VACANCY N: 20-2011

OPEN TO:  All Interested Candidates

POSITION:  VOUCHER EXAMINER, FSN-8, FP-6* - 3 positions

OPENING DATE: September 15, 2011

CLOSING DATE: September 28, 2011

WORK HOURS: Full-time, 40 hours/week

NOTE: Due to the agency specific skills, knowledge, and abilities required the selected applicants will be hired at a developmental level one grade lower than the full performance level.

IMPORTANT NOTE:  ALL ORDINARILY RESIDENT (OR) APPLICANTS MUST HAVE THE REQUIRED WORK AND RESIDENCY PERMITS TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR CONSIDERATION.

The U.S. Embassy in Sofia is seeking individuals for the Sofia based position of Voucher Examiner in the Resources Management/Global Financial Services/ Post Support Unit, Sofia (RM/GFS/PSU Sofia), which provides regional payment processing services to U.S. Embassies worldwide.

BASIC FUNCTION OF POSITION:

The incumbent’s daily duty is to perform work consisting of the examination and audit for accuracy, legality, compliance with regulations, and justification of vouchers, invoices, claims, and other requests for payment from customer missions.   Responsible for processing mission assignment travel vouchers for all overseas missions, and vendor vouchers, E2 vouchers, and ILMS vouchers from Post Support Unit (PSU) client missions.  The incumbent is relied on by the Certifying Officer to forward only correct, legal, and proper vouchers for certification.  Incumbent assures compliance with regulations and correct computation on the basis of supporting documents submitted by U.S. Embassy Finance Offices worldwide, or through contact with program officials, travelers, and vendor's/contractors.  The incumbent must ensure compliance with Federal, Department of State, PSU, and individual client mission policies. When vouchers are rejected, incumbent must provide detailed and tactful explanations of the regulation or policy to the submitter and inform them of the necessary corrective action.   

A copy of the complete position description listing all duties and responsibilities is available in the Human Resources Office. Contact: (+359) 2-937-5153 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              (+359) 2-937-5153      end_of_the_skype_highlighting or e-mail: sofia_applications@state.gov.

QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED:

All applicants are instructed to address each selection criterion detailed below with specific and comprehensive supporting information.

1.  Education:  Bachelor’s degree in economics in accounting, banking, finance, business administration or similar is required.

2.  Work experience:  Two years progressively more responsible work experience in finance, accounting, bookkeeping or related financial field are required.

3.  Language requirements:  Level 4 (fluent) speaking/reading/writing English is required.  Level 4 (fluent) speaking/reading/writing Bulgarian is required.

4.  Knowledge: 
• Must have good knowledge of accounting and payment processes and an understanding of related internal control concepts in order to develop knowledge of Department of State (DOS) specific financial and accounting regulations including DOS specific regulations. The job holder must be generally familiar with U.S. Government accounting principles and concepts.
• Applicants must be able within a year from hiring to develop and maintain significant knowledge of DOS rules and regulations that pertain to vouchering, procurement, and travel, as well of those of other agencies serviced like Dept of Defense, CDC, etc.

5.  Skills and Abilities:
• Strong computer skills including MS Office applications (Excel, Power Point, and Word), internet and website navigation skills, and automated financial and/accounting applications.
• Ability to analyze data, accounting and payment records and reports, and obtain necessary information to correct problems.
• Strong writing and oral communication skills; solid interpersonal skills.
• Solid interpersonal skills and ability to work in a team including with colleagues in different physical locations and under continuous pressure.
• Must be able to recommend changes in processes and procedures in order to realize improvements in operational efficiency and customer service.

NOTE:    Unless you meet all specified requirements you will not be considered.

SELECTION PROCESS

When fully qualified, U.S. Citizen Eligible Family Members (USEFMs) and U.S. Veterans are given preference.  Therefore, it is essential that the candidate specifically address the required qualifications above in the application.

