The primary purpose of this position is to provide accounting and financial reporting on behalf of the Regional Office. The division also implements VA accounting policy, performs financial management system and general ledger operations, prepares financial statements, and other financial reports. This position is located in the Support Services Division (SSD) at a VA Regional Office (RO).

Duties

The Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) is a wide network of field locations where personnel provide Veterans, their dependents, and survivors with information, advice and assistance regarding the availability and procurement of benefits under laws administered by the Department of Veterans Affairs(VA) and other agencies. Primary duties include but are not limited to the following: Examines, certifies and audit vouchers submitted for payment, while assessing compliance with applicable laws, regulations, policies, and procedures. 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 Ability to communicate either by phone or correspondence with veterans, fiduciary, other offices with inquiry results Prepares fiscal, administrative, and other statistical reports as deemed appropriate and/or as required and serves on such other projects as directed Responds to inquiries from Congressional Offices, Regional Counsel and Office of Inspector General Must have a thorough understanding of the various benefit programs and the payment procedures and regulations applicable to each program administered by the Department Independently performs reviews for accuracy and consistency of data such as audits, debts, and reimbursement Ensures that recurring reports are accurately complied and completed on time 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 Ability to use specific VA computer applications, in additions to Microsoft Excel, Word and other electronic database applications Performs accounting reviews and payment function checks for discrepancies and advises management with proposes plans to prevent future unassociated funds situations Provides administration support to management staff for personnel management, budget administration, procurement and other financial related activities Serve as subject matter expert in all areas of the Financial Operations section Oversee the work of the Financial Administrative Specialist and ensures appropriate separations of duties are in place and the financial integrity of the regional office is maintain and upheld Develops procedures and coordinates activities across functional lines with other divisions, Regional Offices, service organization, and with other government departments or agencies 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 Responsible for planning, organizing, assigning and reviewing the work performed within the Operations area Salary: The salary range indicated in this announcement will be adjusted to include locality payment for selected duty location. General Schedule locality pay tables may be found under Salaries & Wages. Work Schedule: Full time, Monday through Friday Compressed/Flexible: May be available per local agency guidelines TELEWORK ELIGIBLE: Yes per Agency guidelines. Virtual: This IS NOT a virtual position Position Description Title/PD#: Financial Administrative Specialist/ #37339A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Bargaining Unit: Yes, This is a bargaining unit position. Physical Requirements: The work normally involves mental rather than physical exertion. Promotion Potential: None Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
• Designated and/or random drug testing may be required
• 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
• Bargaining Unit Position: Yes
• All Federal employees are required to have Federal salary payments made by direct deposit to a financial institution of their choosing.
• 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.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement 02/20/2024, Time-in-Grade Requirements: Under competitive merit promotion procedures, any individual who is currently holding, or who has held within the previous 52 weeks, a General Schedule position under a non-temporary appointment in the competitive or excepted service, must meet "time-in-grade" requirements (have served 52 weeks at the next lower grade of the grade for which you are applying). Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to current employees applying for a Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment. NOTE: All current or former Federal employees must provide a copy of their SF-50 (you may need to submit more than one), "Notice of Personnel Action" that indicates proof of status and time-in-grade eligibility. The SF-50 must include your position, title, series, grade, step, tenure (1 or 2), and type of service (Competitive or Excepted). Applicants must demonstrate that they meet the Basic AND Minimum Qualification requirements as noted below. To qualify for this GS-0501-11: You must possess at least one year of specialized experience in the Federal service OR equivalent public or private sector experience equivalent in difficulty and responsibility to the GS-09 level in the Federal service that include: analyzing financial regulations, policies, and laws to provide technical advice to staff members and management; and examining, certifying, or auditing vouchers submitted for payment for situations similar to: educational tuition, books, and fee reimbursements for institutes of higher learning, personal expense reimbursements, employment adjustment allowance awards, vouchers for beneficiary travel, initial automobile adaptive equipment grants, subsequent auto adaptive modification payments, specially adaptive housing payments, or equal access to justice payments. OR Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have possess a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.M., if related. (Must submit transcripts.). OR Combination of education and specialized experience: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have a combination of specialized experience and education beyond two years of progressively higher level graduate education. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: AccountingCustomer ServiceEconomics and AccountingFinancial ManagementFlexibility NOTE: 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; religious; 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. For work in the federal service, include the grade level for the position(s). Note: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment. 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.

Equivalent combinations of Specialized Experience and Graduate Education: Only graduate education in excess of the amount required for the next lower grade level may be used to qualify applicants for positions at grades GS-09 and GS-11. To compute, divide your total months of qualifying experience by 12. Then divide your semester hours of graduate education by 18. Add the two percentages. The total percentage must equal at least 100% to qualify. Graduate level education must demonstrate the competencies necessary to do the work of the position.

Special Instructions for Foreign Education: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show that the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. Failure to provide such documentation with your application will result in lost consideration. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

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.

Contacts

• Address St Petersburg Regional Benefit Office 9500 Bay Pines Boulevard Bay Pines, FL 33744 US
• Name: Tina Fletcher
• Phone: 601-364-000
• Email: [email protected]