processes and reporting, driving business results.
  • Budget Compilation: Is responsible for compiling and consolidating program budgets.
  • Forecast Management: Updates forecasts throughout the year and ensures that budget vs. actuals are closely monitored.
  • Strategic Partnership: Serves as a thought partner with the Program Director on budget modeling and planning.
  • Coordination: Coordinates with business and technology partners for the flawless execution of the team’s project.
  • Reporting: Creates status reports and presents them to stakeholders in relation to budget, forecasting, performance, etc.

3. Budget Analyst Accountabilities

  • Budget Development: Assist in the development of annual budgets for 75+ campuses and all Corporate and Regional departments.
  • Data Analysis: Collect and analyze historical data to use as a basis for budgeted expenses and allocation of billable hours.
  • Data Utilization: Utilize forecasts, actual performance, previous budget figures, and other data sources.
  • Strategic Understanding: Understand nuances associated with unit maturity and be able to apply this logic to budget modeling.
  • Strategic Application: Understand the organization and strategic changes and be able to apply them to the modeling strategy for budgets and forecasting purposes.
  • Stakeholder Engagement: Participate in meetings with various levels of the organization.
  • Solution Proposals: Engage and propose potential solutions to challenges and/or obstacles.
  • Communication: Communicate, verbally and via presentation, annual budgets to various levels of the organization.
  • Software Implementation: Assist in the development and implementation of a budgeting software toolset and/or various budgeting and reporting tools.
  • Excel Proficiency: Utilize Excel skills to efficiently complete tasks and improve automation of manual processes.

4. Budget Analyst Functions

  • Ad-Hoc Analysis: Perform ad-hoc analysis and special projects.
  • Process Improvement: Identify areas for improvement and the ability to streamline processes to scale for growth.
  • Department Collaboration: Work closely with various departments to achieve accurate and timely results.
  • Financial Analysis: Conduct financial, statistical, and analytical studies including Massachusetts DSRIP.
  • Budget Development: Participate in the development and maintenance of the annual budget process.
  • Creative Recommendations: Provide creative alternatives and recommendations to systematize the budget review and approval process in a high-volume setting.
  • Process Establishment: Help to develop and establish a process that team members will use in the monthly review and approval of invoices.
  • Bonus Calculation Support: Support annual and quarterly bonus calculations in accordance with the various bonus plan documents.
  • Budgeting Functions: Perform accounting and budgeting functions for DACCI including MassHealth and ACO budgets.
  • Financial Reporting: Prepare and assist in the preparation of financial reports and statements according to prescribed guidelines.

5. Budget Analyst Duties

  • Budget Preparation: Prepare annual operating and capital budgets, consolidate department budgets.
  • Budget Assistance: Assist departments with budget development and management.
  • Budget Analysis: Examine budget proposals for completeness, accuracy and compliance with standards.
  • Financial Research: Researches budget issues and evaluates and analyzes financial data and trends.
  • Public Relations: Supports the relationship between the City of Waco and the general public by demonstrating courteous cooperative behavior when interacting with citizens, visitors, and City staff.
  • Policy Application: Apply policy guidance, statistical techniques, program knowledge, expertise in system usage, and analytical skills to determine the impact on future year requirements.
  • Performance Review: Review monthly obligations to systematically compare actual performance to spend plans and compares interrelationship between resource requirements.
  • Request Analysis: Analyze requests from all activities to determine adequacy to support approved programs, projects, and conformance with budgetary guidelines.
  • Issue Resolution: Resolve issues with current financial and business systems and associated system errors.