Clarification from the agency

This position is open to permanent employees of the Buffalo VBA Regional Office and CTAP eligibles.

The incumbent:

• 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.
• Prepares fiscal, administrative, and other statistical reports as deemed appropriate and/or as required and serves on such other projects as directed.
• Examines, certifies and audits vouchers submitted for payment on behalf of the Regional Office.
• Independently performs reviews for accuracy and consistency of data such as audits, debts and reimbursement.
• Serve as subject matter expert in all areas of the Financial Operations section.
• Evaluates accounting programs, payment functions, computerized data output, fiscal internal controls and other assigned areas and performs Systematic Analyses of Operations to assess for discrepancies and compliance with internal checks and balances, applicable laws, regulations, policies, and procedures

Work schedule: 8:00 am to 4:30 pm
Compressed/Flexible Schedule: Available
Telework: Available
Virtual: This not a virtual position.
Position Description Title/PD#: Financial Administrative Specialist/ 37539A
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Financial Disclosure Report: Required
This is a bargaining unit position.

Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
• You may be required to serve a probationary period
• Subject to background/security investigation
• Applicant must meet the minimum Time In Grade requirement
• Selective Service Registration is reqired for males born after 12/31/1959
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process.
• A complete application package must be submitted: Resume, SF50, transcripts, etc.
• We may consider your performance and conduct; the needs and interests of the agency; and whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government and efficiency of the Federal Service.
• This is not a virtual or remote position.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 06/12/2026.

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-07 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-05; for the GS-09 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-07. 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.

You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below:
Specialized Experience GS-07 Level: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade (GS-05). Specialized experience is defined as experience in accounting or financial operational systems, analyzing reports/data and applying procedures in compliance with applicable laws and regulations. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to:

• Basic analytical, technical and customer service skills and ability to make recommendations based on research;
• Procuring supplies, equipment or services for an organization in accordance with regulations governing the type of purchase;
• Assisting with budget development and execution;
• Providing organizational support services for an organization such as timekeeping, preparing travel vouchers, documents or correspondence and responding to procedural questions from staff or the public.

-OR-
Applicants may substitute a bachelor's degree with Superior Academic Achievement (SAA) for the experience required for the GS-07 level. SAA is based on a GPA of 3.0 or higher out of a possible 4.0; class standing in the upper third of graduating class; or election to membership in a national scholastic honor society. Click here for more information;
-OR-
Applicants may substitute one (1) full year of graduate education for the experience required for the GS-07 level. Such education must demonstrate the competencies for this position.
-OR-
Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at the GS-07 level. Equivalent combinations of Specialized Experience and Graduate-level education. (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.)

Specialized Experience GS-09 Level: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade (GS-07). Specialized experience is defined as experience in federal accounting or financial operational systems, analyzing and auditing federal reports, data or procedures in compliance with applicable federal laws and regulations. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to:

• Compiling or analyzing a federal organization's budgetary or financial data to ensure accuracy and identify problems under the pressure of quickly changing priorities and time constraints;
• Auditing and certifying federal reimbursement vouchers resulting in payment to claimants or other businesses or agencies;
• Interpreting and applying laws or regulations related to federal financial analyses and organizational improvement initiatives;
• Providing senior level technical advice to federal employees and management on the principles, practices, and laws pertaining to finance programs and operations; and
• Analyzing financial information for the purpose of recommending efficient use of federal resources.

-OR-
A Master's or equivalent graduate degree, 2 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree, or LL.B. or J.D., related to fields of study. (You must provide transcripts);
-OR-
Combination of the required experience and education for this grade level. To calculate, first identify the percentage of required education you have earned (when substituting, you cannot use one year or 18 semester hours that you earned). Then identify the percentage of required experience you possess. Add the two percentages. The total percentage must equal at least 100 percent to qualify at the GS-09. Fore example, an applicant who has 27 semester hours to graduate level education (i.e. 50% of graduate education required) and 6 months of creditable specialized experience (i.e. 50% of the required experience) would equal 100% of the required experience for the position. A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your quilifications on education.


IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE.

Your résumé and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating or consideration for employment.

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.

How you will be evaluated

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

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE.

You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position:

• Technical Competence
• Planning and Evaluating
• Oral Communication
• Written Communication
• Technical Competence
• Flexibility

Narrative responses are not required at this time. If you are referred for consideration, you may be asked to submit additional job related information, which may include, but not limited to; responses to the knowledge, skills and abilities; completion of a work sample, and/or contact for an interview.Your resume and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating or consideration for employment.

To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes:

• Resume
• SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action

The following documents are accepted, and may be required if applicable to your eligibility and/or qualifications for this position. Please use this checklist to make sure you have included other documents required for your application, such as a copy of your transcript (if using education to qualify), documentation to support Veterans Preference claims, or ICTAP/CTAP documentation (for displaced Federal employees). You will not be contacted for additional information.

• Resume
• Separation Notice (RIF)
• SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action
• Transcript

Veterans' Preference: When applying for Federal Jobs, eligible Veterans should claim preference for 5pt (TP), 10pt (CP/CPS/XP), or for Sole Survivor Preference (SSP) in the questionnaire. You must provide a legible copy of your DD214(s) which shows dates and character of service (honorable, general, etc.). If you are currently serving on active duty and expect to be released or discharged within 120 days you must submit documentation related to your active duty service which reflects the dates of service, character of service (honorable, general, etc.), and dates of impending separation. Additionally, disabled veterans and others eligible for 10-point preference (such as widows or mothers of eligible Veterans) must also submit an SF-15 "Application for 10 Point Veteran Preference" with required proof as stated on the form. Documentation is required to award preference. For more information on Veterans' Preference, please visit http://www.fedshirevets.gov/job/vetpref/index.aspx.

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