Skip to main content
U.S. flag
Back to results

Financial Management Specialist, ZA-0501-2/3 (DE/CR)

Department of Commerce
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
This job announcement has closed

Summary

This position is located in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Ocean Service (NOS), Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS), with one vacancy in Silver Spring, MD.

This position is also announced under vacancy number NOS-IOOS-2021-0001, which is open to Status Candidates. You must apply to both announcements if you want to be considered for both.

Overview

Help
Hiring complete
Open & closing dates
01/21/2021 to 02/03/2021
Salary
$60,129 to - $113,362 per year
Pay scale & grade
ZA 2 - 3
Location
Silver Spring, MD
1 vacancy
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Travel Required
Occasional travel - Up to 5% of domestic travel may be required for this position.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-Time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
3 - If you are selected for a position with further promotion potential, you may be non-competitively promoted if you perform successfully and if recommended by management.
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Other
Drug test
No
Announcement number
NOS-IOOS-2021-0002
Control number
589737100

Duties

Help

As a Financial Management Specialist, you will perform the following duties:

  • Develop, analyze, evaluate, and recommend policies, which are designed to implement effective and efficient financial management program planning, budget analysis, and evaluation of budget execution.
  • Perform administrative duties, including travel planning and review, facilities, and serving as office timekeeper.
  • Provide support to the Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS) Federal Advisory Committee, acting as lead on membership tracking, advisory database, charter renewal, and ensures meeting logistics are coordinated, and travel is properly budgeted and planned.
  • Research and resolve discrepancies in financial data, ensure cost recovery for allocated and reimbursable funds, and respond to financial data calls.
  • Monitor, track, approve and report on obligations and expenditures, taking action to ensure against cost over runs; and develop spending plans to support budget execution.

NOTE: These duties are described at the full performance level of the ZA-3; the ZA-2 is developmental leading to such performance.

Requirements

Help

Conditions of employment

  • Must be a U.S. Citizen or National to apply.
  • Required to pass a background investigation and fingerprint check.
  • Must be suitable for Federal employment.
  • Must be registered for Selective Service, if applicable (www.sss.gov).
  • Qualifications requirements must be met by closing date of announcement.

This position requires a Low Risk Security Clearance.  

This position will be filled under the DOC Alternative Personnel System (CAPS). This system replaced the Federal GS pay plan and structure. Under CAPS, positions are classified by career, pay plan, and pay band.

The ZA-2 is equivalent to the GS-07/09. However, this position is being advertised equivalent to the GS-09.

The ZA-3 is equivalent to the GS-11/12.

NOTE:
* A one year probationary period may be required.

* Payment of relocation expenses is not authorized.

* This position is not in the bargaining unit.

NOTES:
This Job Opportunity Announcement may be used to fill other Financial Management Specialist, ZA-0501-2/3 positions throughout NOAA. The position must be alike (e.g.: within the same geographic locations, same grade/band and requires the same qualifications and specialized experience as indicated in this vacancy announcement).

College Transcript:  If you are qualifying based on education, submit a copy of your college transcript that lists college courses detailing each course by the number and department (i.e., Bio 101, Math 210, etc.), course title, number of credit hours and grade earned.  You must submit evidence that any education completed in a foreign institution is equivalent to U.S. education standards with your resume.  You may submit an unofficial copy of the transcript at the initial phase of the application process.  If course content cannot be easily identified from the title of the course as listed on your transcript, you must submit an official course description from the college/university that reflects the content at the time the course was taken.

Note:  Your college transcript is used to verify successful completion of degree, or college course work.  An official college transcript will be required before you can report to duty.

Applicants must meet ALL application requirements, to include a complete online resume, by 11:59 p.m. EASTERN TIME (ET) on the closing date of this announcement.

Qualifications

Qualification requirements in the vacancy announcements are based on the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualification Standards Handbook, which contains federal qualification standards.  This handbook is available on the Office of Personnel Management's website located at: https://www.opm.gov/policy

EDUCATION:   There is no positive education requirement for this position.

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: Applicants must possess one year of specialized experience equivalent in difficulty and responsibility to the next lower grade level in the Federal Service.  Specialized experience is experience that has equipped the applicant with the particular competencies/knowledge, skills and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position.  This experience need not have been in the federal government.

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.

To qualify at the ZA-2 or GS-09 level:

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: Applicants must also possess one full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to the ZA-2 or GS-07 in the Federal service. Specialized experience MUST include all of the following:

  • Participating in financial planning and budget execution activities; and
  • Researching and reconciling discrepancies in financial data.

- OR -

SUBSTITUTION OF EDUCATION: A Master's or equivalent graduate degree, or two years of graduate education leading to such a degree in a related field.

