FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT OFFICER |  |
VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT
United States Department of State
An Equal Opportunity Employer
How to Apply
Announcement No: FMO-09-01
Opening Date: February 09, 2009
Closing Date: March 13, 2009
Position Title: FOREIGN SERVICE FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT OFFICER
Grade and Starting Salary Range:
FP-04, $52,221 - $76,688
FP-03, $64,447 - $94,643
Number of Vacancies: The Department of State is developing a rank-order hiring register of eligible candidates to fill a limited number of Foreign Service Financial Management Officer vacancies. The specific number to be hired will depend on the needs of the Foreign Service.
Area of Consideration: All Sources
Location: New appointees will be required to remain in Washington, D. C., for an initial three weeks of mandatory orientation followed by formal training at the National Foreign Affairs Training Center. Additional training in language or other required skills (depending on assignment) may further extend the tour. At the discretion of the Department, each new appointee is then assigned either to an overseas post , Charleston, South Carolina or to Washington, D. C., for a two-year period, depending upon Service need.
All potential applicants are strongly urged to read this entire Vacancy Information to ensure that they meet all of the requirements for this position before applying.
Applicants must be American citizens and at least 20 years old to apply and at least 21 years of age to be appointed. By law, all career candidates must be appointed to the Foreign Service prior to the month in which they reach age 60.
I. A CAREER IN THE FOREIGN SERVICE
The Department of State is seeking experienced financial managers to serve at U.S. embassies and consulates worldwide. Candidates must agree not only to serve at any of the U.S. diplomatic or consular posts abroad but also in Washington, D.C. or other domestic locations, according to the needs of the Foreign Service.
The Foreign Service is more than a job - it's a career. As a member of a diplomatic team, you will not only help to accomplish the mission of the Department of State and be a representative, but also will be a representative of your country to the people of other nations. A Foreign Service career involves uncommon commitments and occasional hardships, as well as unique rewards and opportunities. A decision to enter this career should be based on unusual motivation and a firm dedication to public service.
Many overseas posts are in small or remote countries where harsh climates, health hazards and other discomforts exist and where American-style amenities and the latest in technological advances often are unavailable. Personal security frequently becomes an area of concern in countries where there is political unrest or terrorist activity. However, careers in the Foreign Service offer special rewards, including the pride and satisfaction of representing the United States and protecting U.S. interests abroad.
The Foreign Service strives to maintain diversity in the representation of gender, geographic region, race and ethnicity within its work force.
II. FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT OFFICER-DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES
Financial Management Officers of the Department of State serve in the United States and at any of approximately 130 Foreign Service posts throughout the world, including the Regional Financial Service Centers in Bangkok and Charleston, South Carolina. Overseas, they are responsible for the management of the financial activities of diplomatic and consular posts, including services to other U.S. Government agencies. They perform similar work when assigned to a Financial Service Center or Washington, D. C. For example, Foreign Service Financial Management Officers:
- Provide a full range of financial services including development of budgets and financial plans, control of obligations and expenditure, preparation and audit of payment vouchers, administration of payroll plans, salary and allowance payments, cashier operations, and disbursement of funds;
- Support senior management in program decision-making and planning by analyzing financial aspects of various programs so that managers can determine the best use of resources;
- Negotiate and administer agreements with other U.S. Government agencies to provide administrative support services through Department of State facilities and personnel;
- Act as certifying officers for U.S. Government agencies, with responsibility for the correctness and propriety of all payments;
- Establish and maintain close relations with local banking officials and fiscal authorities, and conduct negotiations concerning banking services;
- Help develop and maintain the Department's financial management system, ensuring compatibility with requirements of the Office of Management and Budget, the General Accounting Office and the Treasury Department, and that it meets user needs for accurate, timely financial data and processing;
- Utilize computers to record, analyze and report financial data and plans;
- Teach and supervise Locally employed staff who perform the accounting and financial work done overseas; and
- Establish and review internal controls, using policy guidelines and generally accepted accounting standards, for the prevention of waste, fraud and mismanagement.
INITIAL CAREER DEVELOPMENT ASSIGNMENTS:
Financial Management Officers will be given the opportunity to acquire a strong background and competency level. Upon entry into the Service and after completion of formal training, usually in the Washington, D. C., area, an FMO will normally be assigned to a two-year overseas tour of duty; however, an initial tour in Washington, D.C., or Charleston, South Carolina, is possible. After the initial tour, regular assignments will be for periods of two to four years’ duration overseas or occasionally in the U.S. and will be made through an open bidding process based on Service needs, career development requirements and individual preferences.
CAREER TRACK MOVEMENT:
Financial Management Officers are considered for promotion annually in competition with others in their grade level. Promotions are given to those who have the best performance. Persons promoted are advanced to the next grade and receive additional salary equivalent to at least two within-grade increases.
INITIAL SALARY AND SALARY INCREASES AND TENURE:
Entry level salary for current or former Federal civilian employees will be set at the rate, within the Foreign Service grade to which they are appointed, that is nearest to the base salary rate of their previous grade.
In general, employees with good performance will receive a within-grade increase annually up through Step 10 and biennially from Step 10 through Step 14 of the Foreign Service salary schedule.
Foreign Service Specialist Career Candidates are considered for tenure by a Tenuring Board after a minimum of two years experience in the Foreign Service.
