Computer Research Analyst

Duties

WHAT IS THE LARGE BUSINESS AND INTERNATIONAL (LB&I)DIVISION?

A description of the business units can be found at: https://www.jobs.irs.gov/about/who/business-divisions

Vacancies will be filled in the following specialty areas:

Large Business and International Office of Program and Business Solutions, Communications & Liaison (C&L).

The following are the duties of this position at the full working level.

• Monitors current and emerging automation and technology trends, investigating new computer technologies while ensuring computer security and taxpayer privacy.

• Plans and conducts computer automation application to compliance research studies. The incumbent develops and initiates sound solutions through effective application of principles of computer methodology and technology as well as tax law knowledge.

• Plans, initiates and conducts compliance research and research evaluations. Assumes a leadership role in the analysis and development of automated research techniques and methods to support the business unit.
  
  Initiates and coordinates automated research activities that will culminate in the development of solutions to compliance research information system problems. Maintains thorough knowledge of commercial computing technology.

• Provides computer assistance to staff and researchers. This includes review and analysis of reports, proposals, programs and research results; the conceptual design and evaluation of research systems or project specifications; and general automation assistance.

• Develops, tests, implements, modifies and maintains generalized utility software systems including relational database software, and applications utilities which are to benefit the compliance research information system user.

If this position has promotion potential and you are selected at a grade level lower than the full working level, you may be non-competitively promoted to more complex duties and work more independently, as your career progresses. For example, you may be hired as a GS-05, but if the position has promotion potential to GS-11, then you can move from a GS-05 to a GS-11 in as little as three years. Promotions are not automatic, and may occur after you have:

• met time-in-grade requirements;
• performed at an acceptable level of competence; and
• demonstrated your ability to perform work at the next higher grade level.

Help

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

STANDARD POSITION DESCRIPTIONS (SPD):

PD97750, PD97749, and PD97748

Visit the IRS SPD Library to access the position descriptions.

• Telework Eligible Positions: Telework eligible positions do not guarantee telework.
  
  Employees must meet and sustain IRS telework eligibility requirements (e.g., reporting at least twice a pay period to your assigned Post of Duty (POD)) and supervisor's approval to participate in the IRS Telework Program. Employees must also be within a 200-mile radius of their official assigned post-of-duty (POD) while in a telework status. As a reminder

• If you are selected for a position, you are responsible for reporting to your designated POD (location) on the negotiated start date or as directed by management.

• Obtain and use a Government-issued charge card for business-related travel.

Qualifications

Federal experience is not required. The experience may have been gained in the public sector, private sector or Volunteer Service.

One year of experience refers to full-time work; part-time work is considered on a prorated basis. To ensure full credit for your work experience, please indicate dates of employment by month/year, and indicate number of hours worked per week, on your resume.

You must meet the following requirements by the closing date of this announcement:

EDUCATION/SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE GS-09: To be eligible for this position at this grade level, you must have one (1) year of specialized experience at a level of difficulty and responsibility equivalent to the GS-07 grade level in the Federal service.

Specialized experience for this position includes: Experience in theories, methods and techniques of computerized research to perform research projects through effective application of principles of computer methodology and technology; Experience conducting technology application projects of significant scope and complexity when they require some modification and adaptation of standard practices and procedures; Experience in solving problems relating to hardware-software and IRS related data base interfaces at various levels of research systems integration; Experience in sections of the Internal Revenue Code, Treasury Regulations and administrative provisions relating to preparation and handling of tax returns and tax-related data; Experience in automated data processing theories and practices as they apply to research such as database management, numerical/statistical analysis, graphics and data presentation, software engineering, operating systems and algorithmic analysis; Experience in the most current, state-of-the-art, and latest developments in computer software and hardware that can be used to enhance and facilitate research efforts. OR EDUCATION:

A master's or equivalent graduate degree in a related field of study at an accredited college or university. OR Two (2) full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading a master's degree in a related field of study. One (1) year of graduate education is creditable in accordance with its relationship to a year of full-time study at the school attended.

OR LL.B. or J.D., if related.

OR COMBINATION OF EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE: A combination of qualifying graduate education and experience equivalent to the amount required.

EDUCATION/SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE GS-11: To be eligible for this position at this grade level, you must have one (1) year of specialized experience at a level of difficulty and responsibility equivalent to the GS-09 grade level in the Federal service.

