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The "budget preparation specialist" designation is a job title within
the GS-560 "budget analyst" series that was specifically developed to
recognize the unique duties of certain analysts within the Office of
Management and Budget (OMB). Organizationally, these analysts comprise
the majority of the staff of the Budget Review and Concepts Division
of OMB.
The budget preparation specialist participates in a variety of functions
related to the preparation, execution, and analysis of the President's
budget. Generally, the work encompasses problem identification and
resolution; compilation and analysis of program and budgetary information
gathered from a variety of sources; technical and substantive review of
budgetary data, appropriations language and related Congressional reports,
and other information; preparation of associated tables, reports, letters,
memoranda, and the like; liaison functions within and outside of the OMB;
representation of Branch work at varying levels of government; and a
variety of data/information management and administrative tasks associated
with budget analysis.
Examples of specific work assignments include:
Monitoring Congressional action on appropriations bills. The
specialist serves as the focal point for preparation and dissemination
of information concerning the Administration's position on appropriations
action taken by the Congress. Attends mark-up sessions; conducts liaison
activities with the Appropriations Committees and the Congressional Budget
Office (CBO); maintains a computer data file supporting the appropriations
monitoring process; prepares letters to Congressional leadership,
statements of Administration policy, and various supporting materials
for use by OMB policy officials and the White House in conducting negotiations
with the Congress on appropriations matters.
Contributing to preparation of the President's budget. Working with
other staff of the Division, the specialist coordinates the development
of the data base that supports the President's annual budget and contributes
to the preparation of the technical materials portion of the budget document.
Reviews agency budget submissions for technical and conceptual accuracy
and consistency; works with OMB program divisions to resolve problems
encountered; ensures that milestones in the budget preparation process
are met, and that both the budget document and the data base supporting
it are of high technical quality.
Preparation of recurring and ad hoc analytical reports.
Frequently using personal computer applications, the specialist compiles
data and other information and analyzes its implications in order to
produce statistical or analytical reports for the use of OMB policy
leadership. The subject matter of the analysis may concern a wide variety
of budgetary topics such as (1) planned versus actual spending in the
current fiscal year; (2) the effect of budgetary proposals on the
discretionary spending limits established by the Budget Enforcement
Act; and (3) comparisons of OMB and CBO scoring of legislation.
Analysis of budgetary issues. Working independently or, more
typically, as part of a work group, the specialist exercises reasoning
skills in considering various conceptual, technical, and procedural issues
related to the budget process (e.g., implications of the Budget
Enforcement Act for OMB reporting requirements, refinement of computer
systems applications to accommodate evolving technical budgeting
requirements). The result of these efforts may include (1) development
of OMB positions on various conceptual issues to facilitate the exchange
of information with the Congressional Budget Office, the House and
Senate Budget Committees, and the Appropriations Committees; and, (2)
development of guidance for the OMB program divisions and other
Federal agencies.