VA Insurance Service directs and manages the operation of all Government life insurance programs. The Insurance Service manages a continuing program of projects, studies, reviews and analyses designed to improve the timeliness, quality and cost-effectiveness of service provided to insured Veterans and the productivity of the work force. The Budget and Risk Management Division is responsible for the formulation and execution of the Insurance Program's Discretionary and Mandatory budgets.

Requirements

• You must be a U.S. citizen to apply for this job
• Selectees are subject to a background/suitability investigation
• Selective Service registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
• A probationary period may be required for employees and supervisors

Qualifications

Time-in-grade: Applicants who are/were 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-09 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-07 level. For a GS-11 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-09 level. For a GS-12 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-11 level. To support your claim of time in grade, you must submit your most recent appointment, promotion, or within grade increase SF-50 (not an award or general adjustment SF-50). Some applicants may have to submit more than one SF-50 to demonstrate their eligibility. See the required documents section for more information. Specialized Experience: To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement. GS-09 To qualify, applicants must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade (GS-7) in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Specialized experience is defined as: (1) Knowledge of finance and cost accounting activities relating to budgeting, budgeting regulations, and manpower. (2) Knowledge of budgetary policies, precedent setting decisions, procedures, and regulations to ensure budget forecasts, estimates, and data submissions meet Insurance requirements, guidelines, and financial objectives. (3) Skills in analytical reasoning, and ability to identify, and analyze budgetary problems and to develop alternative solutions for resolving conflicting goals and objectives. OR Applicants may substitute education for the experience required to qualify at the GS-9 level. Master's or equivalent graduate degree or 2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.B. or J.D., if related. OR Applicants can combine education and specialized experience to qualify for the position. If you have some, but not all, of the graduate education AND specialized experience described above, you may still qualify by combining the amount of creditable education and experience that you do have. To do so, first calculate the percentage of qualifying education you have as a percentage of the education required. Next, calculate the percentage of specialized experience you have as a percentage of the experience required. Then, add the two percentages. The total percentage must equal at least 100% for you to qualify for the position at the GS-7 grade level. For example, an applicant who has 9 semester hours of graduate education (i.e., 50% of graduate education required) and 6 months of acceptable specialized experience (i.e., 50% of the experience required) would satisfy the qualification requirements for the position. If you qualify based on a combination of graduate education and specialized experience, you must submit a copy of your official college transcript with your application. GS-11 To qualify, applicants must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade (GS-09) in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Specialized Experience is defined as: (1) Knowledge of finance and cost accounting activities relating to budgeting, budgeting regulations, and manpower. (2) Knowledge of and skill in the application of quantitative techniques such as cost benefit analysis, financial models, and cost accounting. (3) Comprehensive knowledge of budgetary policies, precedent setting decisions, procedures, and regulations to ensure budget forecasts, estimates, and data submissions meet Insurance requirements, guidelines, and financial objectives. (4) Knowledge of Government fiscal laws, regulations, policies and principles as well as the work processes, technical aspects, organizational structure, long range plans and management of Insurance programs. OR Applicants may substitute education for the experience required for the GS-11 level. 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. Such education must demonstrate the competencies necessary to do the work. OR Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at the GS-11 level: Equivalent combinations of specialized experience and PH.D. graduate education. To compute, divide your total months of qualifying experience by 12. Then divide your semester hours of graduate education beyond two years by 18. Add the two percentages. The total percentage must equal at least 100% to qualify. GS-12 To qualify, applicants must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade (GS-11) in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Specialized experience is defined as: (1) Knowledge of professional accounting and auditing theories, principles, practices and techniques. (2) Comprehensive knowledge of Government fiscal laws, regulations, policies and principles as well as the work processes, technical aspects, organizational structure, long range plans and management of Insurance programs. (3) Expert knowledge of budgetary policies, precedent setting decisions, procedures, and regulations to ensure budget forecasts, estimates, and data submissions meet Insurance requirements, guidelines, and financial objectives. (4) Knowledge of Government fiscal laws, regulations, policies and principles as well as the work processes, technical aspects, organizational structure, long range plans and management of Insurance programs. The Office of Personnel Management's group coverage qualification standards, associated individual occupational requirements (IOR), and individual qualification standards covering white collar occupations in the Federal competitive service can be found here. 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.

Education

A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.

There is no educational substitution for the GS-12 level.

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. 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.

Contacts

• Address Philadelphia VBA Regional Office 5000 Wissahickon Ave Philadelphia, PA 19144 US
• Name: Janelle Phillips
• Phone: (313) 471-3888
• Email: [email protected]