Associate Chief Financial Officer

Agriculture, Rural Development • Saint Louis, MO

11d

About The Position

This is a career-reserved Senior Executive Service (SES) position at USDA, designated position level II. The Associate Chief Financial Officer leads compliance operations and establishes accounting and auditing policies and procedures for Rural Development (RD) loan and grant programs, ensuring the consistency and reliability of financial information used in lending decisions. The role provides expert financial, accounting, and auditing advice to the CFO, mission area Administrators, the Under Secretary for RD, and other senior agency staff.

The position directs and coordinates financial activities related to developing and maintaining internal controls for a multi-hundred-billion-dollar loan portfolio accounting system. It develops loan and grant accounting policies, methods, and procedures that support the CFO’s objectives and compliance with OMB Circular A-123, applicable laws, and regulations. The role also provides an independent assessment of RD loan and grant program operations, sets policy direction for professional accounting staff, leads loan and grant fund and accounting reviews—including reviews of annual CPA audit reports for active borrowers—and oversees and monitors the RD loan portfolio against accounting and audit standards and criteria.

The position has a stated annual salary range of $204,122 to $216,010. Exceptions to the salary cap may be considered in certain circumstances. SES employees are eligible for bonuses and performance-based awards. Initial appointees serve a one-year probationary period. The application process is resume-only, with a resume limited to two pages, and candidates must demonstrate the applicable Executive Core Qualifications and Technical Qualifications in that resume unless an identified exception applies.

Requirements

• Must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
• Demonstrate the Executive Core Qualifications in the resume, unless exempt as specified for certain current or former career SES members and OPM-certified SES Candidate Development Program graduates.
• Demonstrate mastery of accepted accounting principles, theories, and practices for the Federal Government and agencies involved in loan-making activities, including providing authoritative financial advice to senior leadership in centralized and decentralized environments.
• Demonstrate ability to lead organization-wide financial oversight, internal control, and compliance requirements for programs, including designing and executing test strategies, evaluating and remediating deficiencies, audit readiness, risk management, and accountability in financial operations.
• Submit a resume not exceeding two pages, using 0.8-inch margins and 11-point font.
• Complete a one-year probationary period upon initial appointment.
• Complete a background investigation.
• File a financial disclosure report within 30 days of appointment and annually thereafter.
• Obtain and maintain any required interim and/or final security clearance before entering on duty; failure to maintain the required clearance may result in withdrawal of an offer or removal.
• Male applicants born after December 31, 1959 must certify Selective Service registration or exemption, subject to stated exceptions.
• May be subject to pre-employment and random drug tests.

Responsibilities

• Lead compliance operations and establish accounting and auditing policies and procedures for RD loan and grant programs.
• Ensure consistency and reliability of financial information used in lending decisions.
• Provide expert financial, accounting, and auditing advice to the CFO, mission area Administrators, the Under Secretary for RD, and other senior agency staff.
• Direct and coordinate financial activities related to the development and maintenance of internal controls for the loan portfolio accounting system.
• Develop loan and grant accounting policies, methods, and procedures supporting CFO goals and compliance with OMB Circular A-123, laws, and regulations.
• Provide an independent assessment of the overall operations of RD-administered loan and grant programs.
• Provide policy direction to professional accounting staff.
• Lead loan and grant fund and accounting reviews, including reviews of annual CPA audit reports for active borrowers.
• Oversee and monitor the RD loan portfolio against accounting and audit standards and criteria to help ensure loans and grants are sound, secure, and supportable.

Benefits

• SES employees are eligible for bonuses and performance-based awards.
• Federal employees and their families have access to a comprehensive benefits package; specific benefits depend on position eligibility and should be confirmed with the hiring agency.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Executive
• Education Level: No Education Listed