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Examiner Trainee

Federal Housing Finance Agency
Division of FHLBank Regulation (DBR), Office of Safety and Soundness Examinations
This job announcement has closed

Summary

We have openings for entry-level examiners in the Division of Federal Home Loan Bank Regulation (DBR), which is responsible for supervising and ensuring the safe and sound operation of the Federal Home Loan Banks.

Overview

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Hiring complete
Open & closing dates
02/12/2024 to 03/11/2024
Salary
$51,326 to - $75,128 per year
Pay scale & grade
EL 7
Location
Few vacancies in the following location:
Location Negotiable After Selection,
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Travel Required
50% or less - You may be expected to travel for this position.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
12
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Not Required
Drug test
No
Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
Trust determination process
Announcement number
DBR-24-08
Control number
776100100

Duties

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As an entry-level examiner trainee you will be involved in developmental activities to understand financial management, bank operations and services, housing finance, including understanding observed trends and developments. You will work closely with other examiners and management at all levels in the Federal Home Loan Banks. At first you will work closely with a mentor, and your responsibilities will increase in pace with your demonstrated skills and capabilities. Under the general supervision of a Supervisory Examiner, you will participate in the planning and conducting of examinations and assigned progressively greater responsibilities.

Examiner Trainee Development Program

Examiner trainees hired into DBR's examiner development program will be placed into a structured program of on-the-job training, classroom work, and gradually increasing responsibilities to gain the experience, insight, and poise needed to become a successful commissioned Housing Finance Examiner (HFE). Trainees will also earn professional certifications provided by external professional organizations, such as the American Bankers Association (ABA) and the Global Association of Risk Professionals (GARP). We typically place trainee examiners into a laddered career development program with regular promotion opportunities at various intervals in the program, and the program typically takes between four and five years before final commissioning. Examiner trainees will work with various experts throughout the division to build their experience and their understanding of banking, the examiner profession, and work expectations, and will have opportunities to learn about the various areas of FHFA operations and supervision.

Major Duties and Responsibilities

Examiner trainees develop examination strategies and work plans in determining the scope of examination activities and develops new or adapted work methods and procedures as needed. Examiners lead in the assessment of the components of the CAMELSO rating system (Capital, Asset Quality, Management, Earnings, Liquidity, Sensitivity to Market Risk, and Operational Risk) and serve as members of an examination team to identify emerging and/or embedded risks. Examiners use technical capability to conduct complex examinations and demonstrate the ability to analyze, evaluate, and report on the financial performance and risks of the Regulated Entities and the Office of Finance (OF).

Examiner trainees learn to conduct examinations and detailed reviews in financial, management, market, and/or credit risk and assists in coordinating the examination resources and activities in his/her assigned area. Examiner trainees also learn to plan, organize, and supervise examination activities as a subject matter expert to the staff within other offices pertaining to examinations.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • Must be a U.S. Citizen or National
  • Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service
  • Suitable for Federal employment, as determined by background investigation
  • May be required to successfully complete a probationary period
  • Only experience and education obtained by the closing date of this announcement will be considered.
  • Resume and supporting documents (See How To Apply)
  • If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES or Presidential Appointee employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the Human Resources Office.
  • FHFA participates in e-Verify. All new hires must complete the I-9 Employment Verification form either on or before their first day of employment. If a discrepancy arises, you must take affirmative steps to resolve the matter.
  • This position is eligible for inclusion in the bargaining unit. The union that represents employees in this position is the National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU) Local 343.
  • Examiner trainees are outstationed in a home office. Selectees must reside within 50 miles of a major airport.
  • If the selectee's duty station is his/her private residence, it must allow ready access to a major metropolitan airport, which offers direct, reasonably efficient routes (from a time and cost perspective) to cities in which the FHLBanks are located.
  • Travel is required to the Federal Home Loan Banks, Office of Finance and Agency headquarters.
  • Salary will be based on location.

Qualifications

To qualify for the Examiner Trainee position, you must meet the basic eligibility requirements for the 0570 series and the minimum qualification requirements for the grade level below. Your resume must clearly describe your relevant experience. If you are qualifying based on education, your transcripts (official or unofficial) will be required as part of your application.

Basic Requirement for Examiners (0570):

A.
Undergraduate and Graduate Education: Major study -- accounting, banking, business administration, commercial or banking law, economics, finance, marketing, or other fields related to the position.

-OR-

B. Specialized Experience (for positions above GS-5): Examples of qualifying specialized experience include:

  • Work requiring a thorough knowledge and the application of commercial accounting or auditing principles and practices (but less than full professional accounting knowledge) with a financial institution.
  • Examining or auditing such financial institutions as savings and loan associations, savings or commercial banking institutions or trust companies, farm credit associations, or Federal or State credit unions.
  • Professional accounting or auditing work that provided a broad knowledge of the application of accounting or auditing principles and practices.
  • Work that provided a thorough knowledge of Federal and State laws applicable to the type of financial institution involved (e.g., savings and loan associations, Bank for Cooperatives, savings or commercial banks, investment institutions, etc.), and of the operations and practices of such institutions.

In addition to meeting the basic entry requirements for an Examiner Trainee, applicants must have specialized experience and/or directly related education as described below. Your resume must clearly describe your relevant experience; if qualifying based on education, your transcripts (official or unofficial) will be required as part of your application.

