Financial Program Specialist

About the role

These positions are located in the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Chief Financial Officer, Office of Financial Management, in Irving, Texas; Washington, District of Columbia; and Williston, Vermont. These are non-bargaining unit positions.

Duties

As a Financial Program Specialist at the GS-12 level you will:

• Perform Financial Program Specialist duties and is responsible for understanding all subsidiary and financial data bases/automated systems to ensure that reports can be generated through use of automated tools.
• Enhance business processes and systems to provide timely and reliable financial information to ICE customers and implement requirements across ICE.
• Take appropriate steps to achieve a clean audit opinion in the fiscal year.
• Examine, verify and maintain financial accounting data, classify accounting transactions, and verify the accuracy and completeness of the accounting data.

Requirements

• Must be a U.S. citizen.
• Must successfully pass a background investigation.
• Must successfully pass a drug screen.
• Males born after December 31, 1959 must certify registration with Selective Service.
• All requirements must be met by the closing date of the announcement.
• This is a full-time permanent position (Career/Career-Conditional appointment) with a one-year probationary period upon appointment.

Qualifications

You qualify for the GS-11 grade level if you possess one (1) year of specialized experience at the GS-09 grade level or equivalent performing duties such as:

• Preparing cost reports, balance sheets, and recommendations upon request.
• Recommending policies to improve and stimulate the financial condition of the agency.
• Preparing reports from a variety of sources, identifying problem areas.
• Providing analyses, projections, and interpretations to maintain maximum efficiency and effectiveness.

OR

Substitution of Education for Experience

• Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree; or three full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree; or LL.M if related. (This education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of the position).

Combining Education and Experience

Appropriate combinations of specialized experience as described in the vacancy announcement and successfully completed graduate level education that, when combined, equal 100% of the total requirement.

Qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement. Qualification claims will be subject to verification.

National Service Experience (i.e., 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.

Current or Former Political Appointees: The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must authorize employment offers made to current or former political appointees. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES or Presidential Appointee employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the Human Resources Office.

Education

For GS-11: Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree; or three full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree; or LL.M if related. (This education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of the position).

Additional Information

• Promotion Potential: When promotion potential is shown, the agency is not making a commitment and is not obligated to provide future promotions. Future promotions will be dependent on your ability to perform the duties at a higher level, the continuing need for an employee assigned to the higher level, and administrative approval.
• E-Verify: DHS uses E-Verify, an Internet-based system, to confirm the eligibility of all newly hired employees to work in the United States.
• Suitability: If you receive a conditional offer of employment, 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, prior to entry on duty. False statements on any part of the application may result in withdrawal of offer of employment, dismissal after beginning work, fine, or imprisonment.
• Background Investigation: All selected applicants must undergo and successfully obtain and maintain a background investigation as a condition of placement. This may include a credit check, a review of financial issues such as delinquency in the payment of debts, child support and/or tax obligations, as well as certain criminal offenses and illegal use or possession of drugs.
• Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests: If you believe you have a disability covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application. Requests for RA and appropriate supporting documentation must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions are made on a case-by-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL if you received the link after the close of the announcement.

Pay

The salary range indicated in this announcement reflects the lowest and highest potential salaries for this position. The actual salary range will be based on the applicable locality pay for the selected duty location. General Schedule locality pay tables may be found under Salaries & Wages. A student loan repayment incentive may be available, in which case a service agreement will be required.

Benefits

DHS offers competitive salaries and an attractive benefits package, including:

• Health, dental, vision, life, and long-term care insurance
• Retirement plan
• Thrift Savings Plan (similar to a 401(k))
• Flexible Spending Account
• Employee Assistance Program
• Personal leave days
• Paid federal holidays

Other benefits may include:

• Flexible work schedules
• Tuition reimbursement
• Transportation subsidies
• Uniform allowance
• Health and wellness programs
• Fitness centers

DHS is committed to employee development and offers a variety of employee training and developmental opportunities. Disabled veteran leave will be available to any Federal employee hired on or after November 5, 2016, who is a veteran with a service-connected disability rating of 30 percent or more. Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent.

How You Will Be Evaluated

You will be evaluated based on how well you meet the qualifications listed in this vacancy announcement. Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents), your responses on the application questionnaire, and your responses to all assessments required for this position.

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

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

In order to be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process. In addition to the application and application questionnaire, this position requires an online assessment. The online assessment measures critical general competencies required to perform the job. The USA Hire Assessments includes a cut score based on the minimum level of required proficiency in these critical general competencies. You must meet or exceed the cut score to be considered. You will not be considered for the position if you score below the cut score or fail to complete the assessment.

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.

These positions will be filled through the Office of Personnel Management's Direct Hire Authority. The "Rule of Three", Category Rating and Veterans Preference will not apply to this vacancy.