FINANCIAL SYSTEMS SPECIALIST

Summary

This job announcement uses the USA Hire Assessment to evaluate applicants. For more information, visit USA Hire Assessment.

Duties

• Conducts System Acceptance Testing (SAT) and Operational Testing and Evaluation on military pay systems to validate calculations, entitlements, and reporting integrity.
• Evaluates workflow processes and defines functional requirements to support configuration management and system transition across service branches and field sites.
• Analyzes Master Military Pay Account (MMPA) discrepancies, executing systematic data fixes and coordinating manual adjustments to ensure continuous payroll accuracy.
• Validates and maintains legacy system interfaces and Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) to ensure uninterrupted data exchanges between external agencies and payroll systems.
• Coordinates software deployment across military departments, developing standardized training materials, instructing end users, and providing operational help desk support.

Qualifications

GS 9: One year of specialized experience equivalent in level of difficulty and responsibility to that of the next lower grade (GS-7) within the federal service, which demonstrates the ability to perform the duties of the position, is required. Specialized experience is defined as: Demonstrate the ability to process, verify, and support the evaluation of military payroll accounts within Defense Joint Military Pay Systems (DJMS) or equivalent automated financial systems, including applying established guides to resolve standard pay discrepancies and identify functional workflow needs. Must possess experience utilizing standard operating procedures and training aids, verifying routine system data interfaces, and reviewing output reports to ensure compliance with relevant payroll regulations and established methods. GS 11: One year of specialized experience equivalent in level of difficulty and responsibility to that of the next lower grade (GS-9) within the federal service, which demonstrates the ability to perform the duties of the position, is required. Specialized experience is defined as: Demonstrate the ability to analyze, test, and assist in the transition of complex payroll in Defense Joint Military Pay Systems (DJMS) and modern automated pay architectures, including identifying operational requirements, resolving Master Military Pay Account (MMPA) data errors, and documenting functional gaps during System Acceptance Testing (SAT) and Operational Testing and Evaluation (OT&E). Must possess experience developing standardized training materials, validating legacy system interfaces and Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs), and preparing impact assessments or cost-benefit analyses to ensure compliance with statutory pay regulations and organizational procedures. You may qualify for consideration if meeting time-in grade, specialized experience, education requirement, 90 days after competitive appointment requirement, and all other qualification requirements within 30 calendar days after the closing date of the announcement, unless otherwise indicated on the announcement.

Education

GS-9 Substitution of Education for Experience: Two full years of progressively higher level graduate education, Master's or equivalent graduate degree, may be substituted to meet the specialized experience requirement. Equivalent combinations of successfully completed graduate level education and experience may be used to meet total experience requirements. GS-11 Substitution of Education for Experience: Three full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree may be substituted to meet the specialized experience requirement. Equivalent combinations of successfully completed higher-level graduate level education and experience may be used to meet total experience requirements. The Security Designation will vary and dependent upon position and may require a secret clearance or higher. Employment in this position requires a background investigation which may delay starting date. If you are selected and cannot obtain a favorable security determination within a reasonable period of time due to disclosed/undisclosed background issues, the employment offer may be withdrawn. Individuals selected are required to obtain/maintain a favorable security determination to occupy a sensitive position within the agency as a condition of employment. Failure to maintain eligibility to occupy a sensitive position may result in termination. For more information see the security section of Understanding Vacancy Announcements. This position requires you to obtain and maintain a Level 2 Certification under the DoD Financial Management (FM) Certification Program as a condition of employment. If you are selected, you will have to obtain this certification within two (2) years of your entry on duty in the position unless you are already in a position that requires a Level 2 Certification in which case you must complete the certification within the original 2-year period. Failure to become certified within the required time-frame may be grounds for removal from the position and/or from Federal service. Information about the DoD FM Certification Program is available at: https://www.dfas.mil/onboarding2/certifications/?

How to apply

The following link will help you determine if you meet the eligibility to apply for this position: http://www.dfas.mil/careers/howtoapply/vacancyannouncement/appointment-eligibility.html PLEASE NOTE: You will be considered only for those appointment eligibilities for which you select, attach supporting documentation and are found eligible. Please read the entire announcement and all the instructions before you begin an application. To apply and be considered for this position, you must complete all required assessments, and required documentation as specified in the How to Apply and Required Documents section. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on the closing date of the announcement to receive consideration. The application process is as follows: Click the Apply Online button. Answer the questions presented in the application and attach all necessary supporting documentation. Click the Submit Application button prior to 11:59 PM (ET) on the announcement closing date. If you are required to complete any USA Hire Assessments, you will be notified after submitting your application. The notification will be provided in your application submission screen and via email. The notification will include your unique assessment access link to the USA Hire system and the completion deadline. Additionally, in USAJOBS you can click "Track this application" to return to your assessment completion notice. Access USA Hire using your unique assessment link. Access is granted through your USAJOBS login credentials. Review all instructions prior to beginning your assessments. You will have the opportunity to request a testing accommodation before beginning the assessments should you have a disability covered under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended. Set aside at least 3 hours to take the USA Hire assessments; however, most applicants complete the assessments in less time. If you need to stop the assessments and continue later, you can re-use your unique assessment link. Your responses to the USA Hire Assessments will be reused for one year (in most cases) from the date you complete an assessment. If future applications you submit require completion of the same assessments, your responses will be automatically reused. Visit the USA Hire Applicant Resource Center for practice assessments and assessment preparation resources at https://support-usahire.opm.gov/hc/en-us To update your application, including supporting documentation: During the announcement open period, return to your USAJOBS account, find your application record, and click Edit my application. This option will no longer be available once the announcement has closed. To view the announcement status or your application status: Click on this: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/how-to/application/status/. Your application status page is where you can view your application status, USA Hire assessment completion status, and review your notifications sent by the hiring agency regarding your application.