Specialized experience for this position includes: A wide range of theories, methods and techniques of computerized research to perform research projects through effective application of principles of computer methodology and technology; Experience in technology application and computer programming in the area of IRS tax related data bases, tax compliance and statistical research (e.g.; SAS and SPSS); Experience in sections of the Internal Revenue Code, Treasury Regulations and administrative provisions relating to preparation and handling of tax returns and tax-related data; Experience in automated data processing theories and practices as they apply to research such as database management, numerical/statistical analysis, graphics and data presentation, software engineering, operating systems and algorithmic analysis; Experience in the most current, state-of-the-art, and latest developments in computer software and hardware that can be used to enhance and facilitate research efforts. OR EDUCATION:

A Ph.D., or equivalent doctoral degree. OR Three (3) full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree. OR LL.M., if related.

OR COMBINATION OF EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE: You may qualify with an equivalent combination of education and experience.

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE GS-12: To be eligible for this position at this grade level, you must have one (1) year of specialized experience at a level of difficulty and responsibility equivalent to the GS-11 grade level in the Federal service.

Specialized experience for this position includes: A wide range of theories, methods and techniques of computerized research to perform research projects through effective application of principles of computer methodology and technology; Experience in technology application and computer programming in the area of IRS tax related data bases, tax compliance and statistical research (e.g.; SAS and SPSS); Experience in sections of the Internal Revenue Code, Treasury Regulations and administrative provisions relating to preparation and handling of tax returns and tax-related data; Experience in automated data processing theories and practices as they apply to research such as database management, numerical/statistical analysis, graphics and data presentation, software engineering, operating systems and algorithmic analysis; Experience in using the scientific method to creatively solve problems relating to hardware, software, or database interfaces (e.g., networking, graphics, statistics, demographics and peripherals).

AND

MEET TIME IN GRADE (TIG) REQUIREMENT: You must meet applicable TIG requirements to be considered eligible.

To meet TIG for positions above the GS-05 grade level, you must have served at least one year (52 weeks) at the next lower grade (or equivalent) in the normal line of progression for the position you are applying to. Advancement to positions up to GS-05 is permitted if the position to be filled is no more than two grades above the lowest grade held within the preceding 52 weeks.

AND

TIME AFTER COMPETITIVE APPOINTMENT: By the closing date (or if this is an open continuous announcement, by the cut-off date) specified in this job announcement, current civilian employees must have completed at least 90 days of federal civilian service since their latest non-temporary appointment from a competitive referral certificate, known as time after competitive appointment. For this requirement, a competitive appointment is one where you applied to and were appointed from an announcement open to "All US Citizens".

For more information on qualifications please refer to OPM's Qualifications Standards.

Education

A copy of your transcripts or equivalent documentation is required for positions with an education requirement, or if you are qualifying based on education or a combination of education and experience. An official transcript will be required if you are selected.

If the position has specific education requirements and you currently hold, or have previously held, a position in the same job series with the IRS, there is no need to submit a transcript or equivalent at this time. Applicants are encouraged, but are not required, to submit an SF-50 documenting experience in a specific series.

A college or university degree generally must be from an accredited (or pre-accredited) college or university recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. For a list of schools which meet these criteria, please refer to Department of Education Accreditation page.

FOREIGN EDUCATION: Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the requirements.

You must show proof the education credentials have been deemed to be at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S. education program. It is your responsibility to provide such evidence when applying. Click here for Foreign Education Credentialing instructions.

Additional information

• We may select from this announcement or any other source to fill one or more vacancies. Additional jobs may be filled.

• The salary range indicated in this announcement reflects the minimum locality pay up to maximum locality pay for all duty locations listed. The range will be adjusted for selected duty location. General Schedule locality pay tables may be found under Salaries & Wages.

• This is a bargaining unit position.

• Tour of Duty: Day Shift

• Start and stop times between 6:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m.

• Alternative work schedule, staggered work hours or telework may be available.

• In the event that a building is closed due to rent management, new hires may be placed in a local commuting location.

• Pay retention may be offered based on applicable laws and regulations.

Please consider each location carefully when applying. If you are selected for a position at one of your location selections, that location will become your official post of duty.

Read more