This position is located in the Beneficiary Travel Program within the Business Office of the James J. Peters VA Medical Center, Bronx, NY.
To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 10/20/2025. 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-06 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-05. 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. Note: Note: Failure to provide an SF-50 that demonstrates one-year time-in-grade will result in disqualification from being considered. You may qualify based on your experience as described below: Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-05 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Experience in office automation to include software applications such as word processing, spreadsheet and other electronic equipment to perform data entry when processing reimbursement claims; Managing multiple fund control points, including tracking funds, keeping accurate records, reconciling accounts, and making balance adjustments; Setting up and maintaining organized filing or record systems; and identifying key details in assignments to solve problems, follow travel policies, and respond to customer issues such as delays, losses, or complaints. NOTE: Such experience MUST be well represented in resume. Failure to do so will results in a Non-Qualification Determination. TYPING PROFICIENCY REQUIREMENT: 40 words per minute typing speed. 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/.
Duties may include but are not limited to: Determining method of payment for authorized and unauthorized ambulance claims submitted for consideration; Receives invoices for payment of transportation services; Responsible for forwarding all invoices certified for payment to Fiscal Service for processing; Acts as liaison between vendors and Fiscal Service for invoices pending payment; Writes or selects appropriate letters explaining disposition of unauthorized travel claims; Responsible for balancing, reconciling, and adjusting invoices for payment; Assisting the Supervisor and Chief, Business Office with preparing documents and monthly account synopsis for contracting officials; Arranging all modes of transportation via air ambulance, commercial air, taxi, ambulance, bus and/or independent transports; Corresponds with physician, traveler, and vendor to determine the most dependable and economical mode or transportation; Prepares appropriate documentation and/or scheduling for traveler according to government rates or substantial rates; Makes special arrangements per physician documentation according to traveler's medical condition and/or preference; Secures reservations and tickets from carriers; Maintains communications with receiving facilities regarding beneficiaries return travel arrangements; Reviews requests for reimbursement of travel costs for the purpose of assuring compliance with regulations and procedures, completeness, accuracy, internal consistency, and agreement with basic authorization; Reconciles vouchers against authorizations for accuracy prior to preparing certifications for payment; Communicating and interacting with patients in a manner which is appropriate; and Regular and recurring contact with personnel external to the agency for the obtainment of services, sharing of information and authorization. clarification or denial of payment. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00am - 4:30pm Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Travel Benefit Assistant (Transportation Assistant OA)/PD55691A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized