Description:
The incumbent serves as a Senior Financial Management Specialist within the Payroll Support Service (PSS). The position reports to the Division Chief or Section Chief and works closely with PSS leadership, managers, supervisors, and staff to support payroll operations and related financial management activities.Requirements:
To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 02/27/2026.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-9 position, you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-7.
For a GS-11 position, you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-9.
For a GS-12 position, you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-11.
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.
Note: Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to former Federal employees applying for reinstatement as well as current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment.
See the Required Document section below for more information regarding the SF-50s needed to verify time-in-grade.
You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below:
Specialized Experience for GS-9: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-7 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Specialized experience is defined as experience processing payroll actions; reviewing accounting and payroll data for accuracy and completeness; and providing routine payroll-related support and assistance; OR
Education for GS-9: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have a Master's or equivalent graduate degree or 2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.B. or J.D., if related; OR
Combination of Experience and Education for GS-9: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have an combination of specialized experience and education beyond 1 full year of graduate level education.
Specialized Experience for GS-11: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-9 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Specialized experience is defined as experience processing payroll and accounting transactions; providing local payroll support; and performing timekeeping-related functions and tasks that require interpreting established payroll policies, verifying the accuracy of transactions, and resolving routine discrepancies; OR
Education for GS-11: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.M., if related; OR
Combination of Experience and Education for GS-11: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have an combination of specialized experience and education beyond a Master's or equivalent graduate degree.
Specialized Experience for GS-12: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-11 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Specialized experience is defined as experience analyzing and evaluating payroll programs, systems, and functions; interpreting and applying accounting concepts to resolve complex or systemic payroll issues; auditing and reviewing payroll processes for compliance and accuracy; identifying process deficiencies or operational risks; and recommending improvements to strengthen payroll operations and support integrated accounting/payroll systems.
You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position:
- Analysis and Problem Solving
- Communication
- Compliance
- Strategic Thinking
- Technical Competence
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: Works in an adequately lighted, heated, and ventilated office setting.
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/ .
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 qualified for this vacancy, 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 meet the well-qualified criteria below:
- Experience evaluating payroll programs, systems, or end-to-end workflows across multiple functions or organizations to identify systemic issues affecting payroll accuracy, compliance, or timeliness.
- Experience resolving complex or recurring payroll or accounting issues that require reconciling data across systems, interpreting accounting impacts, or coordinating corrective actions that extend beyond routine discrepancies.
- Experience conducting audits or in-depth reviews of payroll transactions or processes to assess compliance, validate internal controls, and ensure appropriate accounting impact and audit trails.
- Experience identifying operational risks, control weaknesses, or process deficiencies within payroll or accounting operations and assessing their impact on payroll accuracy or compliance.
- Experience developing and recommending process improvements or corrective actions that strengthen payroll operations, improve efficiency, or support integrated payroll/accounting systems.
- Experience monitoring corrective actions or remediation efforts to ensure payroll issues are resolved timely and do not recur, including follow-up review of outcomes.
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/ .
Local Commuting Area: The local commuting area for this position is defined as a radius of 50 miles from Austin, TX. This includes all locations that fall within a 50 mile driving distance from 8000 Metropolis Drive, Bldg B, Austin, TX 78744.