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Attorney-Adviser (General)

Department of the Treasury
Treasury, Financial Crimes Enforcement Network
Office of Chief Counsel
This job announcement has closed

Summary

Become part of the team that safeguards the financial system from the abuses of financial crime. At the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), we are at the forefront in preventing and detecting terrorist financing, money laundering, and other financial crime. Serve at the nation's financial intelligence unit and protect the United States financial system from criminals and terrorist financiers.

Overview

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Reviewing applications
Open & closing dates
02/25/2026 to 03/17/2026
Salary
$169,279 - $197,200 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 15
Locations
1 vacancy in the following locations:
Washington, DC
Vienna, VA
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
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
Excepted
Promotion potential
15
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Sensitive Compartmented Information
Drug test
Yes
Position sensitivity and risk
Special-Sensitive (SS)/High Risk
Trust determination process
Financial disclosure
Yes
Bargaining unit status
No
Announcement number
26-FINCEN-12889581-X
Control number
858651600

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

U.S. citizens or U.S. Nationals; no prior Federal experience is required.

Duties

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This position is located in our Office of Chief Counsel. As an Attorney-Adviser (General), you will:

  • Completes highly sensitive assignments including providing legal support to the Treasury and FinCEN national security and law enforcement mission involving Top Secret/SCI information and/or materials.
  • Advises senior Treasury leadership, including the Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, the General Counsel, and the Deputy General Counsel(s), regarding matters involving FinCEN authorities and/or mission involving materials or information classified at the Top Secret/SCI level.
  • Reviews and evaluates FinCEN administrative actions involving material or information classified at the Top Secret/SCI level, and coordinates with the Department of Justice in connection with any litigation or other legal proceedings involving such matters. Coordinates with FinCEN partners to include the federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, members of the Intelligence Community, the White House and National Security Council and others regarding FinCEN authorities and FinCEN actions.
  • Conducts legal research and provides legal and practical conclusions in the form of oral advice, briefings, presentations, and legal decision memoranda on extremely complex and difficult factual, legal, and policy issues. Analyzes, interprets, and applies statutes, regulations, court decisions, FinCEN policies, and technical publications involving many fields of law including: the Bank Secrecy Act; the detection and prevention of money laundering; countering the financing of terrorism; financial intelligence; financial criminal activity; national security law; contracts; appropriations and fiscal law; ethics; conflicts of law; Federal preemption of State law; Freedom of Information and Privacy Acts; the Federal Tort Claims Act; the Administrative Procedure Act; administrative law; personnel, labor relations and equal employment opportunity (EEO); procurement; and constitutional law. These opinions are likely to be the primary document where review at higher levels of FinCEN and the Department occurs.
  • Prepares and reviews proposed legislation, regulations, and policy issuances to ensure they conform to the substantive laws that they are intended to implement or interpret. Stays abreast of legislative and regulatory developments in Congress and other Federal agencies. Coordinates and disseminates information received from the Treasury Department and other sources so that relevant or affected FinCEN policies and precedents are identified, and, when necessary, harmonized with those of the Treasury Department.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

Security Clearance: This position has been designated National Security Level IV, Special Sensitive and requires the incumbent to obtain and maintain eligibility for a Top Secret (TS) clearance with Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI) access. Applicant must meet and continue to adhere to the requirements of a Tier 5 level background investigation. Failure to successfully meet these requirements will be grounds for termination. Continued employment with FinCEN is contingent upon satisfactory completion of the Tier 5 level background investigation, the results of which fully meet the FinCEN's special employment criteria. All employees are subject to satisfactory completion of periodic reinvestigation and a continuing life style in conformity with applicable national and FinCEN directives. Any unfavorable information developed during an investigation or other official inquiry may result in termination of employment in accordance with established security policies and procedures.

This position requires that the successful candidate undergo personnel vetting, which includes a background investigation and enrollment upon onboarding into "Continuous Vetting." Enrollment in Continuous Vetting will result in automated record checks being conducted throughout one's employment with Treasury. The successful candidate will also be enrolled into FBI's Rap Back service, which will allow Treasury to receive notification from the FBI of criminal matters (e.g., arrests, charges, convictions) involving enrolled individuals in near real-time.


Key Requirements:
  1. Please refer to "Conditions of Employment."
  2. Click "Print Preview" to review the entire announcement before applying.
  3. Must be U.S. Citizen or U.S. National.
  4. All new hires will be required to comply with federal ethics laws. A review of financial or other interests may be conducted to determine if they create any real or apparent conflict of interests with official Treasury duties.

Qualifications

You must meet the following requirements by the closing date of this announcement. The experience may have been gained in either the public, private sector or volunteer service. One year of experience refers to full-time work; part-time work is considered on a prorated basis. To ensure full credit for your work experience, please indicate dates of employment by month/day/year, and indicate number of hours worked per week on your résumé.