ADDITIONAL SELECTION CRITERIA

1. Management will consider nepotism/conflict of interest, budget, and residency status in determining successful candidacy. 
2. Current employees serving a probationary period are not eligible to apply.
3. Current Ordinarily Resident employees with an Overall Summary Rating of Needs Improvement or Unsatisfactory on their most recent Employee Performance Report are not eligible to apply.
4. Currently employed U.S. Citizen EFMs who hold a Family Member Appointment (FMA) are ineligible to apply for advertised positions within the first 90 calendar days of their employment.
5. Currently employed NORs hired under a Personal Services Agreement (PSA) are ineligible to apply for advertised positions within the first 90 calendar days of their employment unless currently hired into a position with a When Actually Employed (WAE) work schedule.

TO APPLY:

Interested candidates for this position must submit the following for consideration of the application:
1. Universal Application for Employment as a Locally Employed Staff or Family Member (DS-174); or
2. A current resume or curriculum vitae in English that provides the same information found on the UAE (see Appendix B); or
3. A combination of both; i.e. Sections 1 -24 of the UAE along with a listing of the applicant’s work experience attached as a separate sheet; plus
4. Candidates who claim U.S. Veterans preference must provide a copy of their Form DD-214 with their application.  Candidates who claim conditional U.S. Veterans preference must submit documentation confirming eligibility for a conditional preference in hiring with their application.
5. Any other documentation (e.g., essays, certificates, awards) that addresses the qualification requirements of the position as listed above.

SUBMIT APPLICATION TO:
U.S. Embassy Sofia
Human Resources Office 
16 Kozyak, 1408 Sofia 
E-mail:  Sofia_Applications@state.gov 
Fax: (+359) (2) 937-5231 
 
   
     Due to the high volume of responses, individual acknowledgements
regarding receipt of applications are sent to e-mail applications  only.  Only candidates considered at a further stage of the recruitment process will be notified regarding the status of their application.

Please submit your application by e-mail, post mail or fax.  Hand delivered applications will not be accepted.

Only applications received in the Human Resources Office before the closing date of this job notice will be considered and only short–listed candidates will be contacted.

POINT OF CONTACT
U.S. Embassy Sofia
Human Resources Office
Tel: (+359) (2) 937-5153 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              (+359) (2) 937-5153      end_of_the_skype_highlighting
Fax: (+359) (2) 937-5231
E-mail: Sofia_Applications@state.gov

CLOSING DATE FOR THIS POSITION:  end of the day SEPTEMBER 28, 2011

The U.S. Mission in Sofia provides equal opportunity and fair and equitable treatment in employment to all people without regard to race, color religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, political affiliation, marital status, or sexual orientation.  The Department of State also strives to achieve equal employment opportunity in all personnel operations through continuing diversity enhancement programs.

The EEO complaint procedure is not available to individuals who believe they have been denied equal opportunity based upon marital status or political affiliation.  Individuals with such complaints should avail themselves of the appropriate grievance procedures, remedies for prohibited personnel practices, and/or courts for relief. 

APPENDIX A
DEFINITIONS

1.  Eligible Family Member (EFM):  An individual related to a U.S. Government employee in one of the following ways:
• Spouse or same-sex domestic partner (as defined in 3 FAM 1610);
• Child, who is unmarried and under 21 years of age or, regardless of age, is incapable of self-support.  The term shall include, in addition to natural offspring, stepchildren and adopted children and those under legal guardianship of the employee or the spouse when such children are expected to be under such legal guardianship until they reach 21 years of age and when dependent upon and normally residing with the guardian;
• Parent (including stepparents and legally adoptive parents) of the employee or of the spouse, when such parent is at least 51 percent dependent on the employee for support;
• Sister or brother (including stepsisters and stepbrothers, or adoptive sisters or brothers) of the employee, or of the spouse, when such sibling is at least 51 percent dependent on the employee for support, unmarried, and under 21 years of age, or regardless of age, incapable of self-support.

