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Analyst in Public Finance

Legislative Branch
Library of Congress
This job announcement has closed

Summary

The Congressional Research Service (CRS) Government and Finance Division is accepting applications under its 2021 Graduate Recruit Program for an Analyst in Public Finance. This position will be filled at the GS-09 or GS-11 level (see "Duties" below).

Overview

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Reviewing applications
Open date: 02/10/2021
Closed date: 03/10/2021
Location
Work site options
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Salary
$60,129 - $94,581 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 09 - 11
Promotion potential
15
Pay scale and grade determines the salary of the job.
Work schedule
Full-time - Flexitime.
Travel Required
Not required
Appointment type
Temporary - Position will be filled under the Congressional Research Service Graduate Recruit Program. Full-time, temporary with the expectation of subsequent conversion to permanent.
Occupations and job series
Supervisory status
No
Federal service type
This job is in the Excepted Service
Drug test
No
Security clearance
Not Required
Announcement number
GR-GFD21-04
Control number
591942200

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

1. U.S. Citizenship; 2.Current enrollment in or anticipated graduation from an appropriate, accredited advanced degree program. (Library employees may already possess a graduate degree). At the time of appointment, Library employees must maintain employment status without a break in service.; 3.General education requirements for a GS-09 or GS-11 appointment (see “Qualifications Required” below).

Duties

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About the Graduate Recruit Program:

Initial appointments under the Graduate Recruit Program will be made for a period up to 120 days.  Initial appointments are expected to convert to permanent, contingent upon the participant’s successful performance, completion of all degree requirements, and availability of funding.  Those students who return to school to complete their advanced degree program may be eligible for a permanent position once they obtain their degree.

About CRS

CRS works exclusively for the United States Congress, providing policy and legal analysis to committees and Members of both the House and Senate, regardless of party affiliation. As shared staff to congressional committees and Members of Congress, CRS experts assist at every stage of the legislative process—from the early considerations that precede bill drafting, through committee hearings and floor debate, to the oversight of enacted laws and various agency activities.

CRS is well known for analysis that is authoritative, confidential, objective, and nonpartisan. Its highest priority is to ensure that Congress has immediate access to the nation's best thinking on public policy issues of interest to its Members and Committees.

DUTIES FOR THIS POSITION INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING:

The Analyst in Public Finance will work on legislation and oversight issues in the areas of tax policy, small business or economic development, and other public finance policies for Members and committees of the U.S. Congress. The analyst will locate and interpret factual information; conduct research; prepare objective, non-partisan descriptive, background, and analytical reports; and participate in team research projects and seminars. The work also includes briefing congressional staff and Members of Congress. The applicant should be able to demonstrate their proficiency through relevant coursework or experience. Applicants earning an advanced degree in economics are especially encouraged to apply.

The ideal candidate will have formal training in or experience with microeconomics with an emphasis on tax policy, small business or economic development; knowledge and experience with public policymaking; and/or formal training in public finance and economics. The analyst in public finance is also expected to develop over time the skills necessary to provide legislative analysis and consultation to congressional committees, Members of Congress, and their staff at increasingly sophisticated levels.

Strong writing, research, and presentation skills are essential, including the ability to synthesize complex analyses into easy-to-understand language for a non-technical audience.

The analyst position carries promotion potential to the GS-15 level.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

No additional requirements to those listed above.

Qualifications

Who may be considered:

Graduate students and Library of Congress employees who meet all of the following eligibility requirements:

  1. U.S. Citizenship
  2. Current enrollment in or anticipated graduation from an appropriate, accredited advanced degree program. (Library employees who already possess a graduate degree and maintain Library employment status without a break in service may be considered for appointment under the CRS Graduate Recruit Program).
  3. General education requirements for a GS-09 or GS-11 appointment (see table below).

GS-09 Grade Level

GS-11 Grade Level

Two years of progressively higher level appropriate graduate education leading to a Master's degree, OR

Master's or equivalent graduate degree, OR

One year of specialized experience at the GS-07 grade level in the federal service or at a comparable level of difficulty outside the federal service.

Three years of progressively higher appropriate graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree, OR

A Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree, OR

One year of specialized experience at the GS-09 grade level   in the federal service or at a comparable level of difficulty outside the federal service.

ADDITIONAL EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS FOR ECONOMIST POSITIONS:

  1. A degree in economics, that included at least 21 semester hours in economics and 3 semester hours in statistics, accounting, or calculus.

