Financial Specialist, IS-0501-11/12

Application Deadline: 25 April 2025

Department: Office of the Under Secretary for Education

Employment Type: Full Time

Location: Washington, DC

Compensation: $84,601 - $131,826 / year

Description

OPEN DATE: March 26, 2025                   CLOSING DATE: April 25, 2025         POSITION TYPE: Trust FundAPPOINTMENT TYPE:  Temporary NTE 2 YearsSCHEDULE: Full Time DUTY LOCATION: Washington, DC 

Position sensitivity and riskExample: Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk

Open to all qualified applicants

What are Trust Fund Positions?Trust Fund positions are unique to the Smithsonian. They are paid for from a variety of sources, including the Smithsonian endowment, revenue from our business activities, donations, grants and contracts. Trust employees are not part of the civil service, nor does trust fund employment lead to Federal status. The salary ranges for trust positions are generally the same as for federal positions and in many cases trust and federal employees work side by side. Trust employees have their own benefit program, which may include Health, Dental & Vision Insurance, Life Insurance, Transit/Commuter Benefits, Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance, Annual and Sick Leave, Family Friendly Leave, 403b Retirement Plan, Discounts for Smithsonian Memberships, Museum Stores and Restaurants, Credit Union, Smithsonian Early Enrichment Center (Child Care), Flexible Spending Account (Health & Dependent Care).  Conditions of Employment

• Pass Pre-employment Background Check and Subsequent Background Investigation for position designated.
• Complete a Probationary Period.
• Maintain a Bank Account for Direct Deposit/Electronic Transfer.
• The position is open to all candidates eligible to work in the United States.  Proof of eligibility to work in U.S. is not required to apply.
• Applicants must meet all qualification and eligibility requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement. 

OVERVIEW

This position is organizationally located in the Office of the Under Secretary for Education, Smithsonian Institution (SI). SI is a diverse museum and research complex dedicated to the increase and diffusion of knowledge. Education has been at the core of SI’s mission since its founding in 1846, and today the Institution is committed to playing a role as one of the foremost education organizations in the country. 

This position provides a variety of financial, procurement, human resources, and administrative support services. The incumbent also aids supervisors and managers with ensuring adherence to administrative procedures and requirements.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Reconciles multiple federal, trust, grant, gift and discretionary funds.
• Assists with creating budgets, spending plans and projections, and executes programmatic budgets.
• Orders a variety of goods and services using the Enterprise Resource Management (ERP) PeopleSoft procurement system and purchase card.
• Prepares procurement packages for review and approval.
•  Prepares travel authorizations and vouchers in online system for domestic and foreign travel to include making travel arrangements, booking hotels, transportation tickets, and rental cars.
• Performs a variety of administrative tasks to include timekeeping, scheduling, file management, and handling correspondence.

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS

To qualify for this position, applicants must possess one year of specialized experience. For this position, specialized experience is defined as experience in providing administrative support functions for at least three of the following: establishing budgets; reconciling financial accounts or budgets; preparing procurement packages; processing travel arrangements, authorizations, and vouchers; and procurement via company credit card. Must also have customer service experience.

• Skill in providing budget, financial tracking, grants management, personnel, and procurement support to a major department or activity.
• Skill with using financial, procurement, and travel management systems.
• Skill providing administration and support for travel for a major department or activity.
• Skill in performing procurement functions for an organization in accordance with established policies.
• Skill communicating in writing to create procedures or correspondence while maintaining a