Business Support Specialist VII

Cherokee Federal • Lafayette, LA

5d • Onsite

About The Position

Cherokee United Services is seeking a Business Support Specialist VII to support us in Lafayette, Louisiana. This on-site role delivers advanced administrative, financial, travel, and analytical support that helps keep Center operations moving and enables scientific teams to focus on mission priorities. The Business Support Specialist VII manages complex travel actions, timekeeping validation, charge card reconciliation, budget and accounts-payable support, records management, and operational analysis.

Requirements

• High school diploma or equivalent required.
• Previous experience in administrative support, finance, accounting, bookkeeping, budget analysis, travel coordination, or a related business operations field required.
• Ability to manage complex administrative tasks, solve problems, and make sound recommendations within established policies and procedures.
• Ability to provide guidance and day-to-day support to junior-level staff.
• Strong typing, data-entry, document-routing, records-management, and file-organization skills.
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite, including Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
• Familiarity with PC-based systems, email applications, electronic forms, and Microsoft Edge or comparable web browsers.
• Ability to learn and use government travel, financial, timekeeping, invoice-processing, and administrative systems; required training will be provided.
• Strong attention to detail when reviewing financial documentation, travel vouchers, receipts, time records, approvals, and reports.
• Ability to work effectively both independently and as part of a team while managing shifting priorities and deadlines.
• Clear, professional written and verbal communication skills with strong interpersonal and customer-service abilities.
• Ability to successfully complete a federal background investigation and obtain/maintain required USAccess credentials.
• Ability to safeguard government information, property, facilities, equipment, and systems in accordance with applicable security and privacy requirements.
• Ability to work on-site at the USGS Wetland and Aquatic Research Center in Lafayette, LA.

Nice To Haves

• Experience supporting federal travel, timekeeping, accounts payable, budget activities, or government charge card reconciliation is strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

• Manage domestic and international travel authorizations, vouchers, forms, and required routing actions.
• Apply the Federal Travel Regulation, Department Travel Handbook, federal guidance, and Center procedures when processing travel.
• Coordinate travel actions with Regional and Bureau-level ethics officials, approvers, federal travelers, and other stakeholders.
• Manage conference attendance requests, monitor approval status, and provide timely updates to travelers and Bureau officials.
• Prepare complex travel exception packages, including alternate lodging, increased per diem, and other required justification documentation.
• Support office operations through meeting coordination, room scheduling, visitor reception, supply coordination, and meeting documentation.
• Assist with biweekly time-and-attendance validation, including review of time entries, documentation, reports, routing, approvals, and filing.
• Review monthly government charge card statements; verify receipt documentation, maintain purchasing logs, and enter expenditure adjustments.
• Support budget reporting, labor adjustments, journal voucher processing, and expenditure tracking.
• Process non-referencing invoices, employee reimbursement documentation, credit card adjustments, and accounts-payable actions using government systems.
• Prepare reports to support Budget Analysts with charge monitoring, reconciliation, and financial oversight.
• Analyze budget trends to support biweekly payroll processing and identify administrative or financial issues.
• Review, update, and maintain administrative databases, records, files, and data systems for management use.
• Analyze planned and completed travel activity, approvals, and related data to support responses to policy or budget changes.
• Provide analytical support and practical recommendations that improve the efficiency, productivity, and effectiveness of Center operations.
• Prepare monthly activity summaries and maintain complete, accurate administrative records.
• Provide guidance to junior-level staff, as assigned.
• Performs other job-related duties as assigned

Benefits

• Medical
• Dental
• Vision
• 401K

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: High school or GED