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

LEAD CIVILIAN PAY TECHNICIAN

Department of Defense
Defense Finance and Accounting Service
DFAS- Civilian Pay Operations

Summary

This job announcement uses the Subject Matter Expert Panel Assessment to evaluate applicants.

Overview

Help
Accepting applications
Open & closing dates
02/18/2026 to 03/03/2026
Salary
$50,930 to - $75,852 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 7 - 8
Locations
2 vacancies in the following locations:
Indianapolis, IN
Cleveland, OH
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
No
Travel Required
25% 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
8
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
ML-12858022-26
Control number
857854800

This job is open to

Help

Clarification from the agency

This announcement is open to current, permanent DFAS employees in the competitive service and current DFAS VRA employees and eligible DoD PPP Military Spouse preference applicants.

Duties

Help
  • The major duties described below reflect the full performance level of this position:
  • Estimates and reports on expected time of completion of work and maintains records of work accomplishments and time expended and prepares production reports as requested.
  • Audits, compiles, controls, and maintains appropriate reports to ensure accuracy and agreement of computer payroll listings with individual payroll control ledgers or registers.
  • Provides general and technical advice and assistance relative to defense civilian payroll system support policy, planning and procedures.
  • Researches source materials to obtain required data; identifies and resolves inconsistencies to ensure accuracy and adequacy of information; and presents findings and recommendations.
  • Explains rules and regulations, researches history of transactions, conducts Vulnerability Assessments and tests internal controls for reasonableness and adequacy.
  • Conducts special studies and works on projects which address pay problems/issues encountered across management functional lines for the elimination or reduction of similar problems in the future.

Requirements

Help

Conditions of employment

  • Must be a U.S Citizen or National.
  • 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.
  • Registered for Selective Service (males born after 12-31-1959).
  • Suitable for Federal employment.
  • Time after Competitive Appointment: Candidates must have served 3 months after latest competitive appointment in the Federal service.
  • Obtain/Maintain Financial Management Certification.
  • 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.
  • Time in Grade Requirement - see the Qualifications field below for more details.
  • 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.
  • The incumbent of this position will be required to be physically on-site full-time, regular telework is not authorized for this position.

Qualifications

Time-in-Grade for GS-07: Current or former federal employees who have held a GS position in the preceding 52 weeks, must meet the time in grade requirement. Applicant must have served 52 weeks as a GS-06 or higher grade in Federal Service.

Time-in-Grade for GS-08: Current or former federal employees who have held a GS position in the preceding 52 weeks, must meet the time in grade requirement. Applicant must have served 52 weeks as a GS-07 or higher grade in Federal Service.

One year of specialized experience equivalent in level of difficulty and responsibility to that of the next lower grade (GS-06 if applying at the GS-07 level, or GS-07 if applying at the GS-08 level) within the federal service, which demonstrates the ability to perform the duties of the position, is required.

GS-07 Specialized Experience is defined as: Experience with civilian payroll rules and regulations to process civilian pay actions that require audits, corrections, and adjustments; verifying input of data into an automated system, inputting adjustments to pay accounts and resolving issues within the automated pay system.

GS-08 Specialized Experience is defined as: Experience with civilian pay procedures, policies, laws, and regulations to process complex pay actions, preparing and balancing a variety of payroll reports, performing audits and adjustments, maintaining pay records, and identifying discrepancies in pay; using automated system to complete pay actions, correct errors, and resolve complex pay situations.

** The effective date of your SF-50 must reflect that you will meet the 52-week time in grade requirement within 30 days of the announcement closing. **

You may qualify for consideration if meeting time-in grade, specialized experience, education requirement, 90 days after competitive appointment requirement, and all other qualification requirements within 30 calendar days after the closing date of the announcement, unless otherwise indicated on the announcement.

Education

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 recognized by the U.S. Department of Education (http://www2.ed.gov/admins/finaid/accred/index.html).

GS-07 Substitution of Education for Experience: One full year of graduate level education may be substituted to meet the specialized experience required when it is directly related to the work of the position being filled. Equivalent combinations of successfully completed graduate level education and experience may be used to meet total experience requirements.

GS-08 Substitution of Education for Experience: Eighteen months of graduate level education may be substituted to meet the specialized experience required when it is directly related to the work of the position being filled. Equivalent combinations of successfully completed graduate level education and experience may be used to meet total experience requirements.

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 recognized by the U.S. Department of Education (http://www2.ed.gov/admins/finaid/accred/ind

Additional information

  • Moving expenses will not be paid.
  • We may use this announcement to make a temporary promotion. For some positions, the temporary promotion may be made permanent without further competition.
  • Selections are subject to restrictions resulting from the DoD Program for Stability of Civilian Employment.
  • As a condition of employment, you may be required to serve a 1-year probationary period during which we'll evaluate whether your continued employment advances the public interest. The evaluation will consider: your performance and conduct; the needs and interests of the agency; whether your continued employment advances agency or governmental goals; and whether your continued employment advances the efficiency of the Federal service. At the end of the probationary period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification that your continued employment advances the public interest.
  • We may use this announcement to fill additional vacancies within 120 days of the closing date.
  • This position is Non-Exempt from the Fair Labor Standards Act.
  • Travel requirement is Seldom.
  • This position is covered by a bargaining unit.
  • Priority Placement Program (PPP) Military Spouse Preference (MSP) eligible candidates will receive priority consideration at the highest grade level for which they have applied and been determined best qualified up to and including the full performance level.
  • Retired Civil Service Employee: Employment of retired Federal employees receiving an annuity is subject to the requirements of the Department of Defense (DoD) policy guidance. (See DoD Instruction 1400.25, Volume 300, here.
  • 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.
  • 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 https://www.dfas.mil/Portals/98/Documents/Careers/CareerPaths/Finance/DoDFMCertificationProgram.pdf?ver=2020-04-13-164314-517.

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.
You will be evaluated based on how well you meet the qualifications listed in this vacancy announcement. Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents), your responses on the application and your responses to all assessments required for this position. You will be assessed by a SME panel on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics):

  • Concepts, Policies and Principles of Payroll
  • Financial Reporting
  • Fundamentals & Operations of Military & Civilian Pay
  • Leading People

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.