Budget Manager

Job Title

Manages the annual budget in a decentralized budgeting environment. Remains current on applicable program requirements, updates, and changes. Reviews and certifies vouchers for payment. Monitors spending to identify problem areas and makes necessary changes. Collaborates with members of management on budget and organizational issues. Advises managers and unit executives on staffing costs, cost projections, and related issues. Participates in strategic planning and provides advice to help achieve court unit goals.

Assists the unit executive by overseeing and managing the U.S. Probation Office budget on a day-to-day basis including planning, estimating, reprogramming, projecting, monitoring, and reporting status of funds. Ensures the funds are never exceeded in accordance with the Anti-Deficiency Act. Advises the unit executive of any unusual or critical budget funding, special situations or potential shortfalls and suggests possible solutions. Makes budgetary recommendations within allotments and coordinates budget operations, as required, with the Administrative Office Finance & Budget Division. Reviews accounting records of each functional area allotment, reprograms funds, and reconciles accounts. Keeps program managers informed of current funding within their programs.

Formulates, evaluates, and implements policies, procedures, and protocols related to financial and budgetary operations, and execution within the unit and court. Serves as a liaison to the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts by advising managers, executives, or judges on court financial and budget matters and serves as project manager on special financial or budget initiatives.

Oversees the review of all vouchers related to various expenses for propriety of payment and proper classification of the funds disbursed.

Manages, develops, and mentors professional staff involved in financial and budget activities and procurement functions, including establishing standards, assigning and reviewing work, evaluating performance, and handling disciplinary actions. Oversees the daily operations of staff, conducts staff meetings, provides information, and delegates work. Routinely checks work products and processes, and provides coaching, training and guidance as required.

Prepares the overall fiscal budget plan for review by the unit executive. Performs data analysis and conducts modeling based on different operational scenarios. Manages all aspects of the budget throughout the fiscal year which includes reviewing the accuracy of allotments, preparation of the annual budget call, recommending and performing reprogramming between budget accounts, and coordinating financial appeals, supplemental requests, or justifications.

Researches and analyzes financial-and-budget related questions, problems, trends, and areas for improvement. Responds or prepares written correspondence, as required. Conducts work measurement and work productivity studies related to financial, budget, and associated activities and prepares reports.

Performs internal reviews to ensure that the court unit is in compliance with the Guide to Judiciary Policy, internal controls, and generally accepted accounting principles. Prepares documents to identify findings and develops written recommendations.

In conjunction with the Chief U.S. Probation Officer, coordinates the annual spending plan and monitors ongoing revisions throughout the year to ensure availability and proper accounting of funds.

Monitors and tracks obligations and expenditures throughout the execution phase of the annual operating budget. Verifies that obligations and expenditures are in accordance with the spending plan and regulatory controls, are within amounts programmed.

Prepares complex financial and statistical reports related to budgetary obligations, expenditures, and projections. Prepares and submits reports required by the AO in a consistent and timely manner.

Adheres to the internal control procedures and the internal control operating procedures in monitoring and executing the budget. Maintains a Budget Organization Plan which documents procedures related to the management, planning, formulation, and execution of the budget.

Performs the day-to-day budget management functions within the Judiciary Integrated Financial Management System (JIFMS) accounting system. Reviews vouchers for payment of appropriated and non-appropriated funds. Maintains and monitors the Judiciary Payroll Projection System (JPPS) used to project salaries. Performs bi-weekly reconciliation of personnel costs.

Performs projections related to salary expenditures and obligations. Reliably advises unit executives on staffing, costs and cost projections, and related issues.

Serves as the Agency/Organization Program Coordinator (A/OPC) and approving official for the travel and purchase card programs ensuring that all spending adheres to the policies of the credit card vendor and travel policies.