This position is located in the Support Services Division (SSD) at a VA Regional Office (RO). The division also implements VA accounting policy, performs financial management system and general ledger operations, prepares financial statements, and other financial reports. Notably, the division audits and adjusts Veteran benefit payments, provides employee payroll and travel support, and performs budget analysis and development.

Duties

Major Duties: 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 IG. 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 Specialist and insures 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. 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. Serves as a Certifying Official authorizing all financial transactions, adjustments, and Collections. Ability to conduct the most detailed audits and analysis. Skilled in completing oral and written presentations that are clear, concise and logical. 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, 8:00AM - 4:30PM Compressed/Flexible: Available Telework: Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: 37539A. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized 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.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 10/17/2024. 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 by the closing date of this announcement. For a GS-05 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-07 and GS-07 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-09 . 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.If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate you possess one-year time-in-grade, as required by the announcement. In this instance, you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one-year time-in-grade. Note: Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to former Federal employees applying for reinstatement as well as current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment. MINIMUM QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS: You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below: You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below: GS-07 Grade Level: Specialized Experience: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (GS-05) in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Qualifying experience has equipped you with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of this position and is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled. Specialized experience is defined as experience working with standard accounting or financial operational functions in compliance with laws and regulations and experience providing technical advice. Education Substitution: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education you must have: One (1) full year of graduate level education. Graduate level education must demonstrate the competencies necessary to do the work of the position; OR A Bachelor's degree with Superior Academic Achievement (3.0 GPA or higher). Superior Academic Achievement (SAA) is based on: 1) class standing, 2) grade point average or 3) honor society membership. For more information on calculating SAA please visit www.opm.gov. OR Equivalent combinations of Specialized Experience and Graduate Education: A combination of successfully completed post high school education and experience may be used to meet total qualification requirements. To calculate, first identify your total qualifying experience as a percentage of the experience required; then determine your education as a percentage of the education required; then add the two percentages. The total of percentages must equal 100% to qualify. Graduate level education must demonstrate the competencies necessary to do the work of the position. GS-09 Grade Level: Specialized Experience: In addition to the experience required at the GS-7 level applicants must have one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (GS-07) in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Qualifying experience has equipped you with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of this position and is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled. Specialized experience is defined as experience analyzing/auditing accounting or financial operational systems in compliance with laws and regulations, and providing technical advice to leadership on such systems and regulations. Education Substitution: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education you must have: A master's or equivalent graduate degree in an accredited or pre-accredited college or university; or 2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree; or possession of a LL.B. or J.D degree, if related. Graduate level education must demonstrate the competencies necessary to do the work of the position; OR 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-9 and GS-10. To compute, divide your total months of qualifying experience by 12. Then divide your semester hours of graduate education beyond 1 year 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. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Principles of Finance: Knowledge of financial policies, regulations, directives, and handbooks providing authoritative fiscal guidance. Technical Credibility: Ability to plan and carry out assignments in conformance with accepted financial practices. Oral and Written Communication: Ability to establish and maintain effective communication (oral and written) with persons both within and outside an organization, from many different backgrounds and with different levels of education and competence. Customer Service: Works and communicates with clients and customers (e.g., any individuals who use or receive the services or products that your work unit provides, including individuals who work in your agency or in other agencies or organizations outside the Government) to satisfy their expectations. Committed to quality services. Flexibility: Open to change and new information; adapts behavior and work methods in response to new information, changing conditions, or unexpected obstacles. Effectively deals with pressure and ambiguity. Recovers quickly from setbacks and effectively balances personal life and work. 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. 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. Physical Requirements: The work normally involves mental rather than physical exertion. The work is mostly sedentary; however, there may be some walking, standing, and carrying of light items. 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

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

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/. 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 Cleveland Regional Benefit Office Federal Building, 1240 East 9th St Cleveland, OH 44199 US
• Name: Marvina Tall
• Phone: 313-596-7255
• Email: [email protected]