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

Examiner/Senior Examiner

Federal Housing Finance Agency
Division of FHLBank Regulation (DBR)
This job announcement has closed

Summary

The employee will serve as an Examiner/Senior Examiner at the Division of FHLBank Regulation (DBR) as part of the Examinations Group. In this role, the incumbent will be responsible for planning, organizing, and completing examinations of the FHLBanks and the Office of Finance (OF) for the purpose of ensuring financial safety and soundness and housing mission achievement.

Overview

Help
Reviewing applications
Open & closing dates
01/06/2025 to 01/21/2025
Salary
$109,487 to - $210,837 per year

Reflects the EL-12/13 pay range in Washington, DC. Salary will be based on FHFA's geographical salary structure for your duty location.

Pay scale & grade
EL 12 - 13
Location
Location Negotiable After Selection
1 vacancy
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Travel Required
25% or less - Travel could be slightly more than 25%
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
14
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Other
Drug test
No
Position sensitivity and risk
Moderate Risk (MR)
Trust determination process
Financial disclosure
No
Bargaining unit status
Yes
Announcement number
DBR-25-07
Control number
826913000

Duties

Help

Examinations Group

The Examinations Group is responsible for conducting the annual examination and ongoing supervision of the FHLBanks and the Office of Finance (OF). Annual examinations review the FHLBank's capital, asset quality, management, earnings, liquidity, sensitivity to market risk, operational risk (CAMELSO), and Affordable Housing Program, and the Office of Finance's management and operational risk. FHFA work programs establish examination guidance and expectations examiners follow when executing examinations. The Examinations Group also conducts ongoing supervision of the FHLBanks and the Office of Finance throughout the year by conducting interim examinations, holding regularly scheduled conference calls, and engaging in ad-hoc communication.

Major Duties and Responsibilities

Areas of examination may include governance, market risk, credit risk, operational risk, liquidity risk, capital management, earnings, model risk, derivatives, information technology, risk assessment processes, accounting, and auditing. An Examiner formulates conclusions about the Regulated Entities and the OF's financial condition, overall safety and soundness, and degree of compliance with statutory and regulatory requirements, and identifies key risk areas within the Regulated Entities and the OF and causes remediation as appropriate.

The Examiner/Senior Examiner duties listed below are at the EL-13 grade level. Depending on the grade level selected, the incumbent will perform the following duties with varying levels of supervision and difficulty:

  • Complete general and/or targeted reviews of subject areas or components of the CAMELSO rating system.
  • Identify emerging and/or embedded risks and use technical capability to conduct examinations.
  • Analyze, evaluate, and report the financial performance and risks of the Regulated Entities and the OF.
  • Independently participate in the development of examination strategies and work plans such as determining the scope of examination activities or developing new work methods and procedures as needed.
  • Follow supervisory guidance such as the examination manual, advisory bulletins, examination guidelines, and policy statements to ensure that the development of examination scope and reports are completed.
  • Determine the scope of the analysis required; develop sources of material appropriate for the evaluation of activities or operations; follow or adapt work methods and procedures; and perform research to identify material suitable for identified issues/risks.
  • Ensure an accurate understanding of the key risks, processes and controls, and the factual basis for examination findings.
  • Draft written reports including evaluative commentaries appropriate to the operations being examined and document examination findings.
  • Ensure workpapers are completed in accordance with FHFA's workpaper standards.
  • Keep abreast of significant issues or events and emerging risks that may affect the continued safe and sound operations of the Regulated Entities and the OF.
  • Analyze banking, financial, housing, operational, and mortgage market developments affecting the Regulated Entities and the OF.
  • Provide written analysis and recommendations for issues requiring agency approval or attention.
  • Maintain a current advanced understanding and knowledge of issues, trends, and advances in risk management and risk-based examinations of large, complex financial institutions.
  • Maintain subject matter expertise in principle knowledge area (e.g., technology, capital markets, accounting, etc.) as well as develop expertise in other subject matters as needed.
  • Perform other duties as assigned.

Requirements

Help

Conditions of employment

  • Status Candidates (Merit Promotion and VEOA Eligibles) and those eligible for other hiring authorities.
  • SF 50's are required with the exception of current FHFA employees. Please include one showing your tenure and competitive status. You must provide an SF-50 that indicates your competitive eligibility. You will not be considered without this.
  • Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service
  • May be required to successfully complete a probationary period
  • Only experience and education obtained by the closing date of this announcement will be considered.
  • Status candidates must meet time-in-grade requirements (52 weeks at the next lower grade level).
  • Suitable for Federal employment, as determined by background investigation
  • Resume and supporting documents (See How To Apply)
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • The salary for this announcement reflects the EL-12/13 pay range in Washington, DC. Candidate's pay range is based on FHFA's geographical salary structure for their current duty station.
  • Selectee is eligible for establishing their home residence as their duty station based on the job requirement to spend a minimum of 25 days annually to conduct on-site examinations of the Federal Home Loan Banks and the Office of Finance.
  • Selectees generally must reside within 50 miles of a major airport that have routes to the locations of the eleven Federal Home Loan Banks and the Office of Finance that are efficient based on flight times and costs.
  • Selectees may also reside within 50 miles of an airport in a metropolitan area within which an FHLBank is headquartered.
  • Please refer to the additional information section for a list of major metropolitan airports.
  • Travel is required to the Federal Home Loan Banks, the Office of Finance in Reston, VA, and the Agency headquarters in Washington, DC.
  • Salary will be based on location.
  • The successful candidate will also enroll in the FHFA Housing Finance Examiner (HFE) Commission Program, unless the person holds a commission from another Federal banking agency.

