Veterans Service Representative / Fiduciary Accounting Representative (FAR).

About the role

This position is in the Veterans Benefits Administration, Regional Office (VARO), in one of the several Fiduciary Hubs. The Veterans Service Representative/Fiduciary Accounting Representative (FAR) is responsible for making determinations involved in the administration of all types of beneficiary estates, the protection of their benefit rights, the routine handling of legal matters, and the identification of legal questions.

Responsibilities

• Initiates contacts and receives incoming calls and communication with fiduciaries and beneficiaries under the supervision of the Fiduciary Program, to explain the full range of VA benefits and all related programs and entitlements, in addition to federal, state, and local assistance programs.
• Advises fiduciaries, trust officers, banking officials, attorneys, and court officials of regulations, necessary documentation, and other factors which impact the VA fiduciary oversight of the beneficiary.
• Reviews records to ensure that all beneficiaries and dependents are accounted for in award actions (i.e., dependent parents, children living with other relatives, etc.).
• Identifies and audits the records for possible fraud, embezzlements, misappropriations, or misuse by fiduciaries.
• Conducts in-depth analysis, quasi-legal examinations, investigations, and financial assessments of inquiries pertaining to allegations of misuse.
• Protects the VA beneficiary and their estate by initiating actions to generate payment suspensions, resumptions, or terminations for appropriate situations (successor fiduciary appointment, failure of fiduciary to account, unauthorized expenditures, death, alleged misuse, or whereabouts unknown).
• Initiates the appropriate actions/steps (misuse allegation, request a field examination, complete the misuse investigation) and forwards misuse determination for management concurrence.
• Audits and reviews fiduciary's annual accounting or fund usage to include receipts or other documentation and works with the fiduciary to correct and clarify, in accordance with regulatory guidance, any expenditures that are questionable.
• Reviews surety bonds to determine their adequacy and informs the fiduciary when the bonds are found to be deficient or substantially greater than necessary so the appropriate increase or decrease can be accomplished.
• Refers information regarding misuse of funds to the appropriate agency to include the court of jurisdiction, Office of Inspector General (OIG), and/or District Counsel.
• Maintains system databases and records to include establishing and updating beneficiary and fiduciary profiles, changes of fiduciaries, changes of name, address, or direct deposit information.

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. The grade progression for this position is GS-07/09/10.

Schedule

• Full time, Monday through Friday 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM
• Compressed/Flexible: Available
• Telework: This position is eligible for situational (ad hoc) telework only. The selectee is required to report to the official duty station each scheduled workday. Telework may be approved only on a case-by-case basis with supervisory approval. Routine or recurring telework is not authorized for this position.

This is not a virtual position.

Requirements

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• You may be required to serve a probationary or trial period.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Required to attend an 8-week training session, which may require travel.
• VSR Skill Certification required at the GS-10 level.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process.
• Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements.
• Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.

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

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement: 08/11/2026.

Time-in-Grade Requirement

• For a GS-07 position, you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-05 level.
• For a GS-09 position, you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-07 level.
• For a GS-10 position, you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-09 level.

If you are a current VBA employee requesting a reassignment or change to lower grade via this vacancy announcement, you must currently hold the GS-10 (or higher) and the promotion potential of your current position must be at least GS-10.

Minimum Qualification Requirements

GS-07 Grade Level

Specialized Experience: One year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-05 level or higher. Specialized experience is defined as the interpretation or application of laws, regulations, or procedures to analyze evidence to make determinations and research routine issues to resolve discrepancies. Examples include:

• Using various computer systems for data entry and maintaining/monitoring case files.
• Applying federal laws when processing compensation and benefit claims for a state or federal agency, insurance company, worker's compensation, disability, retirement, or pension program.
• Determining basic employment qualifications and eligibility for benefit programs.

Education Substitution: One full year of graduate-level education or a Bachelor's degree with Superior Academic Achievement (3.0 GPA or higher).

GS-09 Grade Level

Specialized Experience: One year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-07 level or higher. Specialized experience includes interpreting laws, regulations, or procedures to analyze evidence to make recommendations and following procedures to process eligibility claims for benefits such as disability, worker and unemployment insurance compensation, insurance, loans, education, or retirement programs.

Education Substitution: A master's or equivalent graduate degree, 2 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree, or possession of an LL.B. or J.D. degree if related.

GS-10 Grade Level

Specialized Experience: One year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-09 level or higher. Specialized experience includes:

• Asking questions relating to military service or medical evidence to make determinations as to eligibility for programs.
• Reviewing claims or cases to ensure all laws have been addressed in the adjudication process.
• Informing claimants of all evidence requirements needed to further process a claim for benefits and/or services.

Education Substitution: Two and a half years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree.

Combining Education & Experience

If you do not fully meet the length of experience and education described for a specific grade level, the two can be combined to total 100% of the requirement.

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.

Physical Requirements

The position is primarily in an office setting. Some travel may be necessary on occasion for training, meetings, or customer interactions.

Education

A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education. Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

Note: You may submit unofficial transcripts when applying. However, if you are selected for the position, you will be required to provide an official transcript or a statement from the institution (e.g., from the registrar, dean, or other appropriate official) or equivalent documentation prior to the start date.