Clarification from the agency

The resume(s) submitted with the application can be no more than two pages in length. Please be advised that federal retired annuitant candidates may only be considered as a temporary employee if the role can be filled in that capacity.

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This is a career ladder position; the duties were taken from the highest grade level, which is the GS-13.

Major Duties:

Budget Formulation and Execution:

Serves as principal advisor on budget matters.

Obtains information from managers to formulate the budget, preparing the budget for presentation for review and coordinating with the Architect of the Capitol (AOC) Budget Division on budget execution, including out year projections, spend plan development, monthly execution reviews and fiscal year end close out.

Analyzes appropriation legislation for impact on Senate Office Buildings (SOB) operating programs.

Works closely with program managers to ensure coordination of the major budget phases during the current year’s budget execution, the following year’s presentation and enactment phases and the formulation phase for the next two years.

Utilizes the budget system as an evaluation tool in measuring program performance and effectiveness.

Works with senior managers to respond to questions from the AOC Budget Division regarding ongoing budget and financial management operations.

Financial Resources Analysis and Reporting

 Analyzes financial data to identify problem areas and develops plans to resolve problems and implement policies.

 Locates, analyzes and validates complex cost data pertaining to a wide range of programs with different modes of operation, guidelines and requirements.

Provides advice and recommendations on all aspects of the financial budget process to program officials and senior managers and in resolving issues.

Conducts studies and audits on control and use of funds throughout the year. Analyzes and forecasts usage of funds within the SOB.

 Financial Advisory Services

Develops and updates SOB division budget trackers.

Identifies, analyzes, evaluates, troubleshoots and resolves financial management/reporting and internal control problems and addresses and resolves deficiencies as deemed necessary.

Performs other related duties as assigned.

Conditions of employment

• You must be able to pass a drug test and background check.
• Your resume and question responses must demonstrate the job-related KSAs.
• You must meet the definition of specialized experience.

To be employed by the Architect of the Capitol in a paid position, an individual must meet one of the categories below:

• A citizen of the United States;
• A person who is lawfully admitted for permanent residence and is seeking citizenship as outlined in 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3)(B);
• A person who is admitted as a refugee under 8 U.S.C. 1157 or is granted asylum under 8 U.S.C. 1158 and has filed a declaration of intention to become a lawful permanent resident and then a citizen when eligible;
• A person who owes allegiance to the United States (nationals of American Samoa, Swains Island, and the Northern Mariana Islands, and nationals who meet other requirements described in 8 U.S.C. 1408); or
• A person who is currently an officer or employee of the Government of the United States.

Qualifications

You must meet the United States Office of Personnel Management's (OPM) qualification requirements (including specialized experience and/or educational requirements) for the advertised position. You must meet all eligibility and qualifications requirements by the closing date of the job announcement. Additional information on the qualification requirements is outlined in the OPM Qualifications Standards Handbook of General Schedule Positions. It is available for your review on the OPM web site at OPM qualification standards
 
Specialized experience: is experience that has equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the position to be filled. To be creditable, specialized experience must have been equivalent to at least the next lower grade level. 

For GS-11 Grade Level:

Candidates for the GS-11 grade level must demonstrate on their resume at least 52 weeks of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-09) or pay band in the federal service or equivalent experience in the private or public sectors.  Specialized experience for this position is defined as having experience in (3) of the (4) following:

1. Serving as an organization’s principle advisor on budgetary matters and interpretation of policies, regulations, and laws related to the federal budget process;
2. Utilizing principles, policies, regulations and procedures of budget/financial transactions to evaluate financial data and prepare a variety of reports;
3. Communicating in writing to reflect financial management and budgeting findings and recommendations to top management officials;
4. Conducting reviews of financial programs to ensure expenditure of funds in accordance with regulatory or legal requirements.

-OR-

Education:

Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree

-OR-

3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree

-OR-

LL.M. in a field which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to perform the work of the position, such as accounting, finance, economics, organizational management, or related field of study.

