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I. INTRODUCTION
This position is location in Region 2, Office of Policy and Management, Financial Management Branch, Resources Management and Policy Section. The incumbent serves as a Financial Specialist in the Financial Management Branch reporting to the Chief, Resources Management and Policy Section. The purpose of this position is to serve the Section as a staff resource providing technical advice and assistance to professional and technical staff members across the region. Advises and assists the Section Chief in the implementation and assessment of regional financial and travel management initiatives.
II. MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Prepares and evaluates a variety of travel claims subject to complex and detailed regulations and/or terms and conditions. Claims may include but are not limited to: travel authorizations, temporary duty travel vouchers, local travel vouchers, miscellaneous employee claims. Prepares and reviews all claims by applying travel and financial principles, theories, concepts, and practices to a wide variety of issues and problems arising in the complex environment. 30%
Provides a full range of travel and financial management services to specified service area including expertise in travel systems. Provides advice and counsel in the area of travel and related policies and procedures to travelers, management and staff, such as: basic federal and agency travel policy and regional protocols; appropriate account utilization; cost/benefit analysis of different trip itineraries; travel support including reservation booking for hotel, rental car and common carrier transportation. Provides financial information, reports and advice to program office personnel and management, including: reporting on travel related accounting transactions, travel card utilization, potential improper use and payment of balances; information in support of the travel program quality assurance; analysis of travel spending and patterns. Performs evaluations of, and recommends improvements to program's financial procedures or systems to meet changing requirements. 20%
Working with more senior branch staff members, examines administrative and management issues and problems in order to ascertain most efficient resolution, identify opportunities for improvement, recommend corrective actions and implementation, and ensure travel program compliance and integrity; such issues include those raised through audit findings, quality assurance review, and management metric tracking. Prepares information and advisory reports for regional management. Conducts surveys and/or interviews and other research to evaluate issues of concern to the financial and travel management programs in the region. 15%
Monitors financial obligation and payment activities through accounting files and correspondence with program personnel, contractors, and other federal agencies. Monitors financial balances, unliquidated obligations and other transactions to ensure appropriate disposition of financial resources, and notifies accountants or other senior staff of concerns that arise. Maintains administrative and financial database tracking program payments. Responsible for data entry related to payment requests. Responsible for voucher audits and records retention. 15%
Participates in decision-making sessions with Regional operating personnel and EPA Headquarters financial management staff on items related to the regional and agency travel program and systems. Together with FMB accountants, provides recommendations and renders advice and assistance to branch management on operating activities in matters involving the propriety of existing or proposed financial and travel procedures, objectives and operations. 10%
Assists in the development and participates in providing training sessions to inform regional programs of changes in systems, laws, regulations policies, and procedures related to the regions financial and travel programs. Acts as a liaison with payment offices coordinating to address payment issues, providing appropriate documentation to support payments to travelers and to support the Agency's Superfund Cost Recovery Program when appropriate. 5%
Reviews proposed travel and related financial policies and procedures, arranges test applications of proposals, evaluates and submits recommendations to the Section Chief as to the accuracy, adequacy and validity of such proposals and as to the effect of proposed changes to EPA policy in terms of impact on current procedures. 5%
Knowledge Required, Level 1-6,
Knowledge of federal and EPA travel and financial rules, regulations, policies and procedures to perform duties such as processing of travel authorizations and travel vouchers.
Knowledge of a variety of interrelated steps, conditions, procedures and processes necessary to assemble, review and maintain travel program fiscal transactions.
Knowledge of federal laws, regulations, procedures, systems and internal protocols and basic knowledge of the Agency's policies, missions, functions, goals, objectives, work processes, and sources of funding necessary to ensure compliance in developing travel documents, providing guidance and assistance, and recommending appropriate course of action.
Knowledge of the interrelationship of various automated accounting, budgetary, travel and mixed systems to resolve issues or concerns with process.ed transactions including obligations, collections and disbursements as well as transactions involving adjustments such as utilization of carryover budgetary resources.
Factor 2: Supervisory Controls, Level 2-3
The supervisor outlines or discusses possible problem areas and defines objectives, plans, priorities, and deadlines. The employee independently plans and carries out the assignment in conformance with accepted budget/finance practices. The employee adheres to instructions, policies, and guidelines in exercising judgment to resolve commonly encountered work problems and deviations. The employee brings controversial information or findings to the supervisor's attention for direction. The supervisor evaluates and reviews these characteristics of completed work: technical soundness and appropriateness; adequacy of the investigation and analysis; validity of conclusions drawn; conformity with applicable policies, regulations, and procedures, and adherence to requirements; and feasibility and utility of any proposals. The supervisor does not usually review methods used in detail.
Factor 3: Guidelines. Level 3-3, 275 Points
Available guidance includes Federal financial and travel laws, regulations, general decisions, Agency financial management policies, General Services Administration policies and procedures, established Superfund financial management and cost recovery procedures, various Agency/Regional handbooks, manuals, desk guides. Such guidance is general in nature, and/or not applicable to all of the issues that the employee will encounter and be required to address, therefore, the employee must use judgment in choosing, interpreting, or adapting available general guidelines to specific issues or assignments. The employee will evaluate the results of applying guidelines and may recommend changes to applicable procedures, processes or systems.
Factor 4: Complexity, Level 4-3
The employee will perform various duties in support of the region's financial and travel management programs that use different and unrelated processes and varying timeframes; changing policies, protocols and systems; and changing reporting requirements.
With each transaction the employee will be required to identify the nature of the transaction, related complexities and potential issues, determine the need for additional information, guidance through customer feedback and/or overriding procedures and make judgments on the best possible course of action to meet various compliance requirements and financial efficiencies.
The employee makes recommendation for actions on a variety of transactions and issues based on case-by-case reviews of facts, circumstances and related policy and guidelines using multiple systems in many cases. The work involves the application of many unrelated financial and travel processes and methods.
The work involves taking actions and making decisions based on knowledge of the financial and travel programs in the Agency and region. In conjunction with more senior staff, the employee will interpret data, to determine issues and develop options for addressing concerns as well as planning and implementing solutions.
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