III. EDUCATION AND SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS
All Financial Management Officer candidates must meet the following requirements:
| GRADE LEVEL | ANNUAL SALARY | EDUCATION REQUIREMENT | SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE |
|---|---|---|---|
| FP-04 | $52,221 - $76,688 | BA or BS | 3 years |
| FP-03 | $64,447 - $94,643 | BA or BS | 4 years |
EDUCATION:
Candidates should possess a Bachelor's degree with a minimum of 24 semester hours (36 quarter hours) in accounting or finance earned at the undergraduate or graduate level. This requirement may be waived if the candidate is a Certified Public Accountant. Graduate degrees in business, government or public administration are preferred with concentrations in accounting, finance or other related fields such as information systems, auditing, statistics or engineering.
SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE:
Specialized experience is professional work which demonstrates that the applicant has acquired and is able to apply specific knowledge, skills and abilities appropriate to a Foreign Service Financial Management Officer position. Examples are:
- Experience in financial management work which involved the preparation, justification, or management of an organization's budget, or participation in budget hearings on appropriations for a government agency.
- Experience as a financial management officer in a government agency or in a business or industrial concern with responsibilities for financial planning, organization, methods and procedures.
- Experience in government or private sector financial management including interpretation and use of financial data for informed decision-making and the efficient and optimal use of resources.
- Teaching comprehensive budget, fiscal or accounting courses in an accredited educational institution above the high school level.
- Experience in the development and/or implementation of internal controls and compliance with laws and regulations related to financial management. This includes experience in the audit and financial management review of procedures and requirements.
- Experience in banking, currency purchasing or treasury operations.
- Experience in payroll plan development and/or administration.
Experience in the design, implementation or maintenance of computerized systems will only be considered if one of the other specialized criteria mentioned above is met.
NOTE: Consumer loan management/approval and individual tax preparation are not considered to be specialized experience for the purpose of this announcement.
All experience listed above must have been of a progressively responsible nature in a medium or large organization with a multimillion dollar budget. This experience also must include more than one area of financial management, e.g., budget preparation and execution, accounting and reporting, accounts payable, payroll, accounts receivable, cash management, disbursing, and audit and internal controls.
Supervisory experience, work with automated financial management systems, and evidence of working and/or living successfully in a multicultural environment is desirable. Such experience in the Foreign Service, the Department of State, other Federal Government agencies and organizations having international operations is preferred. For the FP-3 level at least one year of specialized experience must have been equivalent to the GS-11/FP-4 level; and for the FP-4 level at least one year must have been equivalent to the GS-9/FP-5 level.
SUBSTITUTION OF EDUCATION FOR EXPERIENCE:
Applicants with strong academic backgrounds may substitute graduate educational achievement (accepted at the rate of 18 semester hours or 27 quarter hours per year) for specialized experience as discussed below:
- For 1 year of specialized experience: One full academic year of graduate education in business or public administration, with a concentration in accounting, finance or a related field.
- For 2 years of specialized experience: Completion of all requirements for a master's or equivalent degree, or 2 full academic years of graduate education, in one of the fields described in paragraph "1" above
- For 3 years of specialized experience: Completion of all requirements for a doctoral degree (Ph.D. or equivalent), or 3 full academic years of graduate education, in one of the fields described in paragraph "1" above.
HOW YOU WILL BE EVALUATED
Candidates will be evaluated on their total background including experience, education, awards, training, and self-development as it relates to the position. Selection for this position will be made only from among candidates possessing the best qualifications.
HOW TO APPLY
Applications must be submitted electronically through the "Gateway to State" system. Please click here, or on the Gateway to State button at the top of the page to read the vacancy and to start the online application process. As part of the online application, applicants will be asked to submit the following required documents:
REQUIRED DOCUMENTS
1. SUPPLEMENTARY QUESTIONNAIRE:
Purpose: The purpose of the Supplementary Questionnaire is to allow an opportunity to describe examples of your experience which relate to the skills listed below and best show your ability to handle various aspects of financial management work. The information you give will be used to help structure your oral examination/interview should you be invited to one.
Instructions: Using plain white paper and either a typewriter or word processor, individually address each of the 5 numbered items listed below limiting responses to 300 words or less for each item. Describe how you have used the following abilities and/or knowledge, referencing the source from which the work-related experience was acquired. Your examples can be drawn from any part of your experience but they must describe things that you, personally, have done. You should compose your replies carefully as one of the skills required of an experienced financial manager is the ability to write clearly and concisely.
- Demonstrated experience in management and supervision of staff involved in financial management work described in Section III, Financial Management Officer Career.
- Ability to develop and present financial information and analyses both orally and in writing to higher level management.
- Demonstrated skill and experience in automated financial information systems.
- Ability to work under pressure of tight deadlines and rigid timeframes in difficult circumstances.
- Knowledge of and working experience in international activities as well as practical experience of living overseas.
2. A two-to-three page typed (double-spaced) narrative autobiography which discusses your:
- Personal background
- General comments on work experience
- Personal interests and hobbies
- Motivation for joining the Foreign Service
In cases where education is substituted for experience, copies of college transcripts, diplomas, etc. must be presented at the time of oral assessment. These materials become the property of the Department of State and will not be returned.
Selected candidates: Please note all travel and other expenses incurred in connection with the oral assessment are the responsibility of the candidate.
Executive Branch agencies are barred by 5 US Code 3303 as amended from accepting or considering prohibited political recommendations and are required to return any prohibited political recommendations to sender. In addition, as mandated by 5 US Code 310, sons and daughters of federal employees cannot be granted preference in competing for these employment opportunities.
The Department of State is committed to equal opportunity and fair and equitable treatment for all without regard to race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, sexual orientation, disabling condition, political affiliation, marital status, or prior statutory, constitutionally protected activity. The Department provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities. Applicants requiring reasonable accommodations for any part of the application or hiring process should so advise the Department. All decisions for granting reasonable accommodation are made on a case-by-case basis.