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Financial Administrative Specialist

Department of Veterans Affairs
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Finance
Office of Management, Debt Management Center, Veterans Experience Division.

Summary

This position is located within the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Debt Management Center (DMC), Veterans Experience Division (VED), within the Office of Finance (OF), Office of Management (OM). The primary purpose of this position is to assist Veterans, their spouses, dependents and designees through an inbound contact center on issues related to debt management.

Overview

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Accepting applications
Open & closing dates
04/06/2026 to 04/10/2026
Salary
$34,799 - $56,039 per year

The salary range listed reflects the GS base rate (not including locality). Upon selection, the salary will be adjusted to include locality.

Pay scale & grade
GS 5 - 7
Location
10 vacancies in the following location:
Anywhere in the U.S. (remote job)
Remote job
Yes
Telework eligible
Not applicable, this is a remote position.
Travel Required
Occasional travel - Travel required up to 10% of the time.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
9
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
No
Announcement number
CCLQ-12924164-26-YF
Control number
863840600

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

Current Federal employees serving under career or career conditional competitive service appointments, former Federal employees with reinstatement eligibility, persons eligible for non-competitive appointment under special appointment authorities, or persons eligible under the Interchange Agreements. Veterans who are eligible to apply under the following: Veterans Employment Opportunity Act (VEOA), Veterans Recruitment Appointments (VRA), 30% or more disabled veterans are eligible to apply.

Duties

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The initial application review cut-off for this job announcement is 100 applications. The first 100 applications received will be considered first. Applications received after the initial cut-off number (100 applications) may not receive consideration unless otherwise requested by management. If management requests additional certificates, applicants will continue to be reviewed in groups of 100 in the order they applied.

Note:
Submitting multiple applications will change the order in which your application is reviewed.

Major Duties:

  • Services incoming calls in a contact center environment utilizing telephony system.
  • Independently handles calls related to debt collection activities.
  • Provides technical direction and guidance to Veterans, family members, care givers, their designated representatives, and School Certifying Officials on debt collection related topics.
  • Analyzes financial data and situations to determine appropriate action such as establishment of benefit offset, payment plan, and on-line payments.
  • Ensures all financial maintenance actions are performed in accordance with VA debt collection laws, financial policies, and standard operating procedures.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 9:30am - 6:00pm (Selected candidates will be eligible for tour bidding which occurs twice annually. Tours are awarded based on a seniority basis during the tour bidding period)
Compressed/Flexible: Not available
Virtual: This is a virtual position.
Position Description/PD#: PD03452A and PD03453A
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

This position involves a multi-grade career ladder. The major duties listed below represent the full performance level of GS-09. At the GS-05/07 grade level, you will perform assignments of a more limited scope and with less independence. You will progressively acquire the background necessary to perform at the full performance level of GS-09. Promotion is at the discretion of the supervisor and is contingent upon satisfactory performance, availability of higher level work, and availability of funds. Promotion is not guaranteed and no promise of promotion is implied.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
  • All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.
  • Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
  • You may be required to serve a probationary period
  • Subject to background/security investigation
  • Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process
  • Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents).
  • Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you may be required to serve a one year probationary period or two year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:
  • your performance and conduct;
  • the needs and interests of the agency;
  • whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
  • whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Upon completion of your probationary period one year probationary period or two year trial period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 04/10/2026.

Time-In-Grade Requirement: Applicants who are current Federal employees and have held a GS grade any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement. For a GS-05 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-04. For a GS-07 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-05. The grade may have been in any occupation, but must have been held in the Federal service. An SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials. If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate you possess one-year time-in-grade, as required by the announcement. In this instance, you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one-year time-in-grade.

Note: Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to former Federal employees applying for reinstatement as well as current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment. See the Required Document section below for more information regarding the SF-50s needed to verify time-in-grade.

You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below:

GS-05:

GS-05 General Experience: You must have one year of General experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-04. General experience is defined as:

  • Analyze problems to identify significant factors, gather pertinent data, and recognize solutions;
  • Plan and organize work; and
  • Communicate effectively orally and in writing.
or

GS-05 Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have a 4-year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree.

or

GS-05 Combination of Education and Experience: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have a combination of general experience and education beyond 2 academic years above high school.

GS-07:

GS-07 Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-05 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Specialized experience is defined as:
  • Reviewing, analyzing, or verifying financial account information to identify discrepancies, resolve routine issues, or determine appropriate corrective actions.
  • Applying policies, procedures, or regulations to account-related decisions such as payment processing, billing adjustments, collections activities, benefit offsets, or repayment plans.
  • Communicating with customers, account holders, or stakeholders to explain account actions, obtain missing information, clarify issues, or respond to inquiries.
  • Using computer systems, case-management tools, or financial databases to research, update, and document account information accurately.
  • Gathering and evaluating information to make recommendations, document findings, or resolve account-related problems
or

GS-07 Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have 1 full year of graduate level education or superior academic achievement.

or

GS-07 Combination of Education and Experience: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have a combination of specialized experience and education beyond a full 4-year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree.

You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position:
  • Oral Communication
  • Computer Skills
  • Veteran and Customer Focus
  • Problem Solving
  • Stress Tolerance
  • Task-Management


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; religions; 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.

Note: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment.

Physical Requirements: The work is primarily sedentary in nature.

For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at http://://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/.

The Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) and Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced Federal/VA competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. To be qualified you must submit appropriate documentation (a copy of the agency notice, your most recent performance rating, and your most recent SF-50 noting current position, grade level, and duty location) and meet the well-qualified criteria below:

  • Independently evaluates and resolves complex financial account situations by analyzing account data, identifying discrepancies, and verbally communicating recommended actions clearly to customers while applying applicable policies and guidelines.
  • Applies comprehensive knowledge of financial principles, regulatory requirements, and organizational policies to address non-routine or sensitive account issues and effectively explain resolutions or options to customers during live interactions.
  • Evaluates and interprets financial data from multiple systems or sources to identify discrepancies, recommend corrective actions, and ensure accuracy and compliance with internal controls and standard operating procedures.
  • Provides clear, professional, and customer-focused oral communication during customer interactions ensuring complex financial information or decisions are explained in an understandable and empathetic manner.
  • Manages a full range of account maintenance actions with minimal supervision, ensuring timely and accurate processing of transactions such as payment plans, benefit offsets, adjustments, and account updates.
  • Exercises sound judgment, prioritization skills, and initiative in a high-volume environment, effectively managing workload, adapting to changing demands, maintaining professional communication, and escalating issues when appropriate.


Information about ICTAP and CTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website at http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/.

Education

Education for GS-05: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have completed a full 4-year course of study in any field leading to a bachelor's degree.

Education for GS-07: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have 1 full year of graduate level education or a Bachelor's degree with superior academic achievement. Superior academic achievement (SAA) is a provision that recognizes students who have achieved superior academic standing as evidenced by (1) class standing, (2) grade-point average, or (3) honor society membership. To be creditable under this provision, applicants must have completed all the requirements for a bachelor's degree in a curriculum that is qualifying for the position to be filled and must submit proof from their educational institution that they meet one of the criteria listed below:

  1. Class standing -- Applicants must be in the upper third of the graduating class in the college, university, or major subdivision, such as the College of Liberal Arts or the School of Business Administration, based on completed courses.
  2. Grade-point average (G.P.A.) -- Applicants must have a grade-point average of:
    • 3.0 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ("B" or better) as recorded on their official transcript, or as computed based on 4 years of education, or as computed based on courses completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum; or
    • 3.5 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ("B+" or better) based on the average of the required courses completed in the major field or the required courses in the major field completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum.
  3. Election to membership in a national scholastic honor society -- Applicants can be considered eligible based on membership in one of the national scholastic honor societies recognized by the Association of College Honor Societies. Membership in a freshman honor society cannot be used to meet the requirements of this provision.

For more information regarding SAA, please visit: General Schedule Qualification Policies (opm.gov)

A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.

Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: Recognition of Foreign Qualifications | International Affairs Office.

Additional information

Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration (HRA) at The Fair Chance Act.

Special Employment Consideration: VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply, including those eligible for hiring under 5 CFR 213.3102(u), Schedule A, Appointment of persons with disabilities [i.e., intellectual disabilities, severe physical disabilities, or psychiatric disabilities], and/or Disabled veterans with a compensable service-connected disability of 30% or more. Contact the Agency Contact for information on how to apply under this appointment authority via the Selective Placement Coordinator.

Placement Policy: The posting of this announcement does not obligate management to fill a vacancy or vacancies by promotion. The position may be filled by reassignment, change to lower grade, transfer, appointment, or reinstatement. Management may use any one or any combination of these methods to fill the position.

It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.

This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.

For more information on the "Who may apply" eligibility requirements, please refer to the OHRM Status Candidates and Other Candidate Definitions document.

Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application. Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case-by-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, based on your adjudication decision. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments if you received the link after the close of the announcement. To determine if you need a RA, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments here:
https://appsupport.usastaffing.gov/hc/en-us/sections/28980686389652-Reasonable-Accommodation-Information

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.

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE.

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 questionnaire, and your responses to all assessments required for this position.

You will be assessed on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics):

  • Accountability
  • Arithmetic/Mathematical Reasoning
  • Attention to Detail
  • Customer Service
  • Decision Making
  • Flexibility
  • Integrity/Honesty
  • Interpersonal Skills
  • Learning
  • Reasoning
  • Self-Management
  • Stress Tolerance
  • Teamwork


The USA Hire Assessments includes a cut score based on the minimum level of required proficiency in these critical general competencies. You must meet or exceed the cut score to be considered. You will not be considered for the position if you score below the cut score or fail to complete the assessment.

Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration. Cheating on an assessment may also result in your removal from consideration.

???????Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration. Cheating on an assessment may also result in your removal from consideration.

Narrative responses are not required at this time. If you are referred for consideration, you may be contacted for an interview. Your resume and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating or consideration for employment.

The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position.

Area of Consideration: Eligible applicants will be reviewed and referred in the following order:
  • All current, permanent VA Employees in the Debt Management Center
  • All other current, permanent VA employees
  • All other applicants (if status)

Deputy Assistant Secretary for Finance

OUR MISSION: To fulfill President Lincoln's promise to care for those who have served in our nation's military and for their families, caregivers, and survivors. How would you like to become a part of a team providing compassionate care to Veterans?

Agency contact information

Yissel Flecha
Phone
5123266052
Email
yissel.flecha@va.gov
Address
Debt Management Center
1 Federal Drive
Suite 4500
St Paul, MN 55111
US

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http://www.va.gov/jobs

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