Duties

Summary

USAID is the world's premier international development agency and a catalytic actor driving development results. USAID works to help lift lives, build communities, and advance democracy. USAID's work advances U.S. national security and economic prosperity; demonstrates American generosity; and promotes a path to recipient self-reliance and resilience. We operate in five regions of the world: Africa, Asia, the Middle East, Latin America and the Caribbean, and Europe and Eurasia.

Learn more about this agency

Responsibilities

This is a Foreign Service announcement. Worldwide availability is a requirement of the position.

USAID works in close partnership with the governments and people in those countries, as well as with private voluntary organizations, universities, American businesses, other governments, trade and professional associations, faith-based organizations, and other U.S. government agencies.

Financial Management Officers direct the accounting and payment operations in USAID missions worldwide. In addition, they provide significant levels of advisory services to all levels of the mission and host country governments. This includes administrative, operational, and program matters concerning financial, budgetary and resource management, and implementation issues.

• Provide a full range of financial services including development of budgets and financial plans; control and track obligations and expenditures; preparation and audit of payment vouchers; administration of payroll plans; salary, benefits, and allowance payments; cashier operations; local currency management and programs; and act as an authorized certifying office for the disbursement and collection of funds.
• Provide financial management advisory services to assist managers in program decision-making and planning by analyzing financial aspects of various strategies, programs, and activities so that managers can determine the best use of limited resources.
• Conduct reviews and assessments, and provide organizational capacity development to foreign governments at all levels, non-governmental organizations, and local entities on their financial management and organizational practices by assessing, providing recommendations, and aiding in implementation of industry-recognized best practices in accordance to various laws and regulations.
• Prepare and communicate financial or regulatory reports required by laws, regulations, and Agency policies and directives.
• Develop and maintain relationships with both internal and external leaders, leading representatives of foreign governments, state or legislative executives, and public, international, other donor, and non-governmental organization personnel to facilitate financial activities. Coordinate with USAID legal, contracting, technical, executive, and inspection offices when appropriate.
• Develop self and lead other members of the Financial Management Workforce to assume increasing levels of responsibility and technical acumen within their respective roles.
• Coordinate and lead the internal controls assessment and review process, audit performance and compliance management, and develop controls for the prevention of fraud, waste, and mismanagement.
• Maintain current knowledge of federal and state policies and directives, and current accounting standards.

Travel Required

Occasional travel - A Foreign Service Officer generally spends the majority of their career assigned to the Agency's overseas missions and works in assigned developing countries with a variety of challenges (civil war, political unrest, lack of modern conveniences).

Supervisory status
Yes

Promotion Potential
SFS - Advancement to Senior Foreign Service on a merit basis is possible for employees who secure tenure and satisfy the requirements of promotion boards.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• Must be U.S. citizen.
• Must have worldwide availability.
• Must be able to obtain and maintain a TS security clearance.
• Must be between 18 and 59 years old at time of application.
• Males born after 12/31/1959 must be registered with the Selective Service.
• Must meet all requirements of this announcement.

See Qualifications Section.

Qualifications

Education & Experience:

FS-05, $56,728.00 (with Washington D.C. locality) to $90,342.00: Applicant must have a Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution AND at least 30 semester hours at the undergraduate or graduate level in accounting and business law, of which 24 semester hours must be in accounting PLUS four (4) years of relevant experience (a CPA can substitute for 2 years of relevant experience); one (1) year of overseas experience or in a diverse working environment is preferred but not required; OR a Master's degree in a relevant major and at least 30 semester hours at the undergraduate or graduate level in accounting and business law, of which 24 semester hours must be in accounting PLUS two (2) years of relevant experience. One (1) year of overseas experience or in a diverse working environment is preferred but not required.

FS-04, $70,009.00 (with Washington D.C. locality) to $111,493.00: Applicant must have a Master's degree in a relevant major and at least 30 semester hours at the undergraduate or graduate level in accounting and business law, of which 24 semester hours must be in accounting PLUS five (5) years of relevant experience; one (1) year of overseas experience or in a diverse working environment is preferred but not required, OR a Doctorate in a relevant major and at least 30 semester hours at the undergraduate or graduate level in accounting and business law, of which 24 semester hours must be in accounting PLUS three (3) years of relevant experience; one (1) year of overseas experience or in a diverse working environment is preferred but not required

Relevant major is defined as business administration, finance or public administration, management, economics, or accounting.

