MISSION SUPPORT SPECIALIST (FINANCE)

Full Job Description

Organizational Location: This position is with the Department of Homeland Security, within U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S.

Border Patrol, Laredo Sector, Laredo Sector HQ, Mission Readiness Operations, located in Laredo, TX Additional selections may be made to include other organizational divisions and/or units within the duty location(s) listed above.

Experience: You qualify for the GS-7 grade level if you possess 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level, performing duties such as: Performing basic database queries to conduct analysis of data used in reports requested by management.

Performing as a Government Purchase cardholder.

Researching applicable acquisition policies, directives, and guidance to ensure that requested items to purchase are within the scope of allowable purchase.

Reviewing all certified invoices to ensure correct and accurate billing.

Experience: You qualify for the GS-09 grade level if you possess 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level, performing duties such as: Performing monthly travel card reviews on all sector Border Patrol stations and reporting misuse and delinquencies.

Assisting in analyzing finance trends and compiling data for analysis. Assisting in developing budget briefings, project papers, budget status/dash boards and correspondence to finance manager.

Reviewing invoices for accuracy and maintaining and invoice processing database in order to track and monitor.

NOTE: Your resume must explicitly indicate how you meet this requirement, otherwise you will be found ineligible.

Please see the "Required Documents" section below for additional resume requirements.

Education Substitution: GS-07: Successful completion of one year of full-time graduate education from an accredited college or university may substitute for the experience required at this level.

This education must demonstrate the skills necessary to do this job. Check with your school to determine how many credit hours comprise a year of graduate education.

If that information is not available, use 18 semester or 27 quarter hours. -OR- GS-7: Superior Academic Achievement (SAA) may also substitute for the experience required at this level.

SAA is defined as a Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with a grade point average of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale, having a class standing in the upper third of a graduating class or major subdivision, or membership in a national scholastic honor society.

Please see www.cbp.gov for additional information. GS-09: A Master's degree, two full years of graduate education, a J.D. or an LL.B.

degree from an accredited college or university may substitute for experience required at this level. Check with your school to determine how many credit hours comprise two years of graduate education.

If that information is not available, use 36 semester or 54 quarter hours.

Combining Education and Experience: To combine your education and experience, you must convert each to a percentage, and then add the percentages.

The combined total of your percentage of education and experience must equal at least 100% in order to qualify.

If your education is currently described in quarter hours, convert the quarter hours into semester hours by multiplying the quarter hours by the fraction 2/3.

To calculate your percentage of graduate education, divide the number of graduate semester hours by 18.

To determine your percentage of qualifying experience, you must divide your total number of months of qualifying experience by the required number of months of experience.

Add your percentages of education and experience. The two percentages must total at least 100%.

NOTE: Your resume must explicitly indicate how you meet this requirement, otherwise you will be found ineligible.

Please see the "Required Documents" section below for additional resume requirements.

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; religious; 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.

You must: Meet all qualification requirements, including education if applicable to this position, subject to verification at any stage of the application process; and Meet all applicable Time in Grade requirements (current federal employees must have served 52 weeks at the next lower grade or equivalent grade band in the federal service) by 04/10/2026.

The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must authorize employment offers made to current or former political appointees.

If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES or Presidential Appointee employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the Human Resources Office.

Background Investigation: U.S.

Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is a federal law enforcement agency that requires all applicants to undergo a thorough background investigation prior to employment in order to promote the agency's core values of vigilance, service to country, and integrity.

During the screening and/or background investigation process, you will be asked questions regarding any felony criminal convictions or current felony charges, the use of illegal drugs (e.g., marijuana, cocaine, heroin, LSD, methamphetamines, ecstasy), and the use of non-prescribed controlled substances including any experimentation, possession, sale, receipt, manufacture, cultivation, production, transfer, shipping, trafficking, or distribution of controlled substances.

For additional information on the preemployment process, review the following link: Applicant Resources | CBP Careers Residency: There is a residency requirement for all applicants not currently employed by CBP.

Individuals are required to have physically resided in the United States or its protectorates (as declared under international law) for at least three of the last five years.

If you do not meet the residency requirement and you have been physically located in a foreign location for more than two of the last five years, you may request an exception to determine if you are eligible for a residency waiver by meeting one or more of the following conditions: Working for the U.S.

Government as a federal civilian or as a member of the military A dependent who was authorized to accompany a federal civilian or member of the military who was working for the U.S.

government Participation in a study abroad program sponsored by a U.S. affiliated college or university Working as a contractor, intern, consultant or volunteer supporting the U.S.

government Probationary Period: All employees new to the federal government must serve a one year probationary period during the first year of his/her initial permanent federal appointment to determine fitness for continued employment.

Current and former federal employees may be required to serve or complete a probationary period.

Agency Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) Eligibles: If you have never worked for the federal government, you are not CTAP eligible.

View information about CTAP eligibility on OPM's Career Transition Resources website. You must submit the supporting documents listed under the Required Documents section of this announcement.

To be considered well qualified under CTAP, you must be rated at a minimum score of 85 for this position. Major Duties:

In this Mission Support Specialist (Finance) role, you will become a key team member of Homeland Security individuals involved in planning and carrying out a wide variety of administrative, management and program planning activities, research and analytical duties related to the missions and functions of the Mission Readiness Operations.

This position starts at a salary of $50,460.00 (GS-07, Step 1) to $80,243.00 (GS-09, Step 10). GS Salary: Visit this link to view the locality pay tables by geographic area.

If you do not see your geographic area listed, select the "Rest of United States" pay table.

Some positions fall under a special pay rate depending on the series, grade level and location of the position. Please visit this link to view special pay rate charts.

As a Mission Support Specialist (Finance), you will serve as a point of contact and provide general advice and guidance to other USBP staff involved in the budget and financial management process.

Typical your duties will include: Planning and carrying out a wide variety of administrative, management and program planning activities.

Researching and analytical duties related to the missions and functions of the Mission Readiness Operations.

Developing new or modified administrative program work methods, approaches, or procedures for delivering effective customer services.

Assisting employees with travel issues, serving as an alternate travel preparer; reviewer, monitoring and maintaining travel budget.