By Government, For Government
Our Work
Check out the many offerings developed and supported by the Budget Line of Business.
Trainings — TechnologyAttend courses to learn and feel more comfortable using technology toolsStarting in 2017, the Budget LoB expanded our technology course offerings to help improve...
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Trainings — TechnologyStarting in 2017, the Budget LoB expanded our technology course offerings to help improve the budget community's knowledge to fulfill work in budget. Courses include Intro and Advanced Excel, SharePoint Basics, SharePoint Workflows, MAX Basics, MAX Creating a Collaboration Space, and MAX Workflows. Excel, SharePoint, and MAX are all common tools used by budget offices across the Federal Government. Many of these courses are hands–on, where the students bring their laptops and work alongside the instructor, enhancing the learning experience and making it easier for them to utilize these skills upon returning to their respective agencies. |
Use Cases — QFRsLook at how agencies are streamlining Congressional Questions for the Record (QFRs)Many agencies are already using MAX tools, such as MAX Federal Community and MAX Collect, to streamline...
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Use Cases — QFRsMany agencies are already using MAX tools, such as MAX Federal Community and MAX Collect, to streamline the process of responding to QFRs. Users can use MAX Community to build a collaboration area for QFR respondents and reviewers to author, edit, and review responses with workflow, version control, and document assembly capabilities to format and publish a final document. Agencies can use MAX Collect to centralize and structure the data collection process by using text and grid sections to collect formatted information; applying workflow capabilities that allows reviewers to ensure that response times are efficient; and publishing a customized export. Overall, agencies have found that the QFR review process runs much more smoothly with the help of MAX. |
Tools — MAX Federal CommunityBuild secure agency collaboration spacesAgencies can store and maintain documents and information, hold discussions, and manage workflow processes with...
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Tools — MAX Federal CommunityAgencies can store and maintain documents and information, hold discussions, and manage workflow processes with this wiki-type platform, the most widely used inter-agency collaboration tool in the Federal Government. This capability is a must-have for cross-agency collaboration! |
Use Cases — PortalsCreate a one-stop shop for all of your budget needsSeveral agencies have used one of our tools, MAX Federal Community, to create portals, or “one-stop shops,” that...
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Use Cases — PortalsSeveral agencies have used one of our tools, MAX Federal Community, to create portals, or “one-stop shops,” that conveniently and efficiently organize important resources. The portals allow federal budget employees to have ready access to resources (both internal and external), tools, and exercises, without a massive search effort. |
Trainings — Focus on Three Basic ProcessesWhat is the President’s Budget?The “Budget Formulation: Focus on Three Basic Processes” course is a hands-on session...
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Trainings — Focus on Three Basic ProcessesThe “Budget Formulation: Focus on Three Basic Processes” course is a hands-on session whose goal is to acquaint newer employees in agency budget shops with key activities that lead to effective formulation and development of the President’s Budget. This training begins by requiring participants to locate and post three of the documents related to the formulation of their agency budget including (1) enacted appropriations language, (2) the Congressional Justification or "CJ", and (3) the President's Budget Appendix. During the course, the facilitator will help participants understand these documents and the processes that create them. Participants will work in small groups to learn, build, and share. |
Tools — MAX CollectManage large datasets and workflows with easeMAX Collect manages large data sets and structures data collections through pre-defined workflows, while...
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Tools — MAX CollectMAX Collect manages large data sets and structures data collections through pre-defined workflows, while providing industry-leading publication capabilities. Agencies have conducted hundreds of data collection exercises using MAX Collect, eliminating redundant data entry and simplifying the data collection process. |
Trainings — ForumsMeet and learn from passionate budget professionals from across the Federal GovernmentThe Budget LoB Forum is a semi-annual conference dedicated to bringing together...
