Summary This position is located in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA), Mid-Atlantic Health Care Network (VISN 6), Central Virginia VA Health Care System, Richmond VA Medical Center (VAMC), Richmond, Virginia. Position is organizationally aligned under the Finance Service. The incumbent directly reports to Payroll Supervisor and is responsible for assisting in accounting, forecasting, and executing the budget, as well as reviewing time and attendance records for a diverse workforce. Responsibilities Major duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to: Budget Support (80%) Assists in accounting, forecasting, and executing the budget. Works with staff to ensure funds are managed in a fiscally responsible manner - reviewing annual budget forecasts and spend plans; recommending adjustments based on historical spending plans and ensuring budgets are current and in compliance with existing regulatory guidance. Advises supervisor of conditions which would result in over-obligation of funds. Performs a variety of budgetary, administrative, and statistical functions to determine funding program validity, form future budget needs, and provide written assessments. Researches, verifies, compiles, and summarizes data involving salaries, fund control point (FCP) information, expenses, and other object class information to continuously apprise investigators of funding/budget status and provide guidance relative to resolution of budget conflicts. Tracks funds distribution, monitors costs and expenditures, reconciles commitments and obligations, identifies excess funds, and prepares reports projecting the use of available resources. Prepares and distributes statements to each researcher/principal investigator, providing detailed financial information and furnishing backup information. Incumbent works closely with funded investigators, university business managers and administrative staff offering guidance, answering questions, and resolving budget conflicts. Provides historical data to aid in budgeting for common resource needs. Enters budgetary data into a variety of forms, schedules, and reports, and recommends and adjusts when required. Identifies errors in input based on knowledge of budget and accounting account code structures. Contacts system users to discuss problems encountered and resolves those which can be corrected, facilitating the execution of operations within designated financial constraints, policies, and laws. Prepares a variety of reports related to the status of funds, expenses, obligations, FTE, and workload. Performs advisory duties associated with the management and control of resources or funds. Participates in the monitoring of year-end closing to ensure proper and full use of provided funds. Reviews carryover amounts in accordance with appropriate allowances. Participates in the justification and prioritization of unfinanced requirements. Assists in evaluating the effect of cost and program changes on the budget execution process. Payroll Support {20%) Incumbents provides technical assistance by trouble-shooting program failures and problems in a timely manner via telephone or direct interaction with program participants and management officials, providing direction and solutions for problem areas. Employees in fund control management, funds compensation disbursement, and entitlements within the Employee Accounts. Incumbent evaluates, updates, and distributes instruction directives, handbooks, desk manuals, program notes, and all other necessary materials which promote successful operation of the employee programs. Responsible for the review of these training materials to determine need for and initiate changes in training content ensuring they always reflect the newest guidelines and regulations. Reviews, analyzes, and evaluates training courses to assess their quality and effectiveness. Incumbents responds to direct inquiries by the Austin Finance Service Center, Office of Inspector General and VA Central Office. Provides administrative analysis and technical expertise for payroll related matters to the Assistant Chiefs and Chief of Fiscal Services, management at CBOCs, and to top management at the VAMC. Tactfully responds to written and verbal inquiries from employees, supervisors, payroll office of other agencies, timekeepers, Human Resources offices, State Unemployment Office, financial institutions, mortgage companies, and Treasury Department, IRS, and employee union representatives. Other duties as assigned Promotion Potential: The selectee may be promoted to the full performance level without further competition when all regulatory, qualification, and performance requirements are met. Selection at a lower grade level does not guarantee promotion to the full performance level. Work Schedule: Monday through Friday, 7:30 am - 4:00 pm or 8:00 am - 4:30pm (Dependent on the needs of the Service) Telework: Ad Hoc Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Budget Tech/PD01396A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required Requirements 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 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 Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP) Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details. Qualifications To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 10/29/2024. 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-6 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-5 grade level and for the GS-7 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS 6 grade level. 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. You may qualify based on your experience as described below: GS-06 Grade Level: Work will be performed with more supervision and guidance.GS-07 Grade Level: Work may be performed without supervision Specialized Experience GS-06: 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. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: administering and maintaining budgets; knowledge of budgets and purchasing requests; entering and tracking information; performing clerical duties in support of finance or accounting operations; and preparing correspondence. NOTE: 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. (*To receive credit for these skills, they must be documented in your resume) Specialized Experience GS-07: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-06 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to knowledge of budgetary procedures is used to compile, consolidate, organize, and summarize information about the organization's budget and a variety of recurring and onetime reports. The incumbent must have the knowledge and understanding of an established and standard accounting system and techniques to enable the Service to perform its day-to-day operations of the budget and for future budgetary needs. Knowledge of budgetary procedures to effectively and efficiently handle research funding to ensure that funds are being used in an appropriate and timely manner. (*To receive credit for these skills, they must be documented in your resume) You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Analysis and Problem Solving Customer Service Decision Making 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: Work is primarily sedentary but does require some walking to different areas of the Medical Center. Work is performed in an office setting throughout the medical center. 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/. Education There is no educational substitution at this grade level. Additional Information Receiving Service Credit or Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed. 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. 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 be found well-qualified for this vacancy. To be well-qualified: applicants must possess experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors, and who are proficient in most of the required competencies of the job. 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/.This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. If you are unable to apply online or need to fax a document you do not have in electronic form, view the following link for information regarding an Alternate Application.