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Clarification from the agency

This announcement is open to U.S. Citizens or Nationals; Career Transition eligibles (CTAP, ICTAP, RPL); and individuals eligible under the Native American hiring path. Indian Preference applies to qualified Native applicants for Indian Affairs positions, including current Federal employees seeking transfer, reassignment, or promotion; submit Form BIA-4432 with your application (see Required Documents below).

Position Overview
This position helps people understand and manage their financial trust accounts. You will be part of a team that provides clear information, answers questions, and helps individuals access the money or records they need. Much of your day will involve talking with beneficiaries, listening closely to their concerns, and guiding them through steps or forms with patience and care.

You will review and process financial documents to make sure records are complete and accurate. This includes checking information, entering updates, and helping fix errors when they appear. You will also keep trust account files organized and protected so they remain complete and easy to use over time.

A key part of this job is working with others. You will regularly connect with Tribal offices, federal staff, and local partners to share information, solve problems, and support beneficiaries. You may help gather records, prepare requests, and assist with outreach activities in the community.

This work is important because it supports the long-term financial wellbeing of Tribal Nations and individual account holders. Whether you join at an entry level or at the full performance level, you will receive training and support to learn the processes, tools, and systems needed to grow in this role.

Some of the major duties you will perform include but are not limited to the following:

• Answers telephone calls, greeting visitors, and directing them appropriately.
• Conducts interviews to determine nature of the request and responds to questions from internal and external stakeholders.
• Researches and takes the necessary action to respond to routine inquiries and problems in a professional and satisfactory manner.
• Documents and tracks beneficiary contacts in a BTFA provided system.
• Assists with compiling, posting and disseminating outreach announcements and documents to educate beneficiaries.
• Provides guidance to beneficiaries seeking support in the completion of standard forms for the purpose of submitting claims for trust fund disbursements.
• Explains policy, procedures, and processes to prepare forms and documents to support beneficiaries' access to their tribal and Individual Indian Money (IIM) accounts.
• Research federal, state, or tribal laws, regulations, policies, and procedures to evaluate eligibility of benefits.

Duties will be developmental in nature when filled below the full performance level.

Bargaining Unit Status: This position is covered by a Collective Bargaining Agreement. Applicants selected for this job will receive information about their bargaining unit rights during onboarding.

INDIAN PREFERENCE: Preference in filling vacancies is given to qualified Indian candidates in accordance with the Indian Preference Act of 1934 (25 USC 5116 (reclassified from 472)). Verification Form BIA 4432 must be submitted with the application if claiming Indian Preference. Indian preference eligibles may be appointed under the Excepted Service Appointment Authority Schedule A, 213.3112(A)(7).

Conditions of employment

• Must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
• Appointment subject to background investigation and favorable adjudication.
• Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service.
• Direct Deposit participation required.
• Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more, visit www.dhs.gov/EVerify/.
• Must have and maintain a valid driver's license throughout employment.
• You are required to complete training, obtain and maintain a government credit card with travel and purchase authority.

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period during which your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest will be evaluated.

Individuals appointed under Indian Preference in the excepted service (Schedule A, 5 CFR 213.3112(a)(7)) generally serve a two-year trial period (one year if veteran preference eligible).

This probationary period is an extension of the appointment process and therefore requires the agency to determine if continued employment would advance the public interest, meet the organization goals and mission of the agency, and/or otherwise promote the efficiency of the service. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, the agency will consider:

• your performance and conduct;
• the needs and interests of the agency;
• whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
• whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Under applicable law, the employment of an individual serving a probationary or trial period automatically terminates when that period ends unless the agency affirmatively certifies, in writing, that the individual's employment should continue and that their appointment should be finalized. In the absence of agency action to affirmatively certify continued employment beyond the probationary or trial period, such appointments are terminated.

Upon completion of your probationary period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Qualifications

All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement-09/30/2026-unless otherwise stated in this vacancy announcement.