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Trainings — ForumsThe Budget LoB Forum is a semi-annual conference dedicated to bringing together budget professionals and others interested in the work and products of the Budget LoB, with the focus on making your job easier and your organization more efficient and effective. Recent Forums have been attended by an average of over 230 federal budget employees and speakers from almost 40 agencies across the Federal Government. |
Use Cases — ApportionmentsTake a look at how agencies are managing their apportionments efficiently and effectivelyOver a dozen agencies across the Federal Government have joined the Apportionment Management Workgroup with the goal of...
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Use Cases — ApportionmentsOver a dozen agencies across the Federal Government have joined the Apportionment Management Workgroup with the goal of transitioning to an automated system which provides transparency, reduces time, eliminates paper waste, and allows for remote access. Several agencies have already implemented the Apportionment Manager, taking advantage of the current features, including a structured workflow, the ability to upload/download files, checkpoints, validation, revalidation, workflow notifications, submission services to the OMB Apportionment System, permissions and access, and signatory approvals. One Cabinet Level Agency touted decreasing processing time for an apportionment from 25-30 days to nearly 12 days, in less than 5 months! |
Use Cases — CJsEnsure version control for Congressional Justifications (CJs)Several agencies are using MAX tools to streamline the process of producing...
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Use Cases — CJsSeveral agencies are using MAX tools to streamline the process of producing Congressional Justifications (CJs). MAX Federal Community allows agencies to replace a process that relies on emailing documents back and forth with one that uses a customized workflow, document management, and version control. This allows agencies to create documents quickly, collaborate on documents in a structured way, and organize internal and external reviews. |
Tools — MAX SurveyCreate and send secure surveysAgencies can gather information utilizing a flexible tool for creating and...
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Tools — MAX SurveyAgencies can gather information utilizing a flexible tool for creating and publishing online surveys and questionnaires. MAX Survey has robust options for navigation and in-survey conditional logic, and results can be downloaded to Excel or displayed within CTools Reports. |
Trainings — Panels and BrownbagsGet inspired by successful budget leadersListen in as budget experts share their insights and perspectives on...
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Trainings — Panels and BrownbagsListen in as budget experts share their insights and perspectives on budget and career development topics. |
Trainings — Appropriations Law ModulesLearn how to avoid an Anti‑Deficiency Act (ADA) violationThis overview course focuses on appropriations law basics and avoiding...
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Trainings — Appropriations Law ModulesThis overview course focuses on appropriations law basics and avoiding violation of the Anti‑Deficiency Act. The lessons are separated into five segments, ranging from three minutes to 18 minutes. Additional information about Appropriations Law can be found on the U.S. Government Accountability Office website, including The Red Book, which is a multi-volume treatise concerning federal fiscal law. |
Tools — MAX Shared DesktopRemotely share your screen anywhere, anytimeAgencies are using MAX Shared Desktop as a remote access and...
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Tools — MAX Shared DesktopAgencies are using MAX Shared Desktop as a remote access and screen sharing tool to allow multiple people to interact on the same virtual computer desktop. Sharing files, working on documents together, and enabling easy collaboration from miles away are all possible with this tool. Agencies are hosting large gatherings and training sessions with remote participants, broadcasting the computer screen and allowing viewers to follow their actions in real time. |
Tools — CTools ReportsAnalyze and visualize your data dynamically and beautifullyCTools Reports provide the ability to analyze and...
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Tools — CTools ReportsCTools Reports provide the ability to analyze and visualize data from MAX Collect and MAX Survey. Its easy-to-use, sortable and filterable interface allows MAX users to query and pivot data on web dashboards and view dynamic charts, graphs, and tables. For example, if you have a process with workflows integrated, we can create status and duration reports which would show all of the items in each stage and how long it took each item to move from one stage to another respectively. Alternatively, if you have a collection of resources with related authors, dates, and links, we can create a report which conveys all of this information in one dashboard with hyperlinks to the related (internal or external) resources. |
Use Cases — Process MapsReview budget execution and formulation business processes from start to finishThe Budget Execution and Formulation Process Maps serve as input...
