Company Information
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Company Name: EPA
Website: https://www.epa.gov/aboutepa/epa-region-2

Job Information
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Job Title: Travel Help Desk Position
Job Type: Co-op
Start Date: ASAP
Job Description:
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%



Requirements:
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.




Resume Information
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Applicants should submit the following:: Resume
Majors Desired:: Business

Application Information
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*Upload Application Materials*
To be considered for this position, please upload the requested documents to 
be reviewed by NCCC. 

Submit Resume [1]


[1] https://www.rit.edu/ntid/nce/jobs/upload