The Program Analyst (Managerial Cost Accounting and Analytics or MCAA) is responsible for providing operational support to the VA Midwest Health Care Network. The employee will utilize advanced analytical techniques, strong analytical abilities, and critical thinking skills in support of the MCAA program and its role in VA managerial cost accounting.

Duties

This position involves a multi-grade career ladder. The major duties listed below represent the full performance level of GS-11. At the GS-09 grade level, you will perform assignments of a more limited scope and with less independence. You will progressively acquire the background necessary to perform at the full performance level of GS-11. Promotion is at the discretion of the supervisor and is contingent upon satisfactory performance, availability of higher-level work, and availability of funds. Major duties include but are not limited to: Performing tasks associated with the operations and maintenance of MCAA. Interpret, apply, and guide implementation of new policies. Maintain accurate records of all activities through extensive reviews, audits, and service feedback. Define problems found in the management of the MCAA program in order to devise solutions or propose alternate courses of action. Collect and integrate cost allocation information from clinical managers and line supervisors to produce accurate distribution of direct salary and all other costs to specific production units. Investigate and correct rejects in MCAA. Advise medical center staff on data issues. Develop and use established analytical techniques and precedent studies to gather narrative or statistical information. Analyze biweekly payroll records, supply utilization, equipment depreciation, contracts, and all other costs used in medical center functions. Analyze existing automated and manual systems to determine the clinical and financial information presently available for processing. Builds and prepares reports on spreadsheets. Perform system tests and validation processes to ensure the system is properly functioning after each programming change. Ensure accuracy of data being processed by performing routine and non-routine audits. Apply analytical and evaluative methods and techniques to issues or studies concerning the efficiency and effectiveness of medical center operations. Design report formats based on discussions with management, Service Chiefs, and Supervisors. Provide training and education on MCAA for staff. Promotion Potential: The selectee may be promoted to the full performance level without further competition when all regulatory, qualification, and performance requirements are met. Selection at a lower grade level does not guarantee promotion to the full performance level. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00am - 4:30pm Telework: VA supports the use of telework as a way to help attract and retain talented individuals in public service, increase worker productivity, and better prepare the agency to operate during emergencies. This position may be authorized for telework. Telework eligibility will be discussed during the interview process. Position Description/PD#: Program Analyst (Managerial Cost Accounting and Analytics)/PD23276A and PD23277A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required Bargaining Unit Position: Yes - AFGE The VA Midwest Health Care Network advocates for a Whole Health System of care in each of the Medical Centers. This is an approach to healthcare that empowers and equips people to take charge of their health and well-being and live their lives to the fullest. As an employee operating in a Whole Health System of care, you will operate in a model with three core elements, seeking to create a personalized health plan for each Veteran. This is done in the context of healing relationships and healing environments and a connection back to the Veteran's community. This aligns with the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Mission Statement to Honor America's Veterans by providing exceptional health care that improves their health and well-being.

Requirements

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 10/19/2023. Time-In-Grade Requirement: Applicants who are current Federal employees and have held a GS grade any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement. For a GS-09 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-07. For a GS-11 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-09. The grade may have been in any occupation, but must have been held in the Federal service. An SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials. If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate you possess one-year time-in-grade, as required by the announcement. In this instance, you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one-year time-in-grade. Minimum Qualifications: You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below: GS-09 (Developmental) Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade (GS-07) in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: providing operational support to service line staff within a medical center and/or VISN; assisting with the implementation of new policies; gathering narrative and/or statistical information; compiling reports from various automated systems; preparing oral presentations; and assisting with presenting or creating training or education for a variety of groups. OR, Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have a master's (or equivalent) degree or 2 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree in a subject area directly related to the position to be filled. (TRANSCRIPTS REQUIRED). OR, Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have a combination of specialized experience and education beyond the first year. GS-11 (Full Performance) You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade, GS-09, in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include but are not limited to: providing operational support to service line staff within a medical center and/or VISN; guiding the implementation of new policies; gathering narrative and/or statistical information; analyzing/compiling financial data or reports from various automated systems; auditing reports or workload data for accuracy, trends, or variances; applying analytical and evaluative methods to issues or studies concerning efficiency and effectiveness of medical center operations; preparing oral presentations on objectives, methods, or statuses of data/reports to managers/other personnel; and providing training or education to a variety of groups. Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have a PhD (or equivalent) degree or 3 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree in a subject area directly related to the position to be filled. (TRANSCRIPTS REQUIRED) OR, Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have a combination of specialized experience and education beyond two years of graduate education. NOTE: Please see the Education section of this announcement for additional information on substituting education. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Analytical ReasoningInterpersonal EffectivenessManages and Organizes Information Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Note: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment. Physical Requirements: You will be asked to participate in a pre-employment examination or evaluation as part of the pre-employment process for this position. Questions about physical demands or environmental factors may be addressed at the time of evaluation or examination. For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/.

Education

A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education. Transcripts must be legible and contain sufficient information (e.g., student name, name of institution, total number of credits completed, etc.) to show you meet the requirements as specified in the announcement.

To receive credit for your education when a master's degree has not been achieved, your transcripts must show evidence of progress through a set curriculum, i.e., it is part of a program leading to a master's or higher degree and not education consisting of undergraduate and/or continuing education courses that do not lead to an advanced degree.

An academic year of graduate education is considered to be the number of credit hours that the school attended has determined to represent 1 academic year of full-time study. This determination is made based on normal course loads for a full year of study in the graduate program. If that information cannot be obtained from your transcript or other official documentation, 18 semester hours or 27 quarter hours should be considered as satisfying the 1 year of full-time study requirement. Part-time graduate education is creditable in accordance with its relationship to a year of full-time study at the school attended.

When academic credit is expressed in contract months, units, or other terms that differ from conventional semester or quarter hours, it is the responsibility of the applicant to provide an interpretation of such credits from the appropriate institution in order to equate them to the semester or quarter hours specified in the standard.

To credit combinations of education and experience, HR staff will first determine the applicant's total qualifying experience as a percentage of the experience required for the grade level. Next, HR staff determine the applicant's education as a percentage of the education required for the grade level. Finally, HR staff will add the two percentages. The total percentage must equal at least 100 percent to qualify. For example:

• An applicant has 6 months of specialized experience equivalent to GS-7 and 1 year of graduate level education. The applicant meets 50 percent of the required experience but none of the required education since he or she does not have any graduate study beyond one full year of graduate level education. Therefore, the applicant meets only 50 percent of the total requirement and is not qualified for the position. (The applicant's first year of graduate study is not qualifying for GS-9.)

Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html.

Contacts

• Address VISN 23 Directors Office 2805 Dodd Road Suite 250 Minneapolis, MN 55121 US
• Name: Sarah Drey
• Phone: 319-339-7047
• Email: [email protected]