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Use Cases — Process MapsThe Budget Execution and Formulation Process Maps serve as input to the overall budget enterprise architecture, as well as for training materials. The maps model processes that are common to all government agencies and help map data flows between OMB, Treasury, and Federal Government agencies. Explanatory notes are included with each map. |
Trainings — Budget Formulation ModulesLearn how your agency develops its annual budgetThis overview course covers the basic Federal Government-wide processes associated with...
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Trainings — Budget Formulation ModulesThis overview course covers the basic Federal Government-wide processes associated with budget formulation. The seven lessons include strategic planning; bureau budget requests and justifications; department budget submissions and justifications; the OMB Budget process; the President's Budget; the Congressional appropriations process; and the budget staff's role in the Congressional appropriations process, as well as an introduction and conclusion section. The videos range from two minutes to 16 minutes in length. |
Trainings — Budget Execution ModulesOnce agencies have money, what do they do with it?This overview course covers the basic Federal Government-wide processes associated with...
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Trainings — Budget Execution ModulesThis overview course covers the basic Federal Government-wide processes associated with budget execution. The seven lessons include making appropriations; making appropriations available; commitments, obligations, and outlays; operating (financial) plan and transfers; operating plan adjustments and reprogramming; cancellations and rescissions; and year-end closeout and reporting activity, as well as an introduction and conclusion section. The videos range from three and a half minutes to 11 minutes in length. |
Use Cases — Onboarding PortalUse our onboarding template to create a customized space for your new employeesOnboarding new employees is a challenge across the...
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Use Cases — Onboarding PortalOnboarding new employees is a challenge across the Federal Government, from determining the levels of importance for information to figuring out the best means of dissemination. The Budget LoB provides our Partner Agencies a new user template on the MAX Federal Community with customizable sections for each agency and a Budget LoB-maintained section with key information applicable for the entire federal budget community. New employees now have a “one-stop shop” for the resources and information needed in their first few weeks of employment. |
Use Cases — Road MapFocus on your personal career developmentThe Budget LoB’s Human Capital Workgroup developed a ...
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Use Cases — Road MapThe Budget LoB’s Human Capital Workgroup developed a Career Road Map for professionals in the federal budget community to gain a deeper understanding about the knowledge and proficiencies expected at various points on the career ladder, from entry level to senior level. The road map is based on the main categories of skills budget professionals may need throughout their careers: the Federal Budget Process; Budgetary Accounting and Control; Federal Legislation, Regulations, and Guidance; Budget Development and Justification; Planning and Performance Evaluation; and Financial Analysis, Forecasting, and Modeling. By outlining the behaviors, proficiencies, and knowledge continuum for each topic and differentiating between entry level, middle level, and expert/senior level, the Career Road Map aids professionals in understanding the skills required at each step in their career. Additionally, this tool may act as a guide for seeking new opportunities within the agency, whether it is on detail or a new position, making employees better-rounded and increasingly skilled to advance in the federal budget community. |
Tools — MAX CalendarEasily manage and keep track of cross‑agency meetings and deadlinesMAX Calendar provides calendaring capabilities to...
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Tools — MAX CalendarMAX Calendar provides calendaring capabilities to cross-agency collaborative teams and initiatives. Individuals can sync and share their personal calendar with other MAX users to ease the process of scheduling meetings with multiple parties, particularly across agency lines. |
Trainings — Onboarding PlanLooking for resources as a new employee?The Budget Onboarding Plan is the end product of a collaboration amongst federal agencies and the...
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Trainings — Onboarding PlanThe Budget Onboarding Plan is the end product of a collaboration amongst federal agencies and the Budget LoB’s Human Capital Workgroup, focused on supporting employees during their first six weeks of employment, whether they are new to the Federal Government, new to budget, or new to an agency. A cross-section of budget analysts developed a checklist of information an individual should know or gain exposure to in order to hit the ground running in their new position. |