Summary This position is located in the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Veterans Health Administration (VHA), Mid Atlantic Health Care Network (VISN 6), Hampton VA Medical Center (VAMC), in Environmental Management Service (EMS). This position's primary responsibility is to prepare time and leave records for Environmental Management Service employees. The incumbent's responsibilities also include preparation of reports, minutes, and memorandums in final form, without prior typed drafts. Responsibilities Duties include, but may not be limited to the following: Serving as facility technical payroll expert to VAMC staff and provide data, reports, guidance, and resolution to payroll issues across the VAMC. Independently researching, resolving, and responding to routine and occasional non-routine verbal and written pay and leave inquiries from employees, supervisors, Financial Service Center (FSC), HR, Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN) and VA Central Office (VACO) staff. Determining proper application of pay and leave regulations, laws, rules and agency policies, guidelines, coding, etc. for each separate pay plan involved and appropriate leave system impacted. Interpreting and apply regulations and policies regarding appointment entitlements, leave earnings, charges of leave, leave w/o pay, advance sick leave and compensatory time. Using knowledge of varying premium pay and benefit entitlements for employee specific pay plans when implementing tours of duty regulations and/or policies to include 24-hour coverage, irregular, compressed and/or flex tours, etc. Performing full range of payroll actions under multiple automated systems for employees appointed under different personnel systems with each having unique pay accounts and governing regulations/policies relating to the Federal Wage System, (FWS) General Schedule (GS) title 5 including special salary rates, title 38, title 38 hybrids, law enforcement and firefighter pay, Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), title 38 overtime, irregular tours of duty, etc. Resolving system discrepancies which may result in initiating the employee debt process or back pay. Updating employees' master payroll records to reflect all changes authorized by personnel documents. Reviewing and work unique payroll actions, questions, or situations which impact: pay; leave; entitlements; taxes; benefits; other deductions and master pay record information for all employees in the group during the pay cycle. Managing annual refresher training for all timekeepers and supervisors. Answering routine and occasional non-routine procedural questions relative to time and leave laws, regulations, procedures and resolve problems to ensure accurate and timely pay. Assisting in resolving issues with court orders, grievances, and/or public laws. Reviewing authorized documents and code appropriate data for input into integrated personnel and fiscal automated systems to properly update employee master records. Reviewing all personnel actions in HR Smart related to; hiring appointments; separations; reassignments; promotions; pay adjustments; awards and other authorizing documents that affect pay and benefits of employees. Running daily reports to ensure all facility employees' pay is correct. Auditing all employee type of pay and leave accounts to identify and correct delinquent and/or erroneous personnel actions or time-keeping errors. Posts, examines, computes and balances hours on time and leave records and any of the other required bi-weekly, monthly, quarterly and annual reports using the VATAS system. Computes and records man-hours worked from certified time schedules and is responsible for mathematical accuracy as well as applying criteria for recording of hours. Interprets and applies regulations regarding appointment entitlement, leave earnings, charges of leave, posting legal holidays, leave without pay, advance sick leave, minimum charges, compensatory time, Continuation of Pay, sickness occurring while absent on annual leave, liquidation of advance leave, leave transfer program, authorized absence, court leave, excused leave, military leave, and leave in conjunction with travel. Determines appropriateness of hours being charged and types of special pay. Performs other related duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 7:30am-4:00pm 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. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Time & Leave Clerk/PD028120 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Requirements Conditions of Employment You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job. All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA. Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959. Must be proficient in written and spoken English. You may be required to serve a probationary period. Subject to background/security investigation. Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Must pass pre-employment physical examination. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details. Qualifications To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 01/06/2025. You may qualify based on your experience and/or education or combination of experience & education as described below: Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-4 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: maintaining documentation regarding leave and pay, resolving and answering questions regarding timecard issues, keying, verifying overtime, holiday pay, etc., printing time and attendance reports, etc. OR, Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have 4 years above high school. (Successfully completed education above the high school level in any field for which high school graduation or the equivalent is the normal prerequisite is creditable) OR, Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have an combination of specialized experience and education beyond high school. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Attention to Detail Computer Skills Problem Solving 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: Regular and recurring work is mostly sedentary involving sitting at a desk. The incumbent works with a computer screen and keyboard. Some physical effort such as standing, walking, bending or prolonged sitting may be required. The work places no special physical demands on the employee. 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. 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. Additional Information This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. Pursuant to VHA Directive 1193.01, VHA health care personnel (HCP) are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 subject to such accommodations as required by law (i.e., medical, religious or pregnancy). VHA HCPs do not include remote workers who only infrequently enter VHA locations. If selected, you will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination before your start date. The agency will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request a legally required accommodation from this requirement using the reasonable accommodation process. Due to COVID-19, VA is currently in an expanded telework posture. If selected, you may be expected to temporarily telework, even if your home is located outside the local commuting area. Once employees are permitted to return to the office, you will be expected to report to the duty station listed on this announcement. Management officials will provide information about returning to the official, pre-pandemic worksite, when applicable. At that time, you may be eligible to request to continue to telework depending upon the terms of your organization's telework policy and the duties of the position. Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the compliant process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act. If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.