Summary

This position is located at the One Metropolitan Square Building in St. Louis, MO.

The incumbent serves as a Branch Chief in Guaranteed Commercial Branch, in the Guaranteed Loan Division, under Customer Loan Servicing Directorate. Oversees multiple graded, multi-series employee in their branch and provides strategic leadership and clear guidance to provide exemplary customer service to all levels of customers.

Duties

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• Serves as a Branch Chief in Guaranteed Commercial Branch. Performs the full range of supervisory responsibilities. Plans work to be accomplished; sets and adjusts priorities, and prepares schedules for completion of work.
• Develops performance standards; evaluates work performance of subordinates; gives advice, counsel and/or instructions to employees on both work and administrative matters; interviews candidates for positions.
• Mastery of governmental accounting principles and standards, Treasury regulations, and USDA, OMB and Government Accountability Office (GAO) guidelines and federal regulations.
• Advanced knowledge of management analysis techniques not only to effectively carry out programs and objectives, but to propose and develop new components of Rural Development's accounting operations.
• Knowledge of the Congressional funding process and regulations to fully participate in the development and operation of accounting, loan servicing, loss mitigation, depreciation and other accounting procedures.
• Performs the scheduling, review, verification, and distribution of loan servicing programs, management reports on a monthly, quarterly, semiannual, and annual basis.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

• You must be a US Citizen or US National.
• Males born after 12/31/1959 must be Selective Service registered or exempt.
• Subject to satisfactory adjudication of background investigation and/or fingerprint check.
• Direct Deposit - Per Public Law 104-134 all Federal employees are required to have federal payments made by direct deposit to their financial institution.
• Subject to one year supervisory/managerial probationary period unless prior service is creditable. New USDA supervisors must successfully complete all components of the required training program before the end of their probationary period.
• As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider: your performance and conduct; the needs and interests of the agency; whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service. Upon completion of your probationary period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Qualifications

Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement including time-in-grade restrictions, specialized experience and education (transcripts must be attached), as defined below.

Time in grade: Current federal employees applying for a promotion opportunity must meet time-in-grade (TIG) requirement of 52 weeks of service at the next lower grade level (GS-13) in the normal line of progression for the position being filled.

GS-14: Applicants must possess one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level, or it's non-federal equivalent.

Specialized experience is defined as performing the full range of supervisory functions; plans, organizes, directs, and coordinates loan servicing and management reporting activities related to the development, maintenance, and operation of the detail accounting system for RD's guaranteed loan portfolio including Business Programs, Community Programs, Water & Environmental Programs, and the Multi-Family Housing Program; executing in areas of financial and accounting management; creating reports on, and reviewing payment application data from a loan and grant portfolio and oversees the review of transaction reports for accuracy; ensuring staff has the tools, training, feedback, priorities, and automation support needed to accomplish workload; managing strategic planning initiatives to forecast goals, deliverables, and initiatives for the organization; utilizing a wide range of qualitative and/or quantitative methods to assess and improve organizational and mission effectiveness and/or improve complex management and accounting processes.

There is no substitution of education for experience at the GS-14 level.

NOTE: To be considered for this position, you must meet all qualification and eligibility requirements for the GS-0510 series set forth in the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualification Standards by the closing date of the announcement. A copy is available at: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards

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 and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

Education

Accounting Series 0510

Individual Occupational Requirements

Basic Requirements

1. Degree: accounting; or a degree in a related field such as business administration, finance, or public administration that included or was supplemented by 24 semester hours in accounting. The 24 hours may include up to 6 hours of credit in business law. (The term "accounting" means "accounting and/or auditing" in this standard. Similarly, "accountant" should be interpreted, generally, as "accountant and/or auditor.")
   OR
2. Combination of education and experience: at least 4 years of experience in accounting, or an equivalent combination of accounting experience, college-level education, and training that provided professional accounting knowledge. The applicant's background must also include one of the following:
   
   1. Twenty-four semester hours in accounting or auditing courses of appropriate type and quality. This can include up to 6 hours of business law;
   2. A certificate as Certified Public Accountant or a Certified Internal Auditor, obtained through written examination; or
   3. Completion of the requirements for a degree that included substantial course work in accounting or auditing, e.g., 15 semester hours, but that does not fully satisfy the 24-semester-hour requirement of paragraph A, provided that (a ) the applicant has successfully worked at the full-performance level in accounting, auditing, or a related field, e.g., valuation engineering or financial institution examining; (b) a panel of at least two higher level professional accountants or auditors has determined that the applicant has demonstrated a good knowledge of accounting and of related and underlying fields that equals in breadth, depth, currency, and level of advancement that which is normally associated with successful completion of the 4-year course of study described in paragraph A; and (c) except for literal nonconformance to the requirement of 24 semester hours in accounting, the applicant's education, training, and experience fully meet the specified requirements.

Additional information

• Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP), & Reemployment Priority List (RPL): Visit the OPM website for information on how to apply as a CTAP, RPL eligible. To exercise selection priority for this vacancy, CTAP/RPL candidates must meet the basic eligibility requirements and all selective factors. CTAP candidates must be rated and determined to be well qualified (or above) based on an evaluation of the competencies listed in the How You Will Be Evaluated section. When assessed through a score-based category rating method, CTAP applicants must receive a rating of at least 85 out of a possible 100.
• If selected, you will be required to submit Form OGE-450 within 30 days of your initial appointment date, and annually thereafter. Selectee is subject to financial Disclosure Requirements in accordance with 5 CFR, Part 2635, Sub part E regarding business or personal transactions with applicants, borrowers, or business contacts who have or who are seeking business with this Agency. Selectee must be able to obtain and maintain a security clearance. If selected you will be subject to a National Agency Check and Inquiry (NACI) and a credit report.
• Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended, that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application. Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case-by-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, based on your adjudication decision. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, if you received the link after the close of the announcement. To determine if you need a RA, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments here.
• This position may also be eligible for flexible work arrangements as determined by agency policy.

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Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

Benefits

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A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.