Clarification from the agency

Open to current permanent Department of Veteran Affairs employees.

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Duties include but are not limited to:

Supervisory:
Directs the work of subordinates and assigns tasks as needed. Evaluates employee performance and provides advice, counseling, instruction, and career planning support. Interviews candidates and selects individuals for positions within the Financial Management Service. Addresses and resolves minor complaints and grievances, implements minor disciplinary measures, and recommends actions for more serious cases. Identify training needs for all employees assigned to the Financial Management Service and ensure appropriate training is provided. Establishes standards and maintains requirements for subordinate performance appraisals. Responsible for enhancing the skills of team members in all areas of Financial Management. Assesses the need for developing organizational skills and evaluates the performance of all assigned personnel. Develop programs to improve the behavior and performance of employees who fall below acceptable standards, and expand subordinates' skills through varied assignments. Initiates request for personnel actions to meet staffing needs and makes final decisions regarding appointments, promotions, reassignments, status changes, and recognition of outstanding performance. Maintains personnel attendance records, coordinates leave schedules, and adjusts workloads and assignments to meet unexpected deadlines.

Accounting:
Directs and promotes the effective use, analysis, and implementation of advanced accounting techniques. Plans, organizes, and manages an integrated finance and accounting system for the facility. Oversee operational accounting programs and controls within the facility. Maintains communication across the facility with VISNN ACO representatives and other independent agencies to clarify procedures and policies related to special accounts and reimbursable activities.

Budgeting:
Directs and promotes the effective development and execution of the organization's operating budget. Assists staff and operating officials in creating organizational budgets and keeping them informed about budget liquidation and self sufficiency. Conducts budget presentations and hearings, serving as the principal advisor to the Executive Leadership Team. Maintains communication across the facility with VISNNACO representatives and other independent agencies is essential to clarify funding and execution procedures and policies. Develops local policies to assist operating officials in preparing budget estimates and business plans for their fund control points. Responsible for reviewing budget estimates and negotiating with management officials to determine funding levels that enable the most efficient and effective use of limited resources to fulfill the facility's mission. Makes recommendations to the Director regarding funding levels for each fund control point. Distributes funds to various fund control points, analyzing actual performance against the budget plan, and projecting to recommend necessary adjustments to the financial operating plan.

Management Consultation:
Serves as a senior technical advisor, providing guidance and advice to Managers, Service Chiefs, the Executive Leadership Team, and the Medical Center Director on all financial aspects of the organization. Regularly briefs the Director and managers on progress against program objectives and VA standards.

Financial Analysis:
Directs and evaluates a range of special projects, studies, and task forces to improve operations, productivity, and cost efficiency. Recommends actions related to workload and resource management. Investigates complex financial issues that require significant expertise and a comprehensive understanding of integrated financial programs.

Management and Financial Reporting:
Creates a responsive way to report general management and financial data. Combines information from accounting and budget reports with non-financial data to provide a comprehensive analysis of program accomplishments in financial terms. Assists management in planning and decision-making. Conducts an annual certification to ensure the financial integrity of accounting records and financial statements.

Auditing:
Directs a thorough audit and quality assurance initiative to ensure that the agency's financial and operational policies and procedures, as well as those of external authorities (such as the OIG, GAO, 0MB, and the Department of the Treasury), are adhered to and effective. Conducts internal and external audits to identify vulnerabilities, weaknesses in internal controls, and potential waste, fraud, or abuse within the organization.

Performs other duties as assigned.

Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 8:00am-4:30pm
Telework: This position may be authorized for telework on an Ad-Hoc basis only. Telework eligibility will be discussed during the interview process.
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Position Description/PD#: Chief Financial Manager/PD137590

Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
• 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.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP)

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period or 2-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 or 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, 06/16/2026.

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-14 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-13. 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.

Individual Occupational Requirements (IOR)

Basic Requirements:
A. Degree: Accounting; or a degree in a related field such as business administration, finance, or public administration that included or was supplemented by 24 semester hours in accounting. The 24 hours may include up to 6 hours of credit in business law. (The term "accounting" means "accounting and/or auditing" in this standard. Similarly, "accountant" should be interpreted, generally, as "accountant and/or auditor.")
OR
B. Combination of education and experience: at least 4 years of experience in accounting, or an equivalent combination of accounting experience, college-level education, and training that provided professional accounting knowledge. The applicant's background must also include one of the following:

1. Twenty-four semester hours in accounting or auditing courses of appropriate type and quality. This can include up to 6 hours of business law; or
2. A certificate as Certified Public Accountant or a Certified Internal Auditor, obtained through written examination; or
3. Completion of the requirements for a degree that included substantial course work in accounting or auditing, e.g., 15 semester hours, but that does not fully satisfy the 24-semester-hour requirement of paragraph A, provided that (a) the applicant has successfully worked at the full-performance level in accounting, auditing, or a related field, e.g., valuation engineering or financial institution examining; (b) a panel of at least two higher level professional accountants or auditors has determined that the applicant has demonstrated a good knowledge of accounting and of related and underlying fields that equals in breadth, depth, currency, and level of advancement that which is normally associated with successful completion of the 4-year course of study described in paragraph A; and (c) except for literal nonconformance to the requirement of 24 semester hours in accounting, the applicant's education, training, and experience fully meet the specified requirements.

In addition to meeting the basic requirement described above, you must also meet the following specialized experience requirement below to qualify for this position at the GS-14 level: You may qualify based on your experience as described below:

• Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-13 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Experience establishing and maintaining a complex integrated system of financial service that provides major impact and control over facility operations. Developing local budget instructions and policies within the framework of mandatory requirements; Monitoring the operation of the data processing systems interface for information exchange between pay systems. Performing test audits to determine validity and accuracy of accounting records and application of accounting controls; Analyzing operating costs and distributing operating funds. Use of theory, principles, concepts, and practices of financial management; experience with legislation, statutes, regulations, policies and procedures to develop fiscal policy documents; experience with concepts, principles, practices, laws and regulations which apply to budgeting for substantive national programs and services.

You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position:

• Accounting Operations
• Communications
• Financial Management
• Leadership

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 required does not inherently include any physical requirements essential for successful job performance that could not otherwise be performed with accommodation or workplace adjustment. A pre-placement physical examination is not required.

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

How you will be evaluated

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

Area of Consideration:
Eligible applications will be reviewed and referred in the following order:
1. Current, permanent employees of the New Jersey VA Healthcare System and CTAP eligible within a local commuting area.
2. Current, permanent Veterans Affairs employees.

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

Narrative responses are not required at this time. If you are referred for consideration, you may be asked to submit additional job related information, which may include, but not limited to; responses to the knowledge, skills and abilities; completion of a work sample, and/or contact 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.

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

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.

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.