Applicants must: (1) be a graduate of an accredited law school with a LL.B., J.D. or equivalent; (2) be an active member in good standing of the bar in a state or territory of the United States or the District of Columbia; and (3) have at least 12 months of pertinent legal experience, which may include, for example, the private practice of law, practice in a government legal office, or a judicial clerkship.

For the GS-15, you must have one year of specialized experience at a level of difficulty and responsibility equivalent to the GS-14 grade level in the Federal service. Specialized experience for this position includes experience in the following areas of responsibility:

  • anti-money laundering; countering the financing of terrorism; economic sanctions; illicit finance; administrative law; corporate or contract law; ethics; intelligence law; international law; national security law; civil or criminal litigation; general law; or matters of similar scope and complexity.

Education

Law Degree: Applicants mustbe a graduate of an accredited law school with a LL.B., J.D. or equivalent. The education generally must be from an accredited (or pre-accredited) college or university recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. If you are qualifying based on foreign education, you must submit proof of creditability of education as evaluated by a credentialing agency. Refer to the OPM instructions.

Additional information

OTHER INFORMATION:

  • We may select from this announcement or any other source to fill one or more vacancies.
  • This is a non-bargaining unit position.
  • We offer opportunities for telework.
  • We offer opportunities for flexible work schedules.
CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT:
  • All newly appointed employees to the competitive (or excepted) service are subject to a probationary (or trial) period. During this time, your performance, conduct, and suitability for continued employment will be evaluated. You will not automatically convert to permanent status at the end of the probationary (or trial) period. Your supervisor must affirmatively determine that continued employment is in the best interest of the Federal service. If no certification is made before the probationary (or trial) period ends, your appointment will be terminated. You are encouraged to actively engage with your supervisor, seek feedback, and understand role expectations. Additional guidance and support will be provided during onboarding.
  • A one year trial period may be required.
  • Must successfully complete a background investigation.
  • Complete a Declaration for Federal Employment to determine your suitability for Federal employment, at the time requested by the agency.
  • Have your salary sent to a financial institution of your choice by Direct Deposit/Electronic Funds Transfer.
  • If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System or are exempt from having to do so.
  • Go through a Personal Identity Verification (PIV) process that requires two forms of identification from the Form I-9. Federal law requires verification of the identity and employment eligibility of all new hires in the U.S.
  • Obtain and use a Government-issued charge card for business-related travel.
  • File a Confidential Financial Disclosure Report within 30 days of appointment and annually from then on.
  • Undergo an income tax verification.
  • Submit to a drug test prior to your appointment and random drug testing while you occupy the position.
  • Applicants may be required to provide a writing sample and/or performance ratings at a later stage in the evaluation process.

FinCEN offers flexible work schedules, 11 paid holidays, financial subsidies to employees who use public transportation to commute, in-house training, fitness center reimbursement, alternate work schedules (AWS) and telework opportunities, and eligibility for performance awards. FinCEN also offers attractive health, life, and long-term care insurance programs, and the employees' health insurance contributions are out of pre-tax dollars. Newer employees are covered by a three-tier retirement plan that includes a pre-tax retirement contribution program with matching funds or, as applicable, continuance in the Civil Service Retirement System.

Learn more about Federal benefits programs at: USAJOBS Help Center - Benefits

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.

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

Your application includes your résumé, responses to the online questions, and required supporting documents. Please be sure that your résumé includes detailed information to support your qualifications for this position; failure to provide sufficient evidence in your résumé may result in a "not qualified" determination.

We will evaluate your application by comparing your description of your work experience, level of responsibility, and accomplishments, with the requirements of the position to determine whether you meet all the qualification requirements. The evaluation questions are for information gathering purposes only.

Application of Veterans' Preference: There is no formal rating system for applying veterans' preference to attorney appointments in the excepted service; however, the Office of Chief Counsel considers veterans' preference eligibility as a positive factor in attorney hiring. If you are claiming veterans' preference, you must submit a copy of your Certificate of Release or Discharge From Active Duty, DD-214 (Member 4 copy), or other official documentation from a branch of the Armed Forces or the Department of Veterans Affairs showing the dates of service and type of discharge.

Referral: If you are among the top qualified candidates, your application may be referred to a selecting official for consideration. You may be required to participate in a selection interview.

Treasury, Financial Crimes Enforcement Network

The U.S. Department of the Treasury has a distinguished history dating back to the founding of our nation. As the steward of U.S. economic and financial systems, Treasury is a major and influential leader in today's global economy. We have over 100,000 employees across the country and around the world. Come Join the Department of the Treasury and Invest in Tomorrow.

Agency contact information

Applicant Call Center
Phone
304-480-7300
Email
ApplicantInquiries@fiscal.treasury.gov
Address
Office of Chief Counsel
Treasury Common Services Center
Parkersburg, WV 26101
US

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