2.  U.S. Citizen Eligible Family Member (USEFM):  For purposes of receiving a preference in hiring for a qualified position, an EFM who meets the following criteria:

• U.S. Citizen; and,
• EFM (see above) at least 18 years old; and,
• Listed on the travel orders of a direct-hire Foreign, Civil, or uniformed service member assigned to or stationed abroad with a USG agency that is under COM authority, or at an office of the American Institute in Taiwan; and either:

         1. Resides at the sponsoring employee's or uniformed service member's post of assignment abroad or at an office of the American Institute in Taiwan; or
         2. Resides at an Involuntary Separate Maintenance Allowance (ISMA) location authorized under 3 FAM 3232.2.

3.  Appointment Eligible Family Member (AEFM):  EFM (see above) eligible for a Family Member Appointment for purposes of Mission employment: 
• Is a U.S. citizen; and
• Spouse or same-sex domestic partner (as defined in 3 FAM 1610) or a child of the sponsoring employee who is unmarried and at least 18 years old; and
• Is listed on the travel orders or approved Form OF-126, Foreign Service Residence and Dependency Report, of a sponsoring employee, i.e., a direct-hire Foreign Service, Civil Service, or uniformed service member who is permanently assigned to or stationed abroad at a U.S. mission, or at an office of the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT), and who is under chief of mission authority; and
• Is residing at the sponsoring employee's post of assignment abroad or, as appropriate, office of the American Institute in Taiwan.
• Does not receive a Foreign Service or Civil Service annuity

4.  Member of Household (MOH):  An individual who accompanies a  direct-hire Foreign, Civil, or uniformed service member permanently assigned or stationed at a U.S. Foreign Service post or establishment abroad, or at an office of the American Institute in Taiwan.  An MOH is:
• Not an EFM; and,
• Not on the travel orders of the sponsoring employee; and,
• Has been officially declared by the sponsoring USG employee to the COM as part of his/her household.

A MOH is under COM authority and may include a parent, unmarried partner, other relative or adult child who falls outside the Department’s current legal and statutory definition of family member.  A MOH does not have to be a U.S. Citizen.

5. Not Ordinarily Resident (NOR):  An individual who:
• Is not a citizen of the host country; and,
• Does not ordinarily reside (OR, see below) in the host country; and,
• Is not subject to host country employment and tax laws; and,
• Has a U.S. Social Security Number (SSN). 

NOR employees are compensated under a GS or FS salary schedule, not under the LCP.

6. Ordinarily Resident (OR):  A Foreign National or U.S. citizen who:
• Is locally resident; and,
• Has legal, permanent resident status within the host country; and,
• Is subject to host country employment and tax laws. 

EFMs without U.S. Social Security Numbers are also OR.  All OR employees, including U.S. citizens, are compensated in accordance with the Local Compensation Plan (LCP).

APPENDIX B

 If an applicant is submitting a resume or curriculum vitae, s/he must provide the following information equal to what is found on the UAE.

Failure to do so will result in an incomplete application.

 A. Position Title
 B. Position Grade
 C. Vacancy Announcement Number (if known)
 D. Dates Available for Work
 E. First, Middle, & Last Names as well as any other names used
 F. Current Address, Day, Evening, and Cell phone numbers
 G. U.S. Citizenship Status (Yes or No) & status of permanent U.S. Resident (Yes or No; if yes, provide number)
 H. U.S. Social Security Number and/or Identification Number
 I.  Eligibility to work in the country (Yes or No)
 J. Special Accommodations the Mission needs to provide (Yes or No; if yes, provide explanation)
 K. If applying for position that includes driving a U.S. Government vehicle, Driver’s License Class / Type 
 L. Days available to work
M. List any relatives or members of your household that work for the U.S. Government (include their Name, Relationship, & Agency, Position, Location)
 N. U.S. Eligible Family Member and Veterans Hiring Preference
 O. Education
 P. License, Skills, Training, Membership, & Recognition
 Q. Language Skills
 R. Work Experience
 S. References.