-OR-

Combination of experience and education:

A combination of education and experience may be used to qualify for this position as long as the computed percentage of the requirements is at least 100%. To compute the percentage of the requirements, divide your total months of experience by 12. Then divide the total number of completed graduate semester hours (or equivalent) beyond the second year (total graduate semester hours minus 36) by 18. Add the two percentages.

For GS-12 Grade Level: 

Candidates for the GS-12 grade level must demonstrate on their resume at least 52 weeks of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-11) or pay band in the federal service or equivalent experience in the private or public sectors.  Specialized experience for this position is defined as having experience in (4) out of the (5) following:

1. Serving as an organization’s principle advisor on budgetary matters and interpretation of policies, regulations, and laws related to the federal budget process;
2. Utilizing principles, policies, regulations and procedures of budget/financial transactions to evaluate financial data and prepare a variety of reports;
3. Communicating in writing to reflect financial management and budgeting findings and recommendations to top management officials;
4. Conducting reviews of financial programs to ensure expenditure of funds in accordance with regulatory or legal requirements;
5. Creating charts, graphs and reports using financial analytics tools.

For GS-13 Grade Level: 

Candidates for the GS-12 grade level must demonstrate on their resume at least 52 weeks of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-11) or pay band in the federal service or equivalent experience in the private or public sectors.  Specialized experience for this position is defined as having experience in (5) out of the (6) following:

1. Serving as an organization’s principle advisor on budgetary matters and interpretation of policies, regulations, and laws related to the federal budget process;
2. Utilizing principles, policies, regulations and procedures of budget/financial transactions to evaluate financial data and prepare a variety of reports;
3. Communicating in writing to reflect financial management and budgeting findings and recommendations to top management officials;
4. Conducting reviews of financial programs to ensure expenditure of funds in accordance with regulatory or legal requirements;
5. Creating charts, graphs and reports using financial analytics tools.
6. Formulating and executing an assigned portion of an organizational budget, including developing spend plans and monitoring obligations and expenditures against allotments, in order to ensure funds are used in compliance with fiscal law and support programmatic decision-making.   

For more information on qualifying education or on combining education and experience see OPM Qualification Standards linked below:

https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/0500/financial-administration-and-program-series-0501/

How you will be evaluated

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

Review your resume and responses carefully. Your eligibility for consideration and qualifications for the position will be determined based upon a review of your detailed resume and your responses to job specific self-assessment questions. 

Your resume will be evaluated based on evidence of your ability to demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) for this position, possession of any specialized experience, and how well your background and experience relates to the self-assessment questions in the job announcement. The self-assessment questions relate to the following knowledge, skills, abilities, and competencies:

Financial Management - Understands the organization's financial processes. Prepares, justifies, and administers the program budget. Oversees procurement and contracting to achieve desired results. Monitors expenditures and uses cost-benefit thinking to set priorities.

Financial Systems - Knowledge of the standards, architecture, and specifications of automated financial systems, including source documents, system flows, system interfaces, and related internal controls.

Financial Analysis - Knowledge of the principles, methods, and techniques of financial analysis, forecasting, and modeling to interpret quantitative and qualitative data; includes data modeling, earned value management, and evaluating key financial indicators, trends, and historical data.

Problem Solving - Identifies and analyzes problems; weighs relevance and accuracy of information; generates and evaluates alternative solutions; makes recommendations.

Communication - Demonstrates writing reports to develop staff papers that accurately reflect findings and recommendations regarding financial management for Congressional oversight committees.

Your responses to the self-assessment questions serve as the basis for your initial rating. You will receive a numerical score based on your responses to these questions.  Next, your responses will be evaluated by a Human Resources Specialist and/or a subject matter expert against the information provided in your resume and optional cover letter. Your resume must support your answers to the self-assessment questions. Falsifying your background, education and/or experience is cause for non-selection or disqualification from further consideration.

Please note that a complete application is required for consideration. (Please review the “Required Documents” section of this job announcement to see what must be included in a complete application).