Budget Strategies in a Downsizing Environment

A “How-to” guide to get what you want and keep what you have in your budget


“For 2012 and 2013, there will be more funding demands, than budget dollars available. Without a clear understanding of agency priorities, a blueprint for accomplishing your project, and a crisp presentation, you will likely risk losing budget dollars. If you believe last year’s budget strategy and presentation approaches are “good enough”…. they aren’t.
This is a new game and the budget stakes are high”
(3-days, 24 CLPs)

This course is available for On-Site Training only. We will bring this course to your agency or company.
Contact Don Dickson, On-Site Training Manager at (301) 455-5633 or Don.Dickson@GovernmentTrainingInc.com

Accreditation

This class counts toward the FAC-COR or FAC-P/PM Certification. This training workshop is recommended for 32 Continuous Learning Points (CLPs) toward DAWIA, FAC-C and FAC-P/PM requirements.

About this course


This course combines lectures, discussions, group exercises and case studies to address the ways in which new deficit reduction targets are changing the rules for budgeting. This will enable government agencies to discover effective techniques to formulate, defend and execute an operating budget in the new funding environment.

Federal financial pressures are increasing every day as the discretionary side of the federal budget comes under fire to play a major role in providing over $1.2 trillion in spending reductions over the next 10 years. This course will provide practical advice on how to use proven business practices and contracting strategies to prepare, present, and defend your organization’s budget. This book will provide checklists and “how to” guidelines for you and your program managers to build a defensible budget compliant with the new requirements for appropriations requests. You will be provided with tools to request funding by object class, full-time equivalents and program outcomes. You will learn about the importance of documenting performance measurement and strategic planning as the keys to support a mission-driven funding request. This course will prepare you to justify your programs and possibly increase your funding consistent with the economic policies of the President, Office of Management and Budget, Congress, and the Joint Committee on Deficit Reduction.

Budget analysis and justification is the focal point of this class. Students will use financial management and workload information to improve the agency’s budget performance, obtain funding in the future world of downsizing and reductions, and to make it a more efficient and effective organization.

Presentation of analysis

Learning Objectives


  • Learn the Budget Formulation Process
  • Learn how budgets relate to performance accountability
  • Learn Object Class codes to categorize budget expense
  • Learn Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) calculations to determine staffing requirements
  • Learn cost savings techniques
  • Learn how to develop performance measurements
  • Learn how to utilize deficit reduction mandates to your advantage
  • Learn how to justify and defend budget requests


Syllabus

  1. The Changing Budget Environment
  2. Overview of the Federal Budget Process
  3. Overview of the Performance Measurement Process
  4. Developing the Budget Request
  5. Justification for the Budget Request
  6. The Congressional Appropriation Process
  7. Budget Execution
  8. Legal Constraints
  9. Contracts and Reimbursable Agreements
  10. End Game: Solving Problems and Keeping What You’ve Got
  11. Traps to Avoid
  12. The 10 most important steps in developing and defending your budget
  13. Budget Checklist – Make sure you have covered everything

Hand-outs


  • Budget Terminology
  • Acronyms
  • Budget Estimates by Object Class
  • Full Time Equivalents (FTE)
  • Federal Budget Cycle
  • History of Budget Legislation
  • Cost Concepts
  • Web References
  • Excerpt from OMB Circular A-11

Who Should Attend


This course is intended for federal civilian employees, uniformed service members, and government contractors who are responsible for preparing and executing their agency’s budget. This course explains budget basics, concepts, methodologies and introduces strategies to respond to budget reductions in a downsizing environment.
  • Administrative Officers
  • Auditors
  • Budget Analysts
  • Financial Analysts
  • Management Analysts
  • Program Managers
  • Senior Management

Course Schedule

  • Registration begins at 8:00 am
  • Class begins at 8:30am
  • Class ends at 4:30pm
  • There are several 10-15 minute breaks throughout the day.
  • Lunch generally begins at 12:00pm and lasts approximately 1 hour

Presentation of analysis