Mission Support Specialist (Finance)

Organizational Location: This position is with the Department of Homeland Security, within U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Border Patrol, Rio Grande Valley Sector, Law Enforcement Operations Division located in McAllen, TX. Additional selections may be made for other organizational divisions and/or units within the duty location(s) listed above.

About the role

CBP employees demonstrate the highest level of commitment to protect and serve the United States of America and to exemplify the CBP Core Values of Vigilance, Service to Country and Integrity. In this position, you will manage and oversee financial, budgetary, procurement, and travel operations to support the division's mission. Your work directly enables the division to effectively allocate resources, maintain compliance with regulations, and ensure operational readiness, which is critical to supporting the overall mission of U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the U.S. Border Patrol.

Responsibilities

• Providing technical guidance and performing a variety of comprehensive services related to finance, budget, procurement, and travel.
• Applying a range of administrative concepts, laws, policies, and analytical methods to ensure compliance, provide technical direction, and address technical issues or problems and procedural requirements.
• Planning and carrying out a wide variety of mission support, budgetary, and administrative research, and program planning activities related to the missions and functions of the Mission Readiness Operations.
• Performing review and analysis of budget, management, training, logistics, procurement, and all other areas of mission support resources in support of the Division.

Requirements

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this position.
• Males born after 12/31/1959 must be registered with Selective Service.
• Primary U.S. residency for at least three of the last five years (additional details below).
• All pre-employment processes will be conducted in English.
• You may be required to pass a background investigation.
• CBP follows the DHS Drug-Free Workplace Plan for drug testing procedures.
• Your conduct will be subject to the ethics rules applicable to all Executive Branch employees, and to CBP employees specifically, as well as the criminal conflict of interest statutes.
• DHS uses E-Verify to confirm the eligibility of all newly hired employees to work in the United States.

This is a bargaining unit covered position, represented under the National Border Patrol Council - NBPC.

Qualifications

Experience:

• You qualify for the GS-9 grade level if you possess 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level, performing duties such as:
  • Preparing budget requests, updating data on spreadsheets, paying invoices, and resolving issues as needed.
  • Reviewing invoices for accuracy and maintaining invoice processing database.
  • Reviewing travel authorizations, expense reports, and performing monthly travel card reviews.
• You qualify for the GS-11 grade level if you possess 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level, performing duties such as:
  • Analyzing historical budget data, current spending, future estimates, and trends.
  • Overseeing expenditures to ensure allocations, commitments, and expenditures are projected and spent accordingly.
  • Monitoring the travel card program to ensure compliance with the Federal Travel Regulations and other applicable regulations and policies.
  • Reviewing bank reports and accounts to ensure payments are reconciled in accordance with current travel regulations.

Your resume must explicitly indicate how you meet these requirements, otherwise you will be found ineligible.

Education Substitution:

• GS-9: A Master's degree; or two full years of graduate education; or a J.D. or an LL.B.
• GS-11: A Ph.D.; or three full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree; or an LL.M.

Combining Education and Experience: Combinations of successfully completed post-high school education and experience may be used to meet total qualification requirements for the grade levels specified. 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-11.

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.

• Meet all qualification requirements, including education if applicable to this position, subject to verification at any stage of the application process.
• Meet all applicable Time in Grade requirements (current federal employees must have served 52 weeks at the next lower grade or equivalent grade band in the federal service) by 08/24/2026.

Pay

This position starts at a salary of $61,722.00 (GS-9, Step 1) to $97,087.00 (GS-11, Step 10).

Visit this link to view the locality pay tables by geographic area. If you do not see your geographic area listed, select the "Rest of United States" pay table. Some positions fall under a special pay rate depending on the series, grade level, and location of the position. Please visit this link to view special pay rate charts.

Additional Information

Residency: There is a residency requirement for all applicants not currently employed by CBP. Individuals are required to have physically resided in the United States or its protectorates (as declared under international law) for at least three of the last five years. If you do not meet the residency requirement and have been physically located in a foreign location for more than two of the last five years, you may request an exception to determine if you are eligible for a residency waiver by meeting one or more of the following conditions:

• Working for the U.S. Government as a federal civilian or as a member of the military.
• A dependent who was authorized to accompany a federal civilian or member of the military who was working for the U.S. government.
• Participation in a study abroad program sponsored by a U.S. affiliated college or university.
• Working as a contractor, intern, consultant, or volunteer supporting the U.S. government.

Probationary Period: All employees new to the federal government must serve a one-year probationary period during the first year of their initial permanent federal appointment to determine fitness for continued employment. Current and former federal employees may be required to serve or complete a probationary period.

Background Investigation: U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) requires all applicants to undergo a thorough background investigation prior to employment to promote the agency's core values of vigilance, service to country, and integrity. During the screening and/or background investigation process, you will be asked questions regarding any felony criminal convictions or current felony charges, the use of illegal drugs, and the use of non-prescribed controlled substances.

Education: If qualifying based on education, submit a copy of your college transcript (unofficial is acceptable at this time; however, official copies will be required prior to entrance on duty) or a list of coursework with hours completed provided from the institution. Education must be from an institution accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Education obtained from a foreign university or college is not creditable unless it has been evaluated by an organization that specializes in interpretation of education credentials.