SSA Budget Lead (AGENCY BUDGET SPECIALIST LEAD)

MD; Baltimore (MD); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental plan

Vision plan

Telework possible

Job summary

The Maryland Department of Human Services (DHS) seeks a Lead Budget Analyst to support a budget team responsible for preparing, monitoring, and enforcing the Social Services Administration/Child Welfare budgets. The role involves development, negotiation, and execution of budgets while overseeing junior staff to ensure alignment with state and federal guidelines.

The ideal candidate will bring extensive experience in budget preparation and analysis, with familiarity in FMIS and BARS, and a

Qualifications

• Eight years of experience in budget preparation, presentation and execution.
• Substitution: Bachelor's degree + 4 years experience in budget prep/presentation/execution.
• Substitution: 30 credit hours graduate study in accounting, business, economics, finance, political science or public administration for five years experience.

Responsibilities

• Evaluate financial systems and data structures to establish robust monitoring methodologies across departmental programs.
• Analyze fiscal data to assess operational impacts, program success, and compliance with regulations and grants.
• Maintain fiscal integrity and oversight of agency budgets, expenditure projections, and routine reports for OBF and executive staff.
• Prepare budget instruction guidelines and distribute them to central and local departments to standardize submissions.
• Gather and evaluate prior-year expenditures to identify spending trends and project future needs.
• Review administration submissions and defend budget recommendations to OBF management.
• Provide administrative support and manage daily office workloads on program projects.
• Participate in internal meetings, committees, and workgroups as directed by leadership.

Skills

Budget analysis

Financial data analysis

Budget preparation

Forecasting

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

FMIS

BARS

Job description

Introduction

When you join the Maryland Department of Human Services (DHS), you join a team of more than 5,000 employees across the state dedicated to positively changing the lives of more than 1 million Marylanders each year. We do this by providing economic support, preventive services, and caring for children and adults. We aim to deliver services so that we more quickly meet the needs of the people we serve. At DHS, we grapple with hard questions to find new ways to foster a culture of bold innovation. We do this to ensure that in Maryland, we leave no one behind.

GRADE

STD0017

LOCATION OF POSITION

Maryland Department of Human Services
Office of Budget and Finance
25 S. Charles Street
Baltimore, MD 21201

Main Purpose of Job

The major function of this position is to provide staff support and assistance as a lead Budget Analyst for a budget team assigned to prepare, monitor and enforce a specified DHS administration's central and local budget. The Lead Budget Analyst is responsible for the development, negotiation and execution of the Social Services Administration/Child Welfare budgets as well as the assignment and review of work of lower-level analyst and support staff. The analyst ensures that funds for the provision of services are obtained and managed in a manner consistent with all State and Federal guidelines and overall Department goals.

POSITION DUTIES

• Systematically evaluates financial systems, data structures, and agency formatting needs to establish robust monitoring methodologies across departmental programs.
• Ongoing analysis of fiscal data, the position assesses operational impacts, program success, and compliance with program regulations and grant proposals.
• Maintain fiscal integrity and oversight, agency budgets, expenditure projections, and routine financial reports for Office of Budget and Finance (OBF) management, the CFO, and executive staff.
• Prepares comprehensive budget instruction guidelines and distributes them to both central administrations and local departments to ensure standardized request submissions across the agency.
• Establish a sound basis for future funding, the position gathers and evaluates prior-year expenditures to identify spending trends while projecting upcoming financial needs based on programmatic plans and designs.
• Reviews administration submissions, recommends appropriate funding levels, additions, deletions, or adjustments, and actively justifies and defends all budget recommendations to Office of Budget and Finance (OBF) management.
• Provides comprehensive administrative support, manages daily office workloads, prepares official correspondence, and oversees assigned program projects.
• Ensure effective governance, the position actively participates in internal meetings, committees, and specialized workgroups as directed by leadership.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Applicants must meet all minimum (and selective) qualifications to be considered, and to appear on the list of people eligible for hire. Please read all requirements before applying.

Experience: Eight years of experience in budget preparation, presentation and execution.

1. Candidates may substitute the possession of a Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university and four years of experience in budget preparation, presentation and execution for the required experience.
2. Candidates may substitute graduate education from an accredited college or university in accounting, business administration, economics, finance, political science or public administration at a rate of 30 credit hours for five years of required experience.
3. Candidates may substitute U.S. Armed Forces military service experience as a commissioned officer in the Budget Officer classifications or Financial Management specialty codes in the Budgeting field of work on a year-for-year basis for the required experience.

DESIRED OR PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

Preference will be given to applicants who possess the following preferred qualification(s). Include clear and specific information on your application regarding your qualifications.

• One year of experience with the Maryland Financial Management Information System (FMIS).
• One year of experience with the Budget Analysis and Reporting System (BARS).
• One year of experience preparing and/or overseeing a budget in a government agency.

SELECTION PROCESS

Please make sure that you provide sufficient information on your application to show that you meet the qualifications for this recruitment. All information concerning your qualifications must be submitted by the closing date. We will not consider information submitted after this date. Successful candidates will be ranked as Best Qualified, Better Qualified, or Qualified and placed on the eligible (employment) list for at least one year.

If you are in State service and are a promotional candidate, your salary will be determined in accordance with State of Maryland guidelines.

EXAMINATION PROCESS

The examination will consist of a rating of your education, training, and experience as presented on your application and as they relate to the requirements of the position. You may be asked to complete a supplemental questionnaire. The supplemental questionnaire may be used as part of the rating process. Therefore, it is important that you provide complete and accurate information on your application.

For education obtained outside the U.S., a copy of the equivalent American education as determined by a foreign credential evaluation service is required prior to hire.

BENEFITS

As an employee of the State of Maryland, you will have access to outstanding benefits, including: health insurance, dental, and vision plans offered at a low cost.

• Personal Leave - new State employees are awarded six (6) personnel days annually (prorated based on start date).
• Annual Leave – ten (10) days of accumulated annual leave per year.
• Sick Leave – fifteen (15) days of accumulated sick leave per year.
• Parental Leave – up to sixty (60) days of paid parental leave upon the birth or adoption of a child.
• Holidays – State employees also celebrate at least twelve (12) holiday per year.
• Pension – State employees earn credits towards a retirement pension.
• Positions may be eligible for telework.

As an equal opportunity employer, Maryland is committed to recruiting, retaining and promoting employees who are reflective of the State’s diversity. People with disabilities and bilingual candidates are encouraged to apply. We thank our Veterans for their service to our country.