Summary The Financial Specialist position is in a Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Federal-aid Division or Federal Lands Highway Division Office. This position assists with technical, administrative, and program management aspects of financial management in the agency. Responsibilities The Federal Aid Highway Program supports state highway systems by providing financial assistance for the construction, maintenance, and operations of the nation's 3.9-million-mile highway network. This includes the Interstate Highway System as well as primary highways and secondary, local roads. FHWA is charged with implementing the Federal Aid Highway Program in cooperation with state and local governments. The mission of the Federal Lands Program is to improve transportation to and within Federal and Tribal Lands by providing technical services to the highway/transportation community as well as building accessible and scenic roads that ensure the many national treasures within our nation's Federal Lands can be enjoyed by all. As a Financial Specialist, you will: Act as a technical resource on FHWA procedures and guidance on Federal laws, regulations, Executive Orders, and directives related to finance considerations applicable to the Federal Aid Highway Program or Federal Lands Program in the following areas: funding advice and guidance, financial management improvements, project funds management, audit resolution, and innovative finance. Participate with other Federal agencies and State Departments of Transportation (DOTs) on pertinent financial management concerns relative to highway issues, with the goal of advancing Federal Aid and Federal Lands programs and projects. Work with the Finance Manager to implement and conduct financial management system reviews and evaluations of the DOTs, local governments, and other Federal Agencies. Assist in the approval of reimbursement claims, project agreement modifications, advance construction conversions, and conducting the final review and approval of final project claims. Participate on interdisciplinary team reviews or activities, work groups, and task forces to address project or program issues or to ensure implementation of the financial management program. The ideal candidate for this position is an entry level financial specialist who has a desire to learn the technical, administrative, and program management aspects of financial management in the agency. The ideal candidate should have between 0 to 5 years of experience, be mobile and willing to travel to remote locations for extended periods of time and be able to work independently and in a team environment. Requirements Conditions of Employment You must be a U.S. citizen & meet specialized experience to qualify Submit application and resume online by 11:59 PM EST on the closing date Required Documents must be submitted by the closing date. Direct Hire Authority will be used to fill this position CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT: SELECTIVE SERVICE: Males born after 12/31/1959 must be registered for the Selective Service. BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION: You will be required to complete a background/security investigation and meet preliminary requirements prior to onboarding. PCS/RELOCATION/RECRUITMENT: Permanent Change of Station (PCS), Relocation, and Recruitment Incentive authorization varies by position/selection and a service agreement may be required. PROBATIONARY PERIOD: Applicants may be required to successfully complete a one-year probationary period (unless already completed). GOVERNMENT TRAVEL CARD: This position may involve travel. A government contractor-issued travel card may be issued and must be retained for official business only. TELEWORK ELIGIBILITY: This position may be approved for occasional telework. The number of telework days approved is determined by the agency policy, emergency situations, the approval of your immediate supervisor, and if applicable, approval of additional officials. You are required to report to the office on a regular basis since this is not a full-time telework position, or approved as a remote work position. MOBILITY AGREEMENT: Appointees will be required to sign a Mobility Agreement. If you decline a position due to geographic location, you will receive no further consideration under this announcement. This agreement states that as a part of your developmental assignment, you may be assigned to any location, within the Agency and that you will move to the new duty location. Failure to relocate can be used as the basis for non-selection and failure to relocate after completion of your Individual Development Plan (IDP) can be the basis for your termination from the Federal service. SERVICE AGREEMENT: Appointees will be required to sign an agreement to continue in service upon completion of the developmental training and serve in the agency for two times the length of the training period (approximately 24 months). FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE: The Ethics in Government Act of 1978 requires the applicant selected for this position to submit a Confidential Financial Disclosure Report (OGE Form 450) within 30 days of appointment and annually thereafter. Qualifications To determine which grade(s) you are eligible for, review the following grade specific details. You will be asked questions as part of your application but make sure to verify how you meet this experience and/or education in your resume and/or uploaded transcripts or you may be deemed ineligible. For the GS-07: On Experience, you must have at least one year of experience, equal or equivalent to the GS-05 grade level, which included: Experience with participating in financial management state systems and processes. Or on Education, you must have at least 1 year of graduate-level education (above a bachelor's) OR superior academic achievement* at the baccalaureate level. *Superior Academic Achievement is based on (1) class standing, (2) grade-point average, or (3) honor society membership. (In order to be creditable under this provision, superior academic achievement must have been gained in a curriculum that is qualifying for the position to be filled.) 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. You can also have a combination of graduate education and experience. This must be fully supported by your resume and transcripts, provided with your application. For the GS-09: You qualify for this grade level if you meet one of the following experience and/or education requirements. On Experience, at least one year of specialized experience, equal or equivalent to the GS-07 grade level, which included: Experience with participating in financial management state systems and processes. On Education, you must have: 2 full academic years of progressively higher level graduate education or masters or equivalent graduate degree or LL.B. or J.D. Such education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work. Or, you can also qualify based on a combination of higher level graduate education and experience. This must be fully supported by your resume and transcripts, provided with your application. KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES (KSAs): Your qualifications will be evaluated on the basis of your level of knowledge, skills, abilities and/or competencies in the following area: Principles of Finance - Knowledge of the basic principles, practices, and methods of financial management, including requisitions, apportionments, allotments, investments, fiscal management, activity reporting, and fiscal year guidelines. Written Communication - Writes in a clear, concise, organized, and convincing manner for the intended audience. Oral Communication - Expresses information (for example, ideas or facts) to individuals or groups effectively, considering the audience and nature of the information (for example, technical, sensitive, controversial); makes clear and convincing oral presentations; listens to others, attends to nonverbal clues, and responds appropriately. For all types of consideration, 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; religious; 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. Students enrolled in a qualifying degree program can apply if the anticipated graduation date is within six months of the closing date of this announcement. If selected, the final transcript must be received before your start date. Other applicants must meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement. Education Additional Information The incumbent will be appointed at the GS-9 level depending on qualifications. This position is developmental: Incumbents at the GS-9 may be non-competitively promoted to the next higher grade upon completion of an Individual Development Plan (IDP), meeting time-in-grade requirements, and the recommended approval for promotion by their supervisor. Duty locations will vary. The difference in the salary is determined by the locality pay in each location. Salaries for all areas are available on the OPM website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/salaries-wages/ RECRUITMENT INCENTIVE: Recruitment incentive may be considered. This announcement may be used to fill additional positions if similar vacancies occur within 90 days of the issue date of the referral certificate. Qualified CTAP/ICTAP candidates receive priority and will referred to the hiring manager.