This position is located in the Support Services Division (SSD) at a VA Regional Office (RO) in Fort Harrison, MT, Lincoln, NE or Houston, TX. The incumbent serves as a Financial Accounts Technician (FAT) under the supervision of the Supervisory Financial Administrative Specialist and performs accounting, civilian payroll, and accounts receivable functions in accordance with applicable laws, regulations, policies, and procedures.

Duties

Specific duties are as follows: Prepares audits of benefit awards; processing fiscal transactions-including one-time special payments and out of system payments to bring accounts to current status. Communicates with Veterans and their beneficiaries, as well as other governmental agencies, in person, by telephone or through written communication. Processes check tracers for Veterans and their beneficiaries for claims of non-receipt and initiates reclamation action when necessary. Examines expenditure vouchers prior to payment to assure that existing laws and regulations authorize the expenditure and that the amount is in compliance with set schedules. Ensures that vouchers are certified, appropriate documentation is attached, and the computations are mathematically correct having the authority to suspend or disallow payments when the criterion for payment is not met. Reviews and analyzes financial statements from the debtor, information in claims folders, and other correspondence associated with debts and prepares appropriate documents. Acts as a liaison with financial departments to answer overpayment inquiries from Veterans or their beneficiaries. Utilizes the payment information systems to determine interest and monthly payment disbursement. Analyzes all incoming mail to the Finance Section and correctly classifies documents for processing. Maintains and compiles info. for required monthly, quarterly, semi-annual, annual, special, and/or one-time reports, including workload reports. Maintains a system of accounting records for all financial management system transactions within the Regional Office. Posts and maintains manual and computerized ledgers and related subsidiary journals and journalizes corrective actions for erroneous conditions. Prepares all necessary documents for transfer of funds, whether intra-agency or inter-agency, and prepares budgets reports. Researches, interprets, and verifies which appropriation and general ledger accounts to establish for input. Makes necessary payroll adjustments, including leave record adjustments, and input info into Personnel and Accounting systems. As agent cashier, performs research through several computerized programs to ID the benefit payment system where the debt resides to avoid unassociated deposits. Promotion Potential: The selectee may be promoted to the full performance level without further competition when all regulatory, qualification, and performance requirements are met. Selection at a lower grade level does not guarantee promotion to the full performance level. Work Schedule: Full time, Monday through Friday Compressed/Flexible: Available Telework: Yes, per Agency guidelines. Virtual: This is NOT a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Financial Accounts Technician; 37340A, 37341A, 37342A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not Required Physical Requirements: The work normally involves mental rather than physical exertion. This is a Bargaining Unit position.

Requirements

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
• You may be required to serve a probationary period
• Subject to background/security investigation
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process
• If you receive a conditional offer of employment for this position, you will be required to complete an Optional Form 306, Declaration for Federal Employment, and to sign and certify the accuracy of all information in your application.
• All Federal employees are required to have Federal salary payments made by direct deposit to a financial institution of their choosing.
• This is a Bargaining Unit position.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement:01/04/2024. 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 (unless if in the commuting area and eligible for a non-competitive hiring authority such as Schedule A, VRA, or 30% or more disabled Veterans). 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. These requirements also apply to former Federal employees applying for reinstatement and those applying for a Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment. Applicants must demonstrate that they meet the Minimum Qualification requirements as noted below. Specialized Experience: To qualify for this GS-05: You must possess at least one year of specialized experience, equivalent in difficulty and responsibility to the GS-04 grade level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors. This experience in the Federal service include: Entering requests into various systems; Assisting with timekeeping duties; Computing pay requests after supervisor validates research of technical manuals; Processing financial actions under strict supervision; and Using payroll systems and actions required to input, correct, and obtain information under supervision OR You have successfully completed 4 years above high school. (You must provide supporting transcripts) OR possess a combination of specialized experience as described and education as described and when combined equal 100% of the total requirement. (Must submit transcripts.) To qualify for this GS-06: You must possess at least one year of specialized experience, equivalent in difficulty and responsibility to the GS-05 grade level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors. This experience in the Federal service include: Computing pay requests through independent research of technical manuals; Processing recurring official pay adjustment documents; Using automated payroll systems and actions required to input, correct, and obtain information independently; Advising on pay plan systems in accordance with company guidelines/regulations; and Providing technical advice to all employees regarding payroll, time and leave matters. To qualify for the GS-07 grade level: You must have at least one year of specialized experience, equivalent in difficulty and responsibility to the GS-06 grade level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). This experience must include: Using payroll, accounting, or financial systems to ensure actions are in compliance with applicable laws or regulations; Auditing and reconciling payroll or financial reports; AND Advising employees on applicable guidelines for pay plans or retirement systems to ensure actions are in compliance with applicable laws and regulations. There is no educational substitution for the GS-07 level. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: 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. 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

If you are claiming education as any part of your qualifications for this position, you must submit an official transcript, unofficial transcript, or a list including courses, grades earned, completion dates, and quarter and semester hours earned with your application to verify your qualifications.

Transcripts: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education. Transcripts must depict the name of the college to determine accreditation, and your name must also be displayed on the transcripts. If qualifying based on a degree, or for positions requiring a degree, the transcript must show the date the degree was conferred.

There is no educational substitution for the GS-06 and GS-07 levels.

Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/.

Special Instructions for Foreign Education: If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education.

For further information, visit: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html.

Contacts

• Address VBACO HRC Denver 810 Vermont Ave NW Washington, DC 20420 US
• Name: Ersula Stanford
• Phone: 303-914-5684
• Email: [email protected]