Cost Analyst

Air Force Civilian Career Training • Eglin AFB, FL

5h

About The Position

The Cost Analyst is a Palace Acquire Program position intended to provide experience and training that leads to career development in Financial Management. The position supports cost and economic analysis, program and budget development, and financial planning for Air Force activities. Assignments are performed under a formal training plan and include routine and recurring work as well as special assignments. Position locations may vary, and total salary depends on the location. The Palace Acquire Program provides a permanent position upon completion of its three-year formal training plan, with yearly salary increases; promotions and salary increases depend on successful performance and supervisory approval.

The incumbent conducts economic analysis of operating systems and cost studies, reviews data for consistency and relevance, and performs statistical and quantitative analysis of program trends and outcomes. The role assists with evaluating industry cost estimates and contractor cost performance, and develops knowledge of contractor estimating and accounting systems and their relationship to procurement, budgets, and planning. The analyst also supports the formulation and execution of budgets, financial plans, and multi-year programs; evaluates cost and schedule tradeoffs; and prepares reports, briefings, and segments of action plans for annual calls, POM development, FYDP, and other requirements.

The position requires U.S. citizenship, suitability for Federal employment, and a one-year probationary period. A security clearance may be required. Relocation may be required during or after training, and official-duty travel by military or civilian aircraft may be required. Permanent Change of Station expenses may or may not be authorized. A student loan repayment program or recruitment incentive may be authorized, and leave accrual may be authorized upon request.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship is required.
• Must meet suitability requirements for Federal employment.
• Must serve a one-year probationary period.
• Must have a GPA of 2.95 or higher out of 4.0 where applicable to the stated qualification criteria.
• GS-07 qualification: one full year of graduate-level education; or a bachelor's degree with Superior Academic Achievement; or five academic years of pre-professional study; or one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least GS-05.
• GS-09 qualification: a master's or equivalent graduate degree; or two full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree; or a related LL.B. or J.D.
• For the Palace Acquire Program, must have completed a four-year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution and documented undergraduate Superior Academic Achievement through qualifying class standing, GPA, or eligible national scholastic honor society membership.
• Education must be from an institution accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education; foreign education must be shown to be equivalent to U.S. education.
• Submit transcripts supporting education claims; official copies are not required at application but are required if selected.
• Knowledge of research inquiry methods and techniques and cost.
• Understanding of management theories, principles, concepts, and practices.
• Knowledge of cost, budget, and program analysis.
• Knowledge of statistical techniques, applied mathematics, and economics.
• Skill in using computer software and hardware to accomplish assignments.
• Skill in written and oral communication and in working with others to accomplish objectives.
• Must maintain current certifications.
• Must be registered for Selective Service if applicable.
• Must apply through the specified Air Force Civilian Careers recent graduates website to receive further consideration.

Responsibilities

• Prepare economic analyses of portions of operating systems, including research of historical costs for analogous weapons and use of cost factors for contracting studies, flying hours, reimbursable programs, and other assigned missions.
• Analyze current resource utilization and project future resource requirements for segments of an activity; research and complete routine or continuing cost studies.
• Review data for consistency, accuracy, validity, and relevance, and evaluate whether alternatives have been objectively selected for costing and analysis.
• Perform routine or continuing statistical and quantitative analyses of program trends, accomplishments, and deficiencies.
• Assist in evaluating industry cost estimates to support source selection and decisions about system configuration and program plans.
• Review contractor cost performance reports and develop knowledge of contractor cost estimating and accounting systems and their relationship to procurement, budgets, and planning.
• Perform basic evaluation tasks using checklists, equations, and factors.
• Describe and present results of routine and recurring cost and economic analyses in written reports and formal or informal briefings; identify critical assumptions and decision points for decision-makers.
• Prepare and present statistical and narrative reports and briefings.
• Support formulation, development, and execution of budgets, financial plans, and multi-year programs needed to fund program resource requirements.
• Participate in developing system planning objectives by evaluating cost and schedule tradeoffs and budget requirements, and develop financial plans consistent with Program Management Plans.
• Prepare segments of action plans for annual calls, Program Objectives Memorandum development, Five-Year Defense Plans, and other requirements.
• Perform special assignments under the formal training plan, including administrative assignments to develop knowledge of the financial community's mission and organization.

Benefits

• A permanent position upon completion of the formal training plan.
• Yearly salary increases during the three-year formal training plan, with increases and promotions based on successful performance and supervisory approval.
• Student loan repayment may be offered to eligible candidates, subject to a three-year service agreement.
• A recruitment incentive may be authorized.
• Leave accrual may be authorized upon request.
• Federal employees receive access to a comprehensive benefits package for employees and their families; specific eligibility depends on position type.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level