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MILITARY PAY TECHNICIAN

Department of Defense
Defense Finance and Accounting Service
DFAS Military Pay Operations

Summary

Defense Finance and Accounting Services (DFAS) mission is to lead the Department of Defense (DoD) in finance and accounting by ensuring the delivery of efficient, exceptional quality pay and financial information

Who may apply: All US Citizens
Students may apply up to three (3) months prior to completing academic requirements however submission of current transcripts are required.

Overview

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Accepting applications
Open & closing dates
01/23/2026 to 04/27/2026
Salary
$40,736 to - $61,638 per year

See the pay scale link that's appropriate to the location in the "Summary" section

Pay scale & grade
GS 5 - 6
Locations
Many vacancies in the following locations:
Indianapolis, IN
Rome, NY
Cleveland, OH
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
No
Travel Required
Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
6
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Other
Drug test
No
Position sensitivity and risk
Noncritical-Sensitive (NCS)/Moderate Risk
Trust determination process
Financial disclosure
No
Bargaining unit status
Yes
Announcement number
DHA-12871067-26
Control number
855223300

This job is open to

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This announcement is open to all U.S. Citizens

Duties

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  • Reviews a variety of pay authorization documents, determines entitlements and amounts, and processes a wide variety of pay entitlement actions which start, stop and adjust payments made to military service members.
  • Reviews source, substantiating and supporting pay authorization documents to ensure completeness, propriety, authentication, accuracy, and compliance with applicable regulations, policies and precedents.
  • Enters pay transactions into the organizations automated military pay system.
  • Researches the transaction and makes corrective action when required.
  • Screens documents to ensure processing action is required and that the documents are completed correctly and completely.
  • Reviews a wide variety of completed pay actions, which have been rejected from the automated system and determines corrective action.
  • Duties will be developmental in nature when the position is filled below the full performance level.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • Must be a U.S Citizen
  • Registered for Selective Service (males born after 12-31-1959)
  • Suitable for federal employment
  • Obtain/Maintain Financial Management Certification
  • This national security position, which may require access to classified information, requires a favorable suitability review and security clearance as a condition of employment. Failure to maintain security eligibility may result in termination.
  • Time after Competitive Appointment: Candidates must have served 3 months after latest competitive appointment in the Federal service.
  • Background or Security Investigation: This is a Non-Critical Sensitive position. Employment in this position requires a background investigation which may delay your starting date.
  • New employees to the Defense Finance and Accounting Service will be required to successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit e-verify.gov.

Qualifications

This position is being filled under the Direct Hire Authority for Certain Personnel of the Department of Defense via delegated authority by the Office of the Secretary of Defense. We reserve the right to close this announcement early or to extend, as appropriate, based upon the needs of the Agency. Qualified application packages may be referred to management at various points in the selection process depending on the number and timing of applications received. Selections may be made at any point during the announcement open period.

Applications will be accepted for the open period as stated above. At the discretion of management, a first cut-off or multiple cut-offs may utilized for this opportunity or applicants may be referred as vacancies exist. To ensure consideration for this opportunity, candidates are encouraged to submit their applications early. The agency reserves the right to close the announcement early or extend the announcement based upon mission need and/or the volume of applications received.

Pay Scale for Cleveland, OH:
https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/salaries-wages/salary-tables/26Tables/html/CLE.aspx

Pay Scale for Indianapolis, IN:
https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/salaries-wages/salary-tables/26Tables/html/IND.aspx

Pay Scale for Rome, NY:
https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/salaries-wages/salary-tables/26Tables/html/RUS.aspx


Applicants MUST have related financial experience AND/OR a related financial degree (examples include: Finance, Accounting, Management, Actuarial Science, or related), in addition to meeting Office of Personnel Management (OPM) minimum qualification requirements. Substitution of combination of education and experience must still, in conjunction, minimally satisfy the DHA qualification requirement.

One year of specialized experience equivalent in level of difficulty and responsibility to that of the next lower grade within the federal service, which demonstrates the ability to perform the duties of the position, is required.

To be hired at the GS-05 entry grade level, applicants must minimally have: One year of specialized experience equivalent in level of difficulty and responsibility to that of a GS-04 within the federal service, which demonstrates the ability to perform the duties of the position, is required.

  • Specialized experience is defined as: performing duties that support the processing of financial/accounting transactions using standardized procedures that may include reviewing financial/accounting systems information/documents for accuracy/ completeness, inputting financial/accounting information into automated systems, or correcting invalid financial/accounting transaction
To be hired at the GS-06 entry grade level, applicants must minimally have: One year of specialized experience equivalent in level of difficulty and responsibility to that of the next lower grade (GS-05) within the federal service, which demonstrates the ability to perform the duties of the position, is required.
  • Specialized experience is defined as: reviewing and processing a wide variety of complex, non-recurring payroll transactions, and resolving problems within automated pay accounts, experience must demonstrate a thorough knowledge of a wide-range of payroll actions, regulations, policies and procedures.


