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Program Analyst

Veterans Benefits Administration | Chicago, IL

Posted Date 11/20/2024
Description This position serves as a Program Analyst in the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA), Office of Financial Management (OFM), Finance Services Staff, Improper Payments and Internal Control (IPIC) team.Specific duties include:
  • Plans, analyzes, and evaluates the effectiveness of financial management operations and the improper payment report(s) developed to support, enhance, and/or improve field organizations and VBA Central Office financial operations.
  • Conducts audit interviews with VBA Central Office employees, regional office/field employees, and management. Observes and assesses the quality of policies and procedures set in place for benefit payment generation. Observes and assesses the training designed and developed to address quality deficiencies found during the analysis of payments, claims data, and other relevant statistical information identified throughout the benefit claims process.
  • Undertakes long and short-range research, and studies program activities within OFM to support the organization's business goals and objectives. Gathers relevant data, analyzes it critically, and makes recommendations based on findings using available information resources such as Internet tools, manuals, and other reference material.
  • Manages multiple projects or programs concurrently where effort involves coordination among multiple resources, other divisions, or agents outside of the organization. Conducts investigations of evidence involved in resolving appealed cases and special interest cases.
  • Analyzes and evaluates, on a quantitative or qualitative basis, the effectiveness of financial management processes, procedures, and operations in meeting established goals and objectives. Prepares clear and concise documents. Assists in developing and updating procedural guidance with Central Office program offices for distribution to field and District offices.
  • Performs and conducts methodical, national, in-person and remote audits and site visits which include review, examination, and verification of individual employee transaction records and performance data to determine if benefit payments issued by VBA are in accordance with VA, VBA, and federal improper payment guidelines and requirements established to prevent deficient payment processes.
  • Researches claim-specific issues and prepares all necessary administrative materials, correspondence, and justifications detailing reasons for decisions. Drafts training letters, writes briefing papers, and answers Congressional and external stakeholder inquiries.
  • Monitors operating programs and activities and works in close cooperation with other elements of VBA as they relate to financial management and sound fiscal stewardship.
  • Deals with issues of both a sensitive and/or of a high-profile nature while advising leadership on the national and/or local impact of changes in process, protocol, or legal statutes, which may affect or shape the future direction of how improper payments are identified and rectified in the organization.
  • Prepares for and gives oral presentations to various audiences within OFM, to VBA senior management, department level executives, and outside agencies. Leads in-house efforts and participates actively as a team member or sub-group leader on project teams involving participants outside of VBA.
  • Serves as an advisor and consultant to the Chief, Improper Payments Division on national issues regarding technical, regulatory, procedural, and operational aspects of improper payment identification and remediation. The incumbent may act for the Chief, Improper Payments Division when called upon to do so.

Work Schedule: Full time, Monday through Friday 8:00am-4:30pm
Compressed/Flexible: Available
Telework: Available
Virtual: This is a virtual position. Incumbent is expected to report to the nearest VA facility based upon the agency's guidelines.
Position Description/PD#: Program Analyst; 39417-A
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Financial Disclosure Report: Not RequiredTo qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement:11/25/2024.

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.

To verify your eligibility, you must submit a copy of your most recent Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50 (SF-50). The grade may have been in any occupation, but must have been held in the Federal service. You must provide a copy of your most recent SF-50 that indicates proof of status, and shows Time in Grade (for example, you were a career or career-conditional employee) and identifies your position title, series, grade, step, salary, tenure, and type of service (Competitive or Excepted). 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 also submit your most recent promotion or within-grade increase in addition to your recent SF-50. If you previously held a higher grade, you must also submit any SF-50 showing that grade. DO NOT submit Award SF-50's and/or General Adjustment SF-50's as they cannot be used to prove time-in-grade.
  • For a GS-13 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-12 level.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENT: You may qualify based on your experience as described below:
GS-13 Grade Level:
  • Specialized Experience: To qualify for this position at the GS-13 level, applicants must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-12 level. The applicant is required to interpret VA policy, procedures, guidance, regulatory statements, and legislation affecting the work of the programs and Presidential executive directives to ensure efficacy in the execution and implementation of VBA's financial management systems. The applicant is expected to use professional knowledge and creativity to solve various technical and process problems. A high degree of initiative, judgment and originality is exercised in the selection, research, interpretation and application of broad guidelines and principles in the accounting and reporting for all VBA programs. Notable experience with various software and systems (e.g., business object, tableau, Microsoft office, etc.) to create reports, spreadsheets, and project plans; knowledge of scaled agile framework, management principles, and processes to perform project management duties and coordinate and integrate project objectives

Volunteer Experience: 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.
Full vs. Part-Time Employment: Full-time employment is considered to be at least 35 hours per week. Part-time experience will be credited on a pro-rated basis; when including part-time employment in your resume you must specify the average hours worked per week.
Physical Requirements: Work is primarily sedentary but involves use of a personal computer so a degree of manual dexterity and
visual acuity sufficient to use these tools is required.

For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at http://://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/
Salary88,520.00 - 115,079.00 Annual
Opportunity Type
Job

Volunteer Opportunity

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