Federal Housing Finance Agency Logo
Position Title
Examiner/Senior Examiner
Agency
Federal Housing Finance Agency
Announcement Number
DBR-25-07 Opens in new window
Open Period
Monday, January 6, 2025 to Tuesday, February 4, 2025
For preview purposes only. To apply, please return to the USAJOBS announcement and click the Apply button.
Eligibilities
1. Do you claim Veterans’ Preference? (limit characters)
2. Are you a veteran who separated from active duty under honorable conditions AND you:
  • have a rating by the Department of Veterans Affairs showing a compensable service-connected disability of 30% or more; OR,
  • are retired from active military service with a service-connected disability rating of 30% or more?
For more information, review veterans;  https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/working-in-government/unique-hiring-paths/veterans/.

To verify your eligibility, you must submit a copy of your latest Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, DD-214 (copy indicating character of service) or other proof of your service which includes character of service. You must also submit the disability letter from the Department of Veterans Affairs or Armed Service and the Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference, Standard Form 15.
(limit characters)
3. (1) Are you the spouse of a member of the Armed Forces who has been issued orders for a permanent change of station (PCS)? If yes, confirm you are indicated on the PCS orders; and that you:
  • have been married to the military member on or prior to the date of your spouse's PCS orders; AND
  • have not previously been appointed using this authority under these orders.
-OR-

(2) Are you the spouse of a member of the Armed Forces who retired with a disability rating of 100 percent at the time of retirement or the spouse of a member of the Armed Forces who retired or separated from the Armed Forces and has a disability rating of 100 percent from the Department of Veterans Affairs?

-OR-

(3) Are you the un-remarried widow or widower of a member of the Armed Forces killed while in active-duty status?

For more information, review USAJOBS Veterans resources.

To verify your eligibility for option 1 identified above, you must submit a copy of your spouse's active military orders, and documentation verifying your marriage (e.g., a marriage certificate).

To verify your eligibility for options 2 and 3 identified above, you must submit the Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference, Standard Form 15 and all supporting documentation identified on that document (e.g., Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, DD-214 (copy indicating character of service) or other proof of service which includes character of service; death certificate and documentation identifying marital status at the time of death; disability letter from the Department of Veterans Affairs or Armed Service, etc..
(limit characters)
4. Do you meet one of the following Competitive Merit Promotion Eligibilities:
  • Current federal employees with career or career conditional appointment in the competitive service that hold or have held a position at a lower grade level than the position being announced.
  • Transfer or Reinstatement eligibles: current federal or former employees with career or career-conditional appointments in the competitive service that hold, or have held a career or career-conditional position at a lower grade level as the position being announced; or,
  • Veterans Employment Opportunity Act (VEOA) eligibles

To verify your eligibility, you must submit supporting documentation. For example, a copy of your latest Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50 (SF-50) or equivalent personnel action form reflecting your competitive status or a copy of your latest Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, DD-214 (copy indicating character of service) or other proof of your service which includes character of service. All required documentation will be outlined in the Job Opportunity Announcement.
(limit characters)
5. Were you formerly employed as a Federal civilian employee on a permanent competitive appointment or did you obtain career-conditional status (and are within 3 years of the date of separation or are a preference eligible) and have you never held the full performance level of this position? -OR
?
Are you currently employed as a Federal civilian employee in the Competitive Service and have you never held the full performance level of this position?

To verify your eligibility as a current or former Federal civilian employee, you must submit a copy of your Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50 (SF-50) or equivalent personnel action form reflecting your permanent, competitive status. Your SF-50 (or equivalent personnel action form) must reflect:

• career or career-conditional (Tenure field is 1 or 2); AND,

• status in the competitive service (Position Occupied field is 1).
(limit characters)
6. Are you a current or former federal employee displaced from a position in a Federal agency other than the agency hiring for this position?

If yes, confirm:
• you are located in the same local commuting area of the vacancy; AND,
• you are applying to a position that is at or below the grade level of the position from which you were or will be separated; AND,
• you are applying to a position that does not have greater promotion potential than the position from which you were or will be separated; AND,
• your last performance rating of record is at least fully successful or the equivalent. For more information, review the USAJOBS Help Center

To verify your eligibility, you must submit supporting documentation such as a Reduction in Force (RIF) separation notice to include your latest performance rating (if the notice does not have this information included, you must submit a copy of your most recent performance appraisal) and a copy of your latest Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50.
(limit characters)
7. Are you a former Peace Corps volunteer or VISTA member who has completed your service within the past twelve months? -

OR

Are you a former Peace Corps volunteer or VISTA member who has completed your service within the past 36 months and are requesting an extension of your non-competitive eligibility due to your military service, status as a full-time student or other experience related to this position?