Relevant experience is defined as professional work of a fiscal, financial management, auditing, accounting, or budgetary nature. Experience in Public Financial Management will be advantageous.

Overseas and diverse working environment includes: A) working and living in a foreign country, nation, territory, or tribe; or (B) working and living in an economically disadvantaged community in the United States, performing work related to the Foreign Service Officer position. Such diverse work experience would be characterized by situations in which you were exposed to new cultures, learned foreign languages, encountered different behavioral norms and practices, coordinated and engaged with external partners and local counterparts, or conducted public outreach and communications.

Required Competencies:

Financial Advisor - Knowledge of economic and accounting principles and practices, financial management procedures, tax laws, financial markets, banking, and the analysis and reporting of financial data. Advises, identifies, and makes recommendations to improve organizations' weaknesses and risk areas based on regulations and recognized industry best practices.

Interpersonal Skills - Shows understanding, friendliness, courtesy, tact, empathy, concern, and politeness to others; develops and maintains effective relationships with others; may include effectively dealing with individuals who are difficult, hostile, or distressed; relates well to people from varied backgrounds and different situations; is sensitive to cultural diversity, race, gender, disabilities, and other individual differences; and works with others to achieve goals.

Customer Service - Identifies customers, both internal and external; develops and engenders customer-centric focus; works with more senior officers to prioritize work. Meets established deadlines or negotiates them in the face of constraints.

Written Communication - Writes clearly, succinctly, and in a professional manner appropriate for the intended audience. Produces written material within the established timeframes that are thorough and factually accurate.

Oral Communication - Expresses information to individuals or groups effectively, taking into account the audience and nature of the information (for example, technical, sensitive, controversial); makes clear and convincing oral presentations; listens to others; attends to nonverbal clues; and responds appropriately.

Adaptability and Flexibility -Is open to change and new information; adapts behavior or work methods in response to new information, changing conditions, or unexpected obstacles; effectively deals with uncertainty. Ability to live in developing countries with difficult conditions such as harsh climate, isolation, civil unrest, quality of local health care, security conditions, pollution levels, and availability of family members employment opportunities.

Legal, Government, and Jurisprudence - Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, legal practices and documents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, government organization and functions, and the democratic political process.

Information Gathering, Analysis, and Problem Solving - Locates and effectively analyzes data or information. Assesses reliability and accuracy of information. Accurately summarizes findings and conclusions verbally or in writing appropriate to audience. Makes sound, well-informed, and objective decisions, even in uncertain situations, and implements the solution within regulations and guidance.

Financial Management - Prepares, justifies, and/or administers the budget for program area; plans, administers and monitors obligations and expenditures to ensure cost-effective support of operations, programs, and policies.

Consensus Building - Presents positions in non-confrontational ways. Is open to views of others. Actions confidently and decisively within own purview. Supports team consensus and moves to implement it.

Education

Applicants must have the degree required in the qualifications AND at least 30 semester hours at the undergraduate or graduate level in accounting and business law, of which 24 semester hours must be in accounting. If you have a Bachelor's degree and are using your CPA certificate to substitute for 2 years of relevant experience, you must submit a copy of the CPA certificate with this application

Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the education requirements. Transcripts from any and all foreign educational institutions must be accompanied by an official Evaluation of Educational Credentials in order to be considered for the position. It is your responsibility to provide evidence that the foreign education is comparable to that received in an accredited educational institution in the United States when applying. If you are qualifying based on foreign education, you must submit proof of creditability of education as evaluated by a credentialing agency. Click on the following link for a list of accredited organizations ( https://www.naces.org/members ) recognized as specializing in interpretation of foreign education credentials. More information may be found at https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html

Unofficial transcripts and a copy of the CPA certificate must be uploaded as part of the application. Failure to do so will result in the application being eliminated from consideration. If we are unable to determine that you meet the required education, you will be found ineligible for further consideration. If you proceed past the initial application phase, official transcripts must be received by USAID from your university/institution during the final selection process.

