Financial Specialist

USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service; Urbandale (IA); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service in Urbandale, IA seeks a Financial Specialist in the OCFO Financial Management Division. The role focuses on analyzing financial activities, preparing reports from automated systems, and applying financial policies to support program areas.

The position requires either specialized experience at the GS-11/12 level or an appropriate graduate education as outlined in the qualifications. Federal employment benefits apply and eligibility rules must be met.

Qualifications

• Specialized experience in analyzing financial activities and data.
• Ability to prepare reports from automated financial systems.
• Knowledge of applying financial laws, regulations, and policies.

Skills

Financial analysis

Data interpretation

Report preparation

Problem solving

Education

Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 years of graduate education

Job description

This position is located in the Financial Management Division (FMD), Office of the Chief Financial Officer (OCFO). FMD is responsible for financial policies and functions related to conference planning, employee relocation, foreign, local and temporary duty travel and travel advances. Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement including specialized experience and/or education, as defined below.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

To be considered minimally qualified for this position, you must demonstrate that you have the required specialized experience and/or education for the respective grade level in which you are applying:

GS-11 Specialized Experience

• Analyzing financial activities;
• Analyzing samples of financial data for proper authorizations;
• Preparing reports from automated financial systems;
• Researching and resolving financial issues; and
• Interpreting/explaining for a financial institution or program area.

GS-11 Education

You must possess a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or three full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree. This education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of this position. One year of full-time graduate education is considered to be the number of credit hours that the school attended has determined to represent 1 year of full-time study. If that information cannot be determined from the school, 54 semester hours should be considered as equivalent to 3 years of full-time study. (You must submit a copy of your transcripts for verification.)

GS-11 Combination

You must have an appropriate combination of experience and successfully completed graduate-level education. To determine your combination, first compute your experience as a percentage of the experience listed above; then determine your education as a percentage of the education listed above; then add the two percentages. The total percentages must equal at least 100 percent. Only graduate education in excess of two full years (36 semester hours) may be used to qualify. (You must submit a copy of your transcripts for verification.)

GS-12 Specialized Experience

• Applying policies, precedents, goals, objectives, regulations, and guidelines of a financial program area to analyze financial activities;
• Analyzing data from financial systems to prepare reports;
• Researching and applying financial laws, regulations, and policies to provide guidance to other Financial Specialists;
• Applying financial systems or techniques to modify and adapt policies and procedures; and
• Advising program managers.

GS-12 Education Note

Education cannot be substituted for experience to qualify for the GS-12 grade level.

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 and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.