Financial Program Specialist

Organizational Location: This position is with the Department of Homeland Security, within U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Finance, Financial Operations, Indianapolis, IN. Additional selections may be made for other organizational divisions and/or units within the duty location(s) listed above.

Qualifications

Experience: You qualify for the GS-7 grade level if you possess 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level, performing duties such as: Entering, updating, retrieving, or maintaining information in databases, spreadsheets, tracking logs, financial systems, or other automated systems; Gathering or compiling information from reports, records, forms, source documents, or automated systems. Reviewing records, reports, source documents, transactions, forms, or data entries to identify missing information, apparent errors, discrepancies, anomalies, or inconsistent information. Preparing routine reports, spreadsheets, summaries, worksheets, responses, or supporting documentation using established formats or instructions. Responding to routine customer, stakeholder, program office, or internal inquiries by researching records, documenting the inquiry, tracking status, preparing a routine response, or referring issues for further review. Experience: You qualify for the GS-9 grade level if you possess 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level, performing duties such as: Gathering, compiling, reviewing, and analyzing financial, budgetary, workload, resource, operational, and performance data from multiple sources to identify trends, discrepancies, inefficiencies, risks, and opportunities for improvement. Preparing financial reports, summaries, analyses, and management information related to budget status, expenditure tracking, performance measures, financial program operations, and operational reviews. Assisting in developing, revising, and documenting financial instructions, guidance, standard operating procedures, workflow processes, internal controls, and automated financial system procedures in accordance with established policies. Supporting financial studies, special projects, evaluation teams, and process improvement efforts by collecting data, conducting analysis, documenting results, and drafting findings or recommendations for review by higher-graded staff or management. Coordinating with program staff, systems personnel, financial personnel, and other stakeholders to obtain information, clarify data, resolve discrepancies, and support financial reporting, review, and improvement activities. Education Substitution GS-7: A Bachelor's degree with Superior Academic Achievement may also substitute for the experience required. It is based on (1) class standing, (2) grade-point average (i.e., GPA 3.0 or higher of a possible 4.0, excluding pass/fail credit. Review Superior Academic Achievement (SAA) to see if you qualify under this provision. Please see www.opm.gov for additional information. OR Successful completion of one year of full-time graduate education from an accredited college or university may substitute for the experience required at this level. This education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work. Check with your school to determine how many credit hours comprise a year of graduate education. If that information is not available, use 18 semester or 27 quarter hours. Education Substitution GS-9: Master's degree or 2 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education for experience required at the GS-9 grade level. Such education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university and demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of the position. Check with your school to determine how many credit hours comprise two years of graduate education. If that information is not available, use 36 semester or 54 quarter hours. Combining Experience and Education: To combine your education and experience, you must convert each to a percentage, and then add the percentages. The combined total of your percentage of education and experience must equal at least 100% in order to qualify. If your education is currently described in quarter hours, convert the quarter hours into semester hours by multiplying the quarter hours by the fraction 2/3. To calculate your percentage of graduate education, divide the number of graduate semester hours in excess of the amount required for the next lower grade level, by 18. To determine your percentage of qualifying experience, you must divide your total number of months of qualifying experience by the required number of months of experience. Add your percentages of education and experience. The two percentages must total at least 100%. 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. You must meet all qualification requirements, including education if applicable to this position, subject to verification at any stage of the application process by 11/09/2026. In order to be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process. In addition to the application and application questionnaire, this position requires an online assessment. The online assessment measures critical general competencies required to perform the job. 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. You are eligible for this appointing authority if you are an individual who: Completed, within the previous two years by 11/09/2026, a qualifying associate's, bachelor's, master's, professional, doctorate, vocational or technical degree or certificate from a qualifying educational institution or completed a qualifying career or technical education program (which may include Registered Apprenticeship Programs, Job Corps, AmeriCorps, and Peace Corps) . Review Recent Graduates for additional eligibility information. If you are a veteran who was unable to apply within two years of receiving your degree due to military service obligation, you have a full 2-year period of eligibility upon your release or discharge from active duty. Your eligibility period may not extend beyond 6 years from the date you completed the requirements of your academic course of study or a qualifying career or technical education program. You must submit a copy of your transcripts showing type of degree received and date degree was received. In addition, if you are a veteran who was unable to apply within two years of receiving your degree due to military service obligation, please provide a copy of your DD-214 or a written statement from the armed forces certifying your dates of service and your rank, expected type of discharge and anticipated date of separation. To be eligible for conversion, Recent Graduates must: Successfully complete at least year of continuous service in addition to all requirements of the program; Meet the qualification standards for the position to which the Recent Graduate will be converted; Meet agency-specific requirements and expectations as specified in the Participant's Agreement; and Perform their job successfully. If you have applied to this announcement prior to the completion of your degree or program you must complete the academic requirements for your program or degree with 9 months after the closing date of this announcement and your academic requirements for your program or degree must be completed prior to entering on duty