This position is located in the Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Benefits Administration, Support Services Division (SSD), at the Buffalo, NY VA Regional Office. The incumbent serves as a Senior Financial Administrative Specialist working independently with internal and external customers on operational matters and on exercising program responsibility.

Duties

MAJOR DUTIES: 1. Administers a fiscal program that includes payments for general operating expenditures and benefit programs 2. Serves as a subject matter expert on all aspects of fiscal and accounting activities 3. Provides management and operating officials advice and assistance on all financial matters 4. Advises station management on the availability of funds 5. Maintains compensation, pension, and education benefit payment records 6. Determines training needs of staff 7. Advises and instructs subordinate employees on work and administrative matters 8. Examines, certifies and audit vouchers submitted for payment, while assessing compliance with applicable laws, regulations, policies and procedures 9. Establishes and maintains internal controls systems with a special emphasis on the operational areas identified as having a high risk of fraud, waste, and abuse 10. Ability to communicate either by phone or correspondence with veterans, fiduciary, other offices with inquiry results 11. Prepares fiscal, administrative, and other statistical reports as deemed appropriate and/or as required and serves on such other projects as directed 12. Responds to inquiries from Congressional Offices, Regional Counsel and Office of IG 13. Must have a thorough understanding of the various benefit programs and the payment procedures and regulations applicable to each program administered by the Department 14. Independently performs reviews and analysis for accuracy and consistency of data such as audits, debts and reimbursement 15. Ensures that recurring reports are accurately complied and completed on time 16. Provides technical advice to all Regional Office employees on complex and unusual benefit award adjustments, special payment issues, and accounts receivable actions on the applicable computer applications 17. Ability to use specific VA computer applications, in additions to Microsoft Excel, Word and other electronic database applications 18. Performs accounting reviews and payment function, checks for discrepancies and advises management with proposed plans to prevent future unassociated funds situations 19. Develops procedures and coordinates activities across functional lines with other divisions, Regional Offices, service organization, and with other government departments or agencies 20. Responsible for planning, organizing, assigning and reviewing the work performed within the Finance and Accounting areas. 21. Must be well versed in all facets of the financial and general operating procedures for the Regional Office, which requires substantial technical and managerial expertise 22. Serves as a Certifying Official authorizing all financial transactions, adjustments, and Collections. 23. Skilled in completing oral and written presentations that are clear, concise and logical Work Schedule: Full time, Monday through Friday Compressed/Flexible: Available Telework: Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: ; 39958A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not Required

Requirements

• You must be a U.S. citizen to apply for this job
• Subject to a background/suitability investigation
• May serve a probationary period
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process
• A complete application package; Resume, SF 50 etc.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement 11/08/2023. TIME-IN-GRADE REQUIREMENT: Applicants who are current Federal employees and have held a GS grade any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements. For a GS-12 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-11 level. The grade may have been in any occupation, but must have been held in the Federal service. An SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials. MINIMUM QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENT: You may qualify based on your experience as described below: GS-12: One year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-11 grade level in the federal service); experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities (KSA's) and other characteristics to successfully perform the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled, in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Specialized experience includes: Using programs that include the payment for general operating expenditures; Using computer applications used for all accounts payable and receivable as well as auditing; and Examining, certifying, and auditing vouchers submitted for payment. There is no educational substitution for the GS-12 level. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Administration and Management Financial Management Planning and Evaluating Volunteer Experience: Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Full vs. Part-Time Employment: Full-time employment is considered to be at least 35 hours per week. Part-time experience will be credited on a pro-rated basis; when including part-time employment in your resume you must specify the average hours worked per week. Physical Requirements: The work is primarily sedentary. The work is usually performed in an office setting. For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at http://://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/.

Education

There is no educational substitution at this grade level.

Contacts

• Address Buffalo Regional Benefits Office 130 S. Elmwood Ave. Buffalo, NY 14202 US
• Name: Carolyn Cross
• Phone: (716) 857-3140
• Email: [email protected]