Additional information

Applicants who previously applied for this position and were interviewed will not be invited for another interview within a 12 month period from the closing date of the announcement.

SELECTIVE SERVICE. As a condition of employment, all male applicants born after December 31, 1959, must have registered for the selective service. If selected for this position, the applicant must sign a statement certifying his registration, or the applicant must demonstrate exempt status under the Selective Service Law.

Career appointments in the Foreign Service are covered by the Foreign Service Act of 1980, as amended, which requires an applicant to be 18 years old at time of application and which directs mandatory retirement at age 65. Given this mandatory retirement age and the fact that five years must be allowed to achieve tenure in the agency, there is an upper age limit of 59 at time of appointment to the Foreign Service.

Veteran's preference. Qualified veterans will be considered consistent with the requirements of the Foreign Service Act.

These are Testing Designated Positions (TDPs) under the Agency's approved Drug-Free Work Place Program. All applicants selected for this position will be subject to random drug testing once they begin working for the Agency.

Medical Clearance. A medical clearance or waiver for the applicant is required prior to being hired for this position. FS members must be able to serve at any overseas post or receive a waiver. Many facilities are remote, unhealthy, or have limited medical support. Therefore, each applicant must meet medical fitness standards or receive a waiver. Prior to being appointed to the Foreign Service, applicants must have a thorough medical examination and must be able to receive a medical clearance for worldwide availability or a waiver.

Foreign Language Ability. Foreign language ability has no effect on whether or not you are selected for an interview. However, to reach required tenured status, you must be able to achieve minimum proficiency levels in a USAID tenuring languag e. Candidates who demonstrate a predefined level of proficiency will be given the opportunity to test for bonus points that will be added to their final interview score. Testing will be conducted via telephone and/or in person.

How You Will Be Evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

BASIS OF RATING: Qualified applicants receive a score of 70 to 100 before veteran's preference points are applied (if applicable). You will be rated based on your qualifications for this position as evidenced by the education, experience, and training you report relative to this position that show the degree to which you possess the required competencies listed on this vacancy announcement. USAID must be able to conduct reference checks as part of its assessment process. Applicants who do not permit reference checks from previous employers may be disqualified.

IMPORTANT: If you are found to have rated your self assessment higher than the information in your on-line application, supporting documentation narratives, and/or any other relevant part of your application package; including attachments, a score will manually be determined that reflects your documented experience. This may result in a lowered score and may also eliminate you from the best qualified list.
To preview questions please click here .

Background checks and security clearance

Security clearance
Top Secret

Drug test required
Yes

Required Documents

NOTE: We are aware some applicants are being directed during the application process to submit redundant documents. You are only required to submit the "Vacancy Level" documents: Resume, Transcript, SF-15 (if applicable), DD-214 (if applicable), and Miscellaneous (for any document you'd like to submit that doesn't fall under the category of the first four). The second request for "Registration Level" documents is the result of a technical error and can be ignored.

The following documents will be required for verification of eligibility before employment is offered:
• Proof of United States Citizenship (birth certificate, passport, or other acceptable documentation), these are not required to be submitted as part of the initial application.
• Official copy of college transcript of education used to qualify you for this position. For the initial application, only a copy of unofficial transcript is required.
• If claiming veteran's preference you must provide acceptable documentation of your preference or appointment eligibility. Acceptable documentation may be: a copy of your DD-214, "Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty," which shows dates of service and discharge under honorable conditions; a "certification" that is a written document from the armed forces that certifies the service member is expected to be discharged or released from active duty service in the armed forces under honorable conditions not later than 120 days after the date the certification is signed; OR a Standard Form 15 Application for 10-point Veterans' Preference. If you are claiming 10 point preference, you will need to submit a SF 15. You may obtain a letter from the Department of Veterans Affairs reflecting your level of disability for preference eligibility by visiting a VA Regional Office, contacting a VA call center or online. For more information on veteran's preference and eligibility, visit https://www.fedshirevets.gov/job-seekers/veterans-preference/#content

If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:

Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education .

Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.