Budget Analyst, IS-0560-12

Application Deadline: 9 June 2026

Department: National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute

Employment Type: Full Time

Location: Washington, DC

Reporting To: Budget Officer

Compensation: $102,415 - $133,142 / year

Description

OPEN DATE: May 26, 2026

CLOSING DATE: June 9, 2026 (This job will close once 200 applications are received which may be sooner than the closing date.)

POSITION TYPE: Trust Fund

APPOINTMENT TYPE: Indefinite

SCHEDULE: Full Time

DUTY LOCATION: Washington, DC

Position sensitivity and risk:Non-Sensitive/Low Risk

Who May Apply:
Open to all qualified applicants

What are Trust Fund Positions?

Trust Fund positions are unique to the Smithsonian. They are paid for from a variety of sources, including the Smithsonian endowment, revenue from our business activities, donations, grants and contracts. Trust employees are not part of the civil service, nor does trust fund employment lead to Federal status. The salary ranges for trust positions are generally the same as for federal positions and in many cases trust and federal employees work side by side. Trust employees have their own benefit program, which may include Health, Dental & Vision Insurance, Life Insurance, Transit/Commuter Benefits, Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance, Annual and Sick Leave, Family Friendly Leave, 403b Retirement Plan, Discounts for Smithsonian Memberships, Museum Stores and Restaurants, Credit Union, Smithsonian Early Enrichment Center (Child Care), Flexible Spending Account (Health & Dependent Care).

Conditions of Employment

• Pass Pre-employment Background Check and Subsequent Background Investigation for position designated.
• Complete a Probationary Period.
• Maintain a Bank Account for Direct Deposit/Electronic Transfer.
• The position is open to all candidates eligible to work in the United States. Proof of eligibility to work in U.S. is not required to apply.
• Applicants must meet all qualification and eligibility requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement.

OVERVIEW

The ideal candidate for this position will have proven multi-year experience in federal budget formulation and execution, accounting, and financial analysis in a fast-paced environment. They will have a responsibility for the development and execution of agency-wide program budget operations and the planning of program budget review efforts. Through ongoing financial analysis, trend analysis, and reporting, they will identify opportunities for smarter NZCBI investments. Through regular delivery of insights, they will enable optimization and strategic planning of program activities to help NZCBI achieve its financial objectives.

The ideal candidate for this position will join a dedicated team of business professionals wearing many hats. While budget formulation and execution will be the primary focus, this candidate will be looked to as an expert on a wide variety of other finance focus areas allowing for successful completion of the NZCBI and Smithsonian missions.

The ideal candidate will be very organized, able to meet deadlines, and possess the ability to multi-task. They must be able to communicate effectively with the NZCBI senior team, other Smithsonian organizations, professional organizations, corporations, companies, vendors, and private institutions. Patience and the ability to think outside the box are highly valued qualities in a successful candidate.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Performs budget formulation duties involved in the process of preparing detailed analyses and estimates of annual funding needs for one or more future budget years. Provides management officials with procedural and regulatory guidance concerning the availability of or limitations on the use of funds.
• Compiles and coordinates the presentation materials for all areas of the budget. Analyzes and evaluates the effects of program plans and budget issues. Continually monitors control point expenditures in relation to planned levels. Prepares reports of analysis, making recommendations for remedial action.
• Prepares various reports related to the status of funds, expenses, obligations, salaries and benefits, and workload analysis. Enters and adjusts data for major internal operating programs into a wide variety of reports, forms, and schedules-Consolidates data for a viable overview of the financial status of programs.
• Provides analysis and advice to program officials, managers, and resource administrators on financial matters associated with the management and control of resources or funds. Supplies financial statements to operating program officials for informational and financial planning purposes.
• Advises on and/or performs professional financial accounting duties. Develops accounting procedures and resolves technical problems in executing a computerized, integrated accounting system. Reconciles accounts with manual and computer subsidiary accounts.

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS

• Knowledge of budgetary policies, procedures, goals, objectives, regulations, and guidelines, as well as the budgeting and financial relationships between the assigned budget and budgets and programs of other agency components and organizations.
• Knowledge of, and skill in the application of, methods and techniques to analyze and evaluate the effects of continuing changes in program plans and funding (e.g., cost-benefit analysis, management by objectives, probability theory, etc.).
• Knowledge of the analysis of accounting systems to modify and adapt conventional accounting analytical techniques and to solve a variety of accounting problems.
• Demonstrated skills in drafting internal policies for unit-wide implementation.
• Demonstrated skills in establishing program objectives and units of measure for determining when objectives have been met.
• Ability to make recommendations for actions when adjustments or a different course of action is necessary and take actions necessary to correct any identified problems.

Education completed outside the United States must be deemed equivalent to higher education programs of U.S. Institutions by an organization that specializes in the interpretation of foreign educational credentials. This documentation is the responsibility of the applicant and should be included as part of your application package.

Any false statement in your application may result in rejection of your application and may also result in termination after employment begins.

Join us in "Inspiring Generations through Knowledge and Discovery."

Resumes should include a description of your paid and non-paid work experience that is related to this job; starting and ending dates of job (month and year); and average number of hours worked per week.

What To Expect Next: Once the vacancy announcement closes, a review of your resume will be compared against the qualification and experience requirements related to this job. After review of applicant resumes is complete, qualified candidates will be referred to the hiring manager.

Relocation expenses are not paid.

The Smithsonian Institution provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities where appropriate. Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation should contact LaDonnys Biagas [redacted]. Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis. To learn more, please review the Smithsonian's Accommodation Procedures.