Qualifications

You may qualify for your desired series and grade level if you meet the following qualification requirements:

To qualify for this Examiner/Senior Examiner position, you must meet the basic eligibility requirements for the 0570 series, as well as the minimum qualification requirements. Your resume must clearly describe your relevant experience. Transcripts are required if you choose option "A" to satisfy the basic requirement.

BASIC REQUIREMENTS:

To be eligible for the 0570 series, you must meet one of the following requirements:

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.
-OR-

C. Certificate: A certificate as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) obtained through written examination in a State, territory, or the District of Columbia meets the EL/GS-5 level requirements. Applicants with such certificates may also qualify for higher grade levels based on their education and or experience.

In addition to meeting the above basic education, experience, or certification requirements, applicants must also meet the following minimum qualifications for their desired grade level:

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

Minimum Qualification EL-12: Applicants must have 52 weeks (one-year) of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level as described below.

Experience: I qualify for the EL/GS-12 because I have at least 52 weeks of specialized experience at the EL/GS-11 or equivalent demonstrating work experience with one or more of the statements described below.

Examples of specialized experience include:
  • Participating in examinations, audits, or risk consulting engagements of financial institutions, which include communicating conclusions to the institution's personnel.
  • Assisting in determining the scope and method of examinations, audits, or consulting engagements; planning and executing the scope of work; and reporting requirements throughout the examination, audit, and the engagement cycle.
  • Contributing to the adaptation of standard procedures and techniques to institution specific issues/risk.
  • Assisting in the development of work products according to prescribed regulatory and supervisory policy and program guidelines and standards.
  • Contributing to conclusions, formulated recommendations, and the preparation of supporting documents within established timeframes.
  • Participating in the communication of findings and their basis to the institution's senior management or board of directors, seeking management's views and discussing management's perspective to ensure examination conclusions are fully supported.
  • Assessing risk management practices at financial institutions.
  • Assisting senior examiners in remaining aware of emerging industry risks and how these risks could potentially impact the condition of financial institutions.
Minimum Qualification EL-13: Applicants must have 52 weeks (one-year) of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level as described below.

Experience: I qualify for the EL/GS-13 because I have at least 52 weeks of specialized experience at the EL/GS-12 or equivalent demonstrating work experience with one or more of the statements described below.

Examples of specialized experience include:
  • Performing examinations, audits, or risk consulting engagements of financial institutions, which include communicating conclusions to the institution's personnel.
  • Determining the scope and method of examinations, audits, or consulting engagements; planning and executing the scope of work; and reporting requirements throughout the examination, audit, and the engagement cycle.
  • Adapting standard procedures and techniques to institution specific issues/risk.
  • Developing work products according to prescribed regulatory and supervisory policy and program guidelines and standards.
  • Providing conclusions, formulating recommendations, and preparing supporting documents within established timeframes.
  • Communicating findings and their basis to the institution's senior management or board of directors, seeking management's views and discussing management's perspective to ensure examination conclusions are fully supported.
  • Overseeing risk management practices at financial institutions.
  • Remaining aware of emerging industry risks and how these risks could potentially impact the condition of financial institutions.
*Commissioned Examiner Credential Desirable*

**Failure to provide your transcripts, when required, for any of the options above will remove you from the hiring process**

Time-In-Grade: Current or former Federal government employees who have held an EL/GS position in the preceding 52 weeks, must meet the time-in-grade requirement.
  • To be eligible for the EL-12 position, applicants must have served 52 weeks as an EL/GS-11 or higher in the Federal Service.
  • To be eligible for the EL-13 position, applicants must have served 52 weeks as an EL/GS-12 or higher in the Federal Service.
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 2024-2025 provides a summary of benefits for the current fiscal year.

The selectee's duty station will remain the same as their current duty station.

Selectees generally must reside within 50 miles of a major airport. Major airports include those that the FAA designates as a Large Hub (L) airport (see https://www.faa.gov/sites/faa.gov/files/2024-06/cy23-commercial-service-enplanements-preliminary.pdf) and have routes to the locations of the eleven Federal Home Loan Banks and the Office of Finance that are efficient based on flight times and costs.

This range reflects the EL-12/13 in Washington, DC. Candidate's pay range is based on FHFA's geographical salary structure for current duty station.

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 with a score of 90 or above; 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.

You will be rated based on your responses to the job specific competencies documented within the questionnaire and assigned a score ranging from 70 to 100 points. The top ten candidates, and those tied for the tenth spot, will be referred for selection. All qualified non-competitive applicants will be referred.

Competencies:

  • Examination Techniques & Procedures
  • Oral Communication
  • Program & Stakeholder Management
  • Writing Communication


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/12655651

If interviewed, you may be provided with a case study involving a risk issue at a financial institution. In such a case, you will be asked to review the scenario, identify the issues, develop a written remediation plan, and then brief the interview panel on your remediation plan and recommendations.

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.

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.