- OR -

COMBINATION OF EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE: A combination of related graduate level education and specialized experience. Note: Only graduate education in excess of one year is qualifying for combination.

To qualify at the ZA-3 or GS-11 level:

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: Applicants must also possess one full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to ZA-2 or GS-09 in the Federal service. Specialized experience MUST include all of the following:

  • Assisting in financial planning and budget execution functions (e.g., budget planning, processing execution documents and monitoring obligations and expenditures);
  • Developing financial reports, such as status of funds, expenses and budget obligations; and
  • Analyzing financial transaction discrepancies, recommending solutions and utilizing financial systems to verify and reconcile issues.

- OR -

SUBSTITUTION OF EDUCATION: Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.M., if related.

- OR -

COMBINATION OF EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE: A combination of education and experience as described above. Note: Only graduate education in excess of two full years is qualifying for combination of education and experience.

Additional information

CTAP and ICTAP candidates will be eligible for selection priority if it is determined that they have exceeded the minimum qualifications for the position by attaining at least a rating of 85 out of 100.  Information about ICTAP eligibility is on the Office of Personnel Management’s Career Transition Resources website at: Employee Guide to Career Transition

CTAP applicants MUST submit the following documents:

  1. A copy of your specific RIF notice; notice of proposed removal for failure to relocate; a Certificate of Expected Separation (CES); or certification that you are in a surplus organization or occupation (this could be a position abolishment letter, a notice eligibility for discontinued service retirement, or similar notice).
  2. A copy of your SF-50 “Notification of Personnel Action”, noting current position, grade level, and duty location;
  3. A copy of your latest performance appraisal including your rating; and
  4. Any documentation from your agency that shows your current promotion potential.

ICTAP applicants MUST submit the following documents:

  1. A copy of your RIF separation notice; notice of proposed removal for failure to relocate; notice of disability annuity termination; certification from your former agency that it cannot place you after your recovery from a compensable injury; or certification from the National Guard Bureau or Military Department that you are eligible for disability retirement;
  2. A copy of your SF-50 “Notification of Personnel Action” documenting your RIF separation, noting your positions, grade level, and duty location, and/or Agency certification of inability to place you through RPL, etc;
  3. A copy of your latest performance appraisal including your rating; and
  4. Any documentation from your agency that shows your current promotion potential.

NOAA participates in e-Verify.  E-Verify is an Internet based system operated by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in partnership with the Social Security Administration (SSA) that enables participating employers to electronically verify the employment eligibility of their newly hired employees.

How you will be evaluated

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

We will review your resume, optional cover letter and supporting documentation to determine if you meet the minimum qualifications for the position.  If you meet the minimum qualifications stated in the vacancy announcement, we will compare your resume, optional cover letter and supporting documentation to your responses on the scored occupational questionnaire (True/False, Yes/No, Multiple Choice questions) and place you in one of the three pre-defined categories.  The categories are “gold”, “silver” and “bronze”.  However, your resume or optional cover letter must support your responses to the scored occupational questionnaire, or your score may be lowered.  Candidates placed in the “gold” category will be identified for referral to the hiring manager and may be invited for an interview.

How you will be evaluated for preference eligibility:  Within each category, those entitled to veterans’ preference will be listed at the top of the pre-defined category for which they are placed.  Preference eligible with a service-connected disability of 10% or more will be listed at the top of the highest quality category (gold) depending on the position and grade level of the job. For more information on Category Rating, please go to Category Rating.

The scored occupational questionnaire will evaluate you on the following competencies; please do not provide a separate written response:

ALL GRADES:

  • Ability to provide advice on financial planning and budget execution.
  • Ability to staff leadership with meeting planning and logistics, travel, and timesheets.
  • Ability to track requirements and meet established deadlines.
  • Ability to review financial transactions, documents and accounts to ensure accuracy and compliance with regulatory requirements and internal financial controls.
  • Ability to monitor, analyze and reconcile accounts affected by various transactions.

ZA-2 ONLY:

  • Knowledge of accounting, budgetary, and financial policies, procedures, applicable to financial management operations and transactions.
  • Ability to analyze financial data discrepancies.
  • Ability to assist in the reviewing/confirming expenditures for disbursement of payments.

ZA-3 ONLY:

  • Knowledge of accounting, budgetary, and financial policies, procedures, and oversight techniques applicable to financial management operations and transactions.
  • Ability to analyze and resolve financial data discrepancies and ensure recovery for reimbursable funds.

To preview questions please click here.

Your session is about to expire!

Your USAJOBS session will expire due to inactivity in 8 minutes. Any unsaved data will be lost if you allow the session to expire. Click the button below to continue your session.