To receive credit for experience, your resume MUST state either "full-time" (or "40 hours a week") or "part-time" with the number of hours worked per week to ensure proper crediting of specialized experience. Failure to adequately provide information needed to determine number of hours worked in each position may result in that time not being credited when evaluating qualifying experience. For periods of time that reflect military service, the DD-214 or Statement of Service is sufficient to meet the full and/or part-time hours requirement as the service dates will be reflected.

Minimum Qualification Requirements: To qualify for this position, you must meet the minimum qualifications at the grade level to which you are applying:

1. Minimum Qualification GS-0962-05:
A. Experience: You must possess at least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-04 level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). Specialized experience is defined as demonstrated experience: (1) Assisting in the preparation of financial documents and account transactions using standardized procedures; (2) Analyzing financial documents for accuracy and completeness; (3) Entering and reviewing account holder information in an automated financial/accounting system; and (4) Comparing financial document balances with related data to identify discrepancies. You must include hours per week worked. -OR-
B. Education: Successful completion of at least four years of education above the high school level in any field for which high school graduation or the equivalent is the normal prerequisite. This education must have been obtained in an accredited business, secretarial or technical school, junior college, college or university. (One year of full-time academic study is defined as 30 semester hours, 45 quarter hours, or the equivalent in a college or university, or at least 20 hours of classroom instruction per week for approximately 36 weeks in a business, secretarial, or technical school.) You must include transcripts. -OR-
C. Combination of education and experience. To combine education and experience, first take the number of credits in excess of the first 60 semester hours and divide that number by 120 to come up with a percentage (120 total semester hours is the standard used for an Undergraduate degree). Then take the number of months of full-time experience and divide by 12 months. Add the percentages together. The total must equal at least 100 percent to qualify. You must include hours per week and transcripts.

-OR-
2. Minimum Qualification GS-0962-06:
A. Experience: You must possess at least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-05 level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). Specialized experience is defined as demonstrated experience: (1) Assisting Researching financial account information to identify discrepancies, determine causes of errors, and assist with reconciliation and recommending corrections; (2) Recognizing and applying appropriate procedures, practices, and policies to a variety of financial transactions, account codes, and disbursements; (3) Responding to beneficiary inquiries and answering questions related to financial/account services; and (4) Classifying and coding financial transactions for input into automated financial/accounting systems.. You must include hours per week worked.
B. Education: There is no substitution of education in lieu of experience at this grade level.

-OR-
3. Minimum Qualification GS-0962-07:
A. Specialized Experience Requirement: You must possess at least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-06 level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). Specialized experience is defined as demonstrated experience: (1) Experience examining, verifying, and maintaining accounts and accounting data; (2) Experience applying a variety of complex accounting procedures, practices, policies, and standardized bookkeeping practices to prepare financial account documents; (3) Experience reconciling accounts, determining adjustments, and reconciling errors and account disbursements; and (4) Experience resolving complex transactions in an automated financial and accounting system.. You must include hours per week worked.
B. Education: There is no substitution of education in lieu of experience at this grade level.

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; 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.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g. resume, supporting documents), the responses you provide on the application questionnaire, and the result of any additional assessment(s) required for this position.

Your resume must not exceed 2 pages. Only the document submitted as the "Resume" under the Documents section will be used to determine your qualifications/eligibility and for rating purposes. In the event you submit more than one resume, only the latest submission will be reviewed.

Candidates will be rated and ranked using Category Rating procedures. These procedures place candidates with veteran's preference above non-preference eligibles within each category. Veterans with a service-connected disability of at least 10 percent are listed in the highest quality category, except when the position being filled is scientific or professional at the GS-09 grade level or higher. Under Category Rating, candidates will be rated and ranked into the following categories:

• Best Qualified - applicants possessing experience that substantially exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors and are highly proficient in all requirements of the job and can perform effectively in the position

• Well Qualified - applicants possessing experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors and are proficient in most of the requirements of the job

• Qualified - applicants possessing experience that meets the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors and are proficient in some, but not all of the requirements of the job.

You will be assessed in the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics):

• Accountability
• Attention to Detail
• Customer Service
• Decision Making
• Flexibility
• Integrity/Honesty
• Interpersonal Skills
• Learning
• Reading Comprehension
• Reasoning
• Self-Management
• Stress Tolerance
• Teamwork

In addition to the application and application questionnaire, this position requires successful completion of the USA Hire Assessment, if required.

Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration. Cheating on an assessment may also result in your removal from consideration.

Current or former displaced Federal employees who are surplus, displaced, or involuntarily separated have special priority selection rights under the Agency Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) or the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP). To be considered under CTAP/ICTAP, you must be well-qualified, score at least 85 (i.e., meet the minimum qualification requirements, including any selective placement factors; education, and experience requirements), and be able to perform the duties of the position upon entry.

Providing false or misleading information on your resume or supporting documentation may result in removal from consideration or other action consistent with applicable federal hiring regulations. Applicants who include vulgar, offensive, or inappropriate language or information in their application package will be ineligible for further consideration for this position.

The following documents are required and must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on 09/30/2026 - unless otherwise stated in this vacancy announcement:

1. Resume which includes a list of all significant jobs held and duties performed, with dates in month-year format (include month/day/year format if needed for 52 weeks of experience), and indicate hours worked per week (or full-time). Your resume must clearly show how long you have held each grade/rank. Resumes must not exceed two single-sided pages and resumes longer than two pages will not be accepted. The minimum font size is 10-point for all body text. All resumes must maintain a minimum 0.5-inch margins on all sides to ensure readability and prevent excessive content compression. Including supplemental pages or attachments disguised as resume extensions are prohibited and will not be reviewed to determine your eligibility/qualifications. Your 2-page resume must contain information sufficient to make a valid determination that you fully meet the specialized experience requirements. If you have federal experience, you should include series, and grade for each position held, and if experience is part of a career ladder position, you must clearly distinguish the job duties and length of time working for each grade level. More information on how to write a Federal Resume: https://help.usajobs.gov/faq/application/documents/resume/what-to-include
2. Complete All Required Assessments.
3. All college transcript(s), if qualifying based on education. Please submit both undergraduate and graduate level transcripts, as applicable.
4. Veterans Preference Documentation, if applicable. Veterans must submit a copy of your latest Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, DD-214 (member 4 copy) or other Documentation of Service and Separation under Honorable Conditions, as listed on the SF15. If you are a Disabled Veteran, Purple Heart Recipient, or Parent or Spouse of a Disabled or Deceased Veteran, you must submit all additional proof required by the SF15, and if applicable, a completed SF15. You may request a copy of your Department of Veterans Affairs letter from www.va.gov/records/ or call 1-800-827-1000. If you are a veteran within 120 days of discharge, you must submit signed documentation from the Armed Forces certifying: 1) your expected release/retirement from active duty, 2) under honorable conditions, 3) your pay grade/rank/rate at time of discharge, 4) dates of active-duty service, 5) any campaign or expeditionary medals received, & 6) dated within 120 days of your separation.
5. Interagency Career Transition (ICTAP) and Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP): You MUST submit proof of eligibility including 1) copy of the agency notice, e.g., RIF Separation Notice, Notice of Proposed Removal, etc.; 2) SF-50s (Notifications of Personnel Action) showing career/conditional tenure competitive status, promotion potential and duty location; and 3) your most recent performance appraisal. To exercise selection priority, displaced or surplus Federal employees must be well qualified. For more information visit: USAJOBS Help Center - Career Transition Programs (CTAP, ICTAP, RPL).
6. If you are claiming Indian Preference, you must submit a current and valid Form BIA-4432, Verification of Indian Preference for Employment. This form must be fully completed, signed, and issued by a federally recognized Tribal Nation or by the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Indian Preference can only be applied when the required documentation is provided with your application. BTFA is part of Indian Affairs; positions in Indian Affairs are eligible to apply Indian Preference under the Indian Reorganization Act and 25 CFR Part 5.

Failure to submit any of the above-mentioned required documents will result in loss of consideration due to an incomplete application package. It is your responsibility to ensure all required documents have been submitted.

Do not submit photographs with your application package. Documents with photographs may not be seen by hiring officials - you must remove your image from all documents.

Do not upload Adobe portfolio documents. Adobe portfolio documents are not viewable by our agency's staffing offices.

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