Minimum Qualifications EL/GS-07:

A: Experience:
I qualify for the EL/GS-07 because I have at least 52 weeks of specialized experience at the EL/GS-05 or equivalent demonstrating work experience which includes: Knowledge of financial analysis, ability to analyze financial reports, knowledge of accounting principles, skill in oral communication to present findings and recommendations, and ability to communicate in writing to prepare a variety of reports. -OR-

B. Education Substitute: 1 full year of graduate level education in accounting, business administration, commercial or banking law, economics, finance, marketing, or other fields related to the position, and includes at least 24 semester hours in business administration, accounting, finance, marketing, economics, mathematics, or statistics with at least 6 hours in accounting. -OR-

C. Superior Academic Achievement (S.A.A.): abachelor's degree curriculum directly related to the work of the position. To qualify for superior academic achievement, you must have ONE of the following: (1) standing in the upper third of your college class or major subdivision at the time you apply; (2) grade point average of B (3.0 on a 4.0 scale) or B+ (3.5 on a 4.0 scale) or its equivalent for all courses completed, either (a) at the time of application or (b) during the last 2 years of your undergraduate curriculum; (3) election to membership in one of the national honorary scholastic societies that meets the requirements of the Association of College Honor Society. Note: Grade-point averages are to be rounded to one decimal place. For example, 2.95 will round to 3.0 and 2.94 will round to 2.9. -OR-

D. Combination of education and experience:
as described above in options "A" and "B". Note: Less than one year of specialized experience may be combined with graduate education in excess of the amount required for the next lower grade level. One academic year of graduate education is considered to be the number of credits hours determined to represent one academic year of full-time study (i.e.,18 semester hours (or 27 quarter hours).


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.

Education

ARE YOU USING YOUR EDUCATION TO QUALIFY? You MUST provide transcripts or other documentation to support your educational claims. Unless otherwise stated: (1) official or unofficial transcripts are acceptable, or (2) you may submit a list with all of your courses, grades, semester, year, and credit for the course. All materials must be submitted by the closing date of the announcement.

GRADUATE EDUCATION: One academic year of graduate education is considered to be the number of credits hours your graduate school has determined to represent one academic year of full-time study. Such study may have been performed on a full-time or part-time basis. If you cannot obtain your graduate school's definition of one year of graduate study, 18 semester hours (or 27 quarter hours) should be considered as satisfying the requirement for one year of full-time graduate study.

FOREIGN EDUCATION: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. For further information, visit: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html

Additional information

An Overview of FHFA's Benefits for Fiscal Year 2023 provides a summary of benefits for the current fiscal year.

Outstationed Locations/Duty Station: Selectee is eligible for establishing their home residence as his/her duty station based on the examiner job requirement to spend a minimum of 25 days annually to conduct on-site examinations of the Federal Home Loan Banks (FHLBanks) and the Office of Finance in Reston, Virginia.

If you are a veteran with preference eligibility and are claiming 5-points veterans' preference, you must submit a copy of your DD-214 or other proof of eligibility. If you are claiming 10-point veterans' preference, you must also submit an SF-15, "Application for 10-Point Veterans' Preference" plus the proof required by that form. For more information on veterans' preference visit: https://www.usajobs.gov/Veterans.

Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service (see https://www.sss.gov/RegVer/wfRegistration.aspx).

Career Transition Assistance Programs: These programs apply to employees who have been involuntarily separated from a Federal service position within the competitive service or Federal service employees whose positions have been deemed surplus or no longer needed. To receive selection priority for this position, you must: (1) meet CTAP or ICTAP eligibility criteria; (2) be rated well-qualified for the position and, (3) submit the appropriate documentation to support your CTAP or ICTAP eligibility. For more information visit: http://www.opm.gov/rif/employee_guides/career_transition.asp.

FHFA is an Equal Opportunity Employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment regardless of race, color, religion, gender (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, and gender identity), national origin, disability (physical or mental), age (40 years of age or over), genetic information, parental status, marital status, prior protected EEO activity, political affiliation, or other non-merit factors.

REASONABLE ACCOMODATION:FHFA provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities, except when doing so would pose an undue hardship on the Agency. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please notify FHFA. The Agency's decision on granting a reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis.

Ethics: FHFA employees are subject to government-wide ethical standards of conduct, financial disclosure requirements, and post-employment prohibitions. In addition, certain FHFA employees are prohibited from accepting compensation from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac for a two-year period after terminating employment with FHFA. Furthermore, to avoid financial conflicts-of interest or the appearance of conflicts-of-interest, FHFA employees may need to divest or sell certain assets they, their spouse, or minor children own or control, including securities issued by Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, or the Federal Home Loan Banks. Employees who work on Federal Home Loan Bank issues may need to sell or divest financial interests with any of the Federal Home Loan Bank members, which may include stock in bank holding companies, insurance companies, and other financial services firms. Questions regarding these requirements and prohibitions should be directed to the Office of General Counsel at (202) 649-3088.

How you will be evaluated

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

This position is being filled through Federal Housing Finance Agency's hiring authority granted by the Housing Economic Recovery Act (HERA). All applicants meeting the basic qualification requirements will be forwarded to the selecting official for consideration. Candidates with Veteran's preference, who meet the specialized experience and education requirements for this vacancy, will be given priority consideration over non-preference candidates.


We recommend that you preview the online questions for this announcement before you start the application process. To preview the assessment questionnaire: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12308724


All of the information you provide will be verified by a review of the work experience and/or education as shown on your application forms, by checking references or through other means, such as the interview process. This verification could occur at any stage of the application process. Any exaggeration of your experience, false statements, or attempts to conceal information may be grounds for rating you ineligible.

In accordance with the Fair Chance Act, the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) may not request, in oral or written form, that an applicant for an appointment to (FHFA) disclose criminal history record information before the appointing authority extends a tentative offer to the applicant. Allegations of FHFA violations of this Act may be submitted to fairchanceactcomplaints@fhfa.gov or to Fair Chance Act Complaints, Office of Human Resources Management, Employee Relations Branch, FHFA 400 7th Street, SW Washington DC 20219 within 30 days from the agency employee's alleged non-compliance with the law.

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