Finance & Accounting

As one of the largest federal agencies, Social Security definitely has the challenges you are looking for in our Budget and Finance offices! At Social Security, budget and financial management are integral to our success in serving the American public. Employees with financial responsibilities work throughout the agency, and there are several offices that have agency-level fiscal responsibilities.

Our agency’s broad financial responsibilities include administering comprehensive budget policy, and estimating, securing, and managing the financial resources needed to deliver high-quality customer service to the public. Program responsibilities include debt management and the domestic and international direct deposit of monthly payments. Operational responsibilities include program accounting, cost analysis, payment and travel operations, and preparation of agency annual financial statements. The variety of our finance and budget positions offers something for everyone!

Our Headquarters in Baltimore, Maryland is home to the Office of Budget, Finance and Management, and to the majority of our agency-level budget and finance positions.

Additional employees with budget or financial responsibilities are located in each component at Headquarters and in regional and area offices throughout the country.

Generally, we look for candidates with a minimum of a Bachelor’s Degree or an equivalent in work experience in the business, budget, or financial fields. Entry-level positions begin at the GS-7 and GS-9 levels. New employees receive on-the-job and classroom training, and perform functions in a variety of financial fields. Occasionally we hire for professional positions at the GS-11, GS-12, or GS-13 level. Positions may include:

Financial Management Analysts

Financial Management Analysts are responsible for administrative payment and travel operations. They prepare agency financial reports, including annual financial statements, financial policies, and procedures.

Accountants

Accountants perform accounting and systems analysis, and record financial transactions related to the agency assets, liabilities, and expenditures. Our accountants assist in the control of agency funds and monitor transactions entered in the financial accounting systems.

Budget Analysts

Budget Analysts develop and analyze cost estimates for our administrative and program budgets, provide justifications for program enactment, and manage the financial resources that Congress appropriates to the agency.

IT Specialists

IT Specialists provide systems analysis and support for the design, development, and implementation of our financial management systems. IT Specialists also integrate the systems with related administrative processes, including applications to support core accounting, travel management, payroll, and cost analysis functions.

We typically look for candidates with the following qualifying skills and/or work experience:

Strong oral and written communication skills

Strong analytical skills with an attention to detail

Accounting, Math, Finance, and Business coursework or comparable experience

Compensation levels for our challenging budget and finance positions are very competitive with private industry. Our compensation packages recognize your skills gained through both work experience and academic accomplishments.

Entry-level positions begin at the GS-7 and GS-9 levels. New employees receive on-the-job and classroom training, and perform functions in a variety of financial areas. Occasionally we hire for professional positions at the GS-11, GS-12, or GS-13 level.

Grade levels for each available position are posted in the vacancy announcements on the www.ssa.usajobs.gov site. To compare salaries at different grades or Locality Pay Areas, go to the General Schedule and Locality Pay section by clicking on this link: Salaries & Wages.

Many budget and finance employees move up to become team leaders, managers, and senior executives as they gain valuable experience and leadership skills. A number of our agency financial experts have expanded their careers by moving into positions of higher responsibility with other agency components.