OR

Are you a current or former Peace Corps employee who has completed at least 36 months of continuous service and has been separated from the Peace Corps for less than three years?

To verify your eligibility, you must submit a copy of your description of service or other proof of non-competitive eligibility. If you are a former Peace Corps volunteer or VISTA member who is requesting an extension of your non-competitive eligibility, please also provide the necessary documentation to support your request.
(limit characters)
8. Do you meet one of the following Non-Competitive Merit Promotion Eligibilities:
  • Current federal employees with career or career conditional appointment in the competitive service that hold or have held a position at the same or higher grade level than the position being announced.
  • Disabled veteran receiving 30% or more disability compensation from the VA;
  • Transfer or reinstatement eligible: current Federal or former employee with career or career-conditional appointment in the competitive service that hold, or have previously held a career or career-conditional position at the same or higher grade level with the same or higher promotion potential as the position being announced; or,
  • Individual eligible under other non-competitive appointment authorities such as: Veterans Recruitment Authority; Military spouses under E.O. 13473; Certain former overseas employees; Present and former Peace Corps, Vista or Action volunteers; Former White House staff; Present and former Foreign Service officers and employees; Certain National Guard technicians; Schedule A; OPM Interchange Agreement and Other Miscellaneous Authorities.
To verify your eligibility, you must submit supporting documentation. For example, a copy of your latest Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, DD-214 (copy indicating character of service) or other proof of your service which includes character of service; a copy of your Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50 (SF-50); etc. All required documentation will be outlined in the Job Opportunity Announcement.
(limit characters)
9. Are you a current Excepted Service employee of a Federal Agency that has a valid interchange agreement with the Office of Personnel Management? For more information, review Interchange Agreements with Other Merit Systems.  http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/hiringinformation/competitive-hiring/#url=InterchangeAgreementsWithOtherMeritSystems 

-OR

Are you a current:
• Postal Career Service Employee;
• Postal Rate Commission Employee;
• Government Accountability Office (GAO) Employee; or,
• Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts Employee 

For more information, review Miscellaneous Authorities Not Regulated By U.S. Office of Personnel Management. [[Show “Miscellaneous Authorities Not Regulated By U.S. Office of Personnel Management” as hyperlink to www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/hiring-information/competitivehiring/#url=MiscellaneousAuthoritiesNotRegulated 

To verify your eligibility, you must submit a copy of your Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form (SF-50) reflecting your status.
(limit characters)
10. Do you have a severe physical, psychiatric or mental disability that qualifies you for a Schedule A Disability appointment?

For more information, review Individuals with Disabilities resources https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/working-in-government/unique-hiringpaths/individuals-with-disabilities.

To verify your eligibility, you must provide appropriate medical documentation, i.e., a letter signed by a licensed medical professional or licensed vocational rehabilitation specialist stating your condition and restrictions.
(limit characters)
11. Were you formerly, but not currently, employed as a Federal civilian on a permanent competitive appointment and have you never held the grade or full performance level of this position?

To verify your eligibility, you must submit a copy of your separation Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50 (SF-50) or equivalent personnel action form reflecting your permanent, competitive status.

Your separation SF-50 (or equivalent personnel action form) must reflect:

• career or career-conditional (Tenure field is 1 or 2); AND,
• your status was in the competitive service (Position Occupied field is 1).
(limit characters)
12. Are you a veteran whose latest discharge was under honorable conditions AND you:

• served three or more years of continuous active duty service in the military (Note: if released shortly before completing a 3-year tour, you are considered to meet the eligibility); OR,
• are entitled to veterans' preference?

For more information, review USAJOBS Veterans resources. 

To verify your eligibility, you must submit a copy of your latest Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, DD-214 (copy indicating character of service) or other proof of service which includes character of service.
(limit characters)
Preferences
1. Select the lowest grade you are willing to accept for this position. (limit characters)
2. FHFA is currently hiring for specialty examiners in the following functional areas. Please select those functional fields in which you are interested and qualified: (limit characters)
3.

In the last five years (from the closing date of this announcement) have you served, or are you currently serving, as an Executive Branch Political, Schedule C, or Non-career Senior Executive Services appointee? You can find out if you have held one of these appointment types by looking at the SF-50s in your Electronic Official Personnel Folder (eOPF), in Section 5 where the legal authorities are listed.