Volunteer Experience: 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 to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

Education

This position is being filled under the Direct Hire Authority (DHA) for Certain Personnel of the Department of Defense via delegated authority by the Office of the Secretary of Defense.

Applicants MUST have related financial experience AND/OR a related financial degree (examples include: Finance, Accounting, Management, Actuarial Science, or related), in addition to meeting Office of Personnel Management (OPM) minimum qualification requirements. Substitution of combination of education and experience must still, in conjunction, minimally satisfy the DHA qualification requirement.

GS-05 Substitution of Education for Experience
: Four years of successfully completed education above the high school level in any field for which high school graduation, or the equivalent, is a prerequisite may be substituted to meet the specialized experience required. Equivalent combinations of successfully completed post-high school education and experience may be used to meet total experience requirements. (Note substitution of educational requirement may be consider 6 months prior to completion.)

GS-06 Substitution of Education for Experience: Six months of graduate education may be substituted to meet the specialized experience required when it is directly related to the work of the position being filled.

Current students may apply up to three (3) months prior to completing their academic requirement however submission of current transcripts are required.

If you are using education to substitute for the specialized experience, you must submit transcripts at the time you apply. To be creditable, education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university. You must report only attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions that are recognized by the U.S. Department of Education (http://www2.ed.gov/admins/finaid/accred/index.html).

Additional information

  • Moving expenses WILL NOT be paid.
  • Qualifying education must be conferred or awarded within three (3) months of the closing date of this announcement.
  • The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 makes certain reimbursements/payments taxable. For information on these changes and the Relocation Income Tax Allowance (RITA), for which some appointees are eligible, click here.
  • For positions where relocation is paid (see Location block of vacancy announcement), you can learn more about relocation allowances and entitlements.
  • Telework availability is limited and will only be provided on a rare case-by-case basis during situations where Agency Leadership has determined that telework serves a compelling DoD need.
  • Employment with DFAS means access to generous benefits such as: health, vision, and dental insurance, retirement benefits, paid time off, and educational benefits.
  • Selections are subject to restrictions resulting from the DoD Program for Stability of Civilian Employment.
  • A one year probationary or trial period may be required.
  • We may use this announcement to fill additional vacancies within 90 days of the closing date.
  • Travel requirement is 25% or less.
  • This position IS covered by a bargaining unit.
  • Veteran's Preference: Veteran's preference does not apply under this Direct Hire Authority (DHA).
  • This position is Non Exempt from the Fair Labor Standards Act.
  • This position requires you to obtain and maintain a Level 1 Certification under the DoD Financial Management (FM) Certification Program as a condition of employment. If you are selected, you will have to obtain this certification within two (2) years of your entry on duty in the position unless you are already in a position that requires a Level 1 Certification in which case you must complete the certification within the original 2-year period. Failure to become certified within the required time-frame may be grounds for removal from the position and/or from Federal service. Information about the DoD FM Certification Program is available at FM Certification
  • Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered or be exempt from Selective Service (see http://www.sss.gov).
  • The Security Designation will vary and dependent upon position and may require a secret clearance or higher. Employment in this position requires a background investigation which may delay starting date. If you are selected and cannot obtain a favorable security determination within a reasonable period of time due to disclosed/undisclosed background issues, the employment offer may be withdrawn. Individuals selected are required to obtain/maintain a favorable security determination to occupy a sensitive position within the agency as a condition of employment. Failure to maintain eligibility to occupy a sensitive position may result in termination. For more information see the security section of Understanding Vacancy Announcements.
  • Criminal History Inquiries- For some positions, criminal history inquiries may not take place before you receive a conditional job offer. Please see Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs Act of 2019 (dfas.mil) for more information on The Fair Chance to Compete Act, exceptions, and DFAS contact information.
  • Pay for first time hires to the Federal Government will typically be set at step 1 salary range for their respective grade level.
  • All applicants are encouraged to apply electronically. If you are unable to apply on-line, you may contact 317-212-0454 for assistance.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

How you will be evaluated

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

IMPORTANT NOTE - YOU MUST FOLLOW ALL APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY. ERRORS OR OMISSIONS MAY AFFECT YOUR RATING.

All information included in the resume, required documents and Occupational Questionnaire is subject to review and verification. HR will review your resume and supporting documentation to ensure you meet the minimum qualification requirements. Applicants meeting the minimum requirements will be referred to management for consideration.

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