OR

  1. A combination of education and experience: courses equivalent to a major in economics, as shown in A (1) above, plus appropriate experience or additional education.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILL, AND ABILITY REQUIREMENTS:

The critical knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs), gained through education, experience and/or training, needed to

successfully perform the duties of the position:

GS-09 Grade Level

GS-11 Grade Level

Knowledge of Microeconomics with an Emphasis on  Tax Policy, Small Business, or Economic Development**

To provide objective background information and limited public policy analysis on macroeconomics and the U.S. economy for Members, committees, and staff of the U.S. Congress.

Knowledge of Microeconomics with an Emphasis on  Tax Policy, Small Business, or Economic Development**

To provide objective, in-depth public policy analysis and background information in the areas of small business, economic development, and general tax policy for Members and committees of the U.S. Congress.

Ability to Design and Utilize Research and Analytical Methods and Techniques**

To assemble, analyze, and interpret information to identify and evaluate public policy issues and options.

Ability to Design and Utilize Research and Analytical Methods and Techniques**

To research, analyze and synthesize complex information and evaluate implications of various policy alternatives.

Ability to Write on Issues Related to Microeconomics with an Emphasis on Tax Policy, Small Business, or Economic Development Policy**

To with limited analysis for Congress. write descriptive and background reports, memoranda, and other documents

Ability to Write on Issues Related to Microeconomics with an Emphasis on Tax Policy, Small Business, or Economic Development Policy**

To write analytical and descriptive reports, memoranda, and other products supported by appropriate background research for Congress.

Additional information

The Congressional Research Service, within the Library of Congress, is part of the Legislative Branch of the federal government. As such, all positions are in the excepted service.

The salary range indicated reflects the locality pay adjustment for the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. This is a non-supervisory, bargaining unit position.

The appointment tenure for this position is full-time temporary with the expectation of subsequent conversion to permanent; flexible work schedules may be available. The position description number for this vacancy announcement are GS-09 (4737) or GS-11 (4738).  Relocation expenses are not authorized for the person(s) selected under this vacancy announcement.

The Library reserves the right to fill a lesser or greater number of vacancies indicated during the life of this vacancy announcement.

Appointment/retention is subject to a favorable evaluation of an appropriate personnel security/suitability investigation. Applicants who are referred for an interview will be required to submit a completed Form 1862 Library of Congress Applicant Data Form/Reference Form.

Those Graduate Recruit Program participants who are converted from a temporary appointment to a permanent position, and who have not yet completed the one-year probationary period required of all new Library employees, will be required to do so. Time served in the temporary appointment will not count toward completion of this one-year probationary period requirement.

CRS staff not placed in a permanent position under the Graduate Recruit Program will return to the position occupied before entering the program or a position of similar grade and duties without loss of federal service tenure or seniority. Before applying, other Library of Congress employees should consult their supervisor or service unit management regarding the status of their position should they be selected for the program but not placed in a permanent position.

The Library of Congress is an equal opportunity employer. Women, men, minorities, and persons with disabilities who meet eligibility requirements are strongly encouraged to apply.

This agency provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please notify Carmen Reese at CRSGraduateRecruit@crs.loc.gov or (202) 707-6275. The decision on granting reasonable accommodations will be made on a case-by-case basis.

How you will be evaluated

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

Completed application packages will be forwarded to a panel of CRS staff that will first assess applicants against basic eligibility and general education requirements of the position. An evaluation panel will then assess the degree to which candidates meet the critical knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs) required to perform the duties of the position and offer the better qualified candidates an opportunity for an interview in person, by telephone or by other telecommunications means. In addition to the critical KSAs listed above, the following competencies will also be addressed during the interview:

  • Ability to Convey Analysis and Information Orally through Briefings, Consultations and Other Presentations
  • Ability to Exercise Objectivity in All Phases of Analysis, Consultation, and/or Oral Presentations
  • Ability to Communicate Effectively Other Than in Writing

A complete applicant package will require applicants to provide responses to a vacancy questionnaire, which includes mandatory submission of a Candidate Statement of Interest.  Finalists may be required to submit a writing sample related to their academic discipline.


To preview questions please click here.

Library of Congress

The Library of Congress serves the Congress in fulfilling its duties and preserves and promotes knowledge and creativity for the benefit of the American people. It is the nation's oldest federal cultural institution and the world's largest library, with more than 158 million items in its physical collections (including books, manuscripts, prints, photos, film, video, and sound recordings) and over 37 million items online. Located primarily on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., the Library is the home of the U.S. Copyright Office, the Congressional Research Service (CRS), the Law Library of Congress, and the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped.

Agency contact information

Customer Service Center
Phone
202-707-6275
Fax
000-000-0000
Email
CRSGraduateRecruit@crs.loc.gov
Address
LIBRARY OF CONGRESS
101 Independence Ave. SE
LM-107
Washington, District of Columbia 20540
United States

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