  • A political appointee is an appointment made by the President without confirmation by the Senate (5 CFR 213.3102(c)) OR an assistant position to a top-level federal official if filled by a person designated by the President as a White House Fellow (5 CFR 213.3102(z)).
  • A Schedule C appointee occupies a position excepted from the competitive service by the President, or by the Director of OPM, because of the confidential or policy-determining nature of the position duties (5 CFR 213.3301 and 5 CFR 213.3302).
  • A Non-career SES appointee is approved by the White House and serves at the pleasure of the appointing official without time limitations (5 CFR 317 Subpart F).
(limit characters)
Assessment 1
Thank you for applying to the Examiner/Senior Examiner position located in the Division of FHLBank Regulation (DBR) at the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA). You will be evaluated on your responses to this assessment questionnaire; then, we will compare your responses against your resume and supporting documentation. Please Note: Your resume MUST clearly identify the dates that support your experience (month/year) and the number of hours per week worked for each position. (limit characters)
1. Basic Requirement: To be eligible for the 0570 series, you must meet one of the three basic entry requirements as described below. Please select the response that describes your education or experience.

If you select option "A" you must provide transcripts with your application. Failure to provide transcripts will remove you from the hiring process.
(limit characters)
2. Minimum Qualifications EL-12: This section will be used to determine if you possess the specialized experience needed to qualify for this position. From the description below, choose the letter beside the statement that BEST describes your background relevant to this position at the EL-12 grade level. (limit characters)
3. Minimum Qualifications EL-13: This section will be used to determine if you possess the specialized experience needed to qualify for this position. From the description below, choose the letter beside the statement that BEST describes your background relevant to this position at the EL-13 grade level.
(limit characters)
Select the one statement that most accurately describes your training and experience carrying out each task using the scale provided. (limit characters)
4. I have assessed the short and long-term viability of financial institutions, evaluating their stability, identifying, and explaining positive and negative trends, and assessing the financial impact of strategic changes.
(limit characters)
5. I have conducted risk-based examinations and assessed the quality and effectiveness of risk management practices, performance, and operations at a financial institution.
(limit characters)
Select “Yes” or “No” to the following question(s). (limit characters)
6. I have examined at least two (2) of the following: corporate governance, sensitivity to market risk, credit risk, information technology, operational risk, financial performance, model risk, or other areas of potential risk at financial institutions with asset sizes greater than $1 billion.
(limit characters)
7. I have led or participated in reviews of capital markets activities (such as sensitivity to market risk, liquidity risk, derivatives, or balance sheet hedging strategies).
(limit characters)
8. I have led or participated in reviews of information technology activities (such as cloud computing, enterprise architecture, decision support models, asset management, or systems development activities).
(limit characters)
9. I have led or participated in reviews of accounting matters (such as CECIL, OTTI, SOX, or bond accounting).
(limit characters)
10. I am a credentialed expert (e.g., holder of industry recognized credential such as a CPA, CFA, CIDA, CISA, CISSP, CIA, or other similar credential) with experience in Accounting, Market Risk, or Operational Risk (to include IT/IS).
(limit characters)
11. I have participated in the preparation of reports, key strategy documents, or offsite analysis for financial institutions.
(limit characters)
12. I have participated in all phases of the examination, auditing, or risk consulting process at a financial institution as Examiner-In-Charge, Lead Auditor, or Lead Consultant including the planning, execution, and reporting phases of the examination cycle.
(limit characters)
13. I have participated in presentations to board of directors or senior management of financial institutions. These presentations involve obtaining corrective action from the board of directors or senior management.
(limit characters)
14. I have discussed issues or concerns with management of financial institutions. These discussions focus on identifying root causes of problems and raising potential methods for correcting the issues or concerns.
(limit characters)
15. I have communicated examination findings and their basis to senior management to elicit management's views.
(limit characters)
16. I have presented technical matters to audiences of non-technical individuals or more either in person or virtually.
(limit characters)
17. I have prepared written findings/reports and conclusion presentations to senior management.
(limit characters)
18. I have analyzed issues, drew conclusions, formulated recommendations, and prepared findings memoranda within established timeframes.
(limit characters)
19. I have participated in drafting supervision and examination guidance on supervisory issues in risk areas.
(limit characters)
20. I have written a report of examination, audit report, or consulting report that involved refining contributions from multiple team members.
(limit characters)
21. I have participated in group projects and have been independently responsible for completing procedures and documents essential to the group's success.
(limit characters)
22. I have managed relationships and communications with stakeholders of significant engagements, projects, or examinations, including engaging and influencing stakeholders when appropriate.
(limit characters)
23. I have led or co-led working groups, special projects, process improvement efforts, and change management activities where I was responsible for building consensus within my organization.
(limit characters)
24. Certification of Application: I understand that the responses I selected in this questionnaire must be fully supported by detailed descriptions of my work experiences in my resume. If my responses are not supported by my resume, the human resources office will rate my application based on the level of competency demonstrated in my resume. (If you select "No" to this question you will be removed from consideration.)
(limit characters)