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Job Details for Financial Specialist

Court Name/Organization California Northern District Court
Overview of the Position Priority consideration to applicants who apply by June 20, 2025. The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California offers an exceptional work environment, offering competitive salaries and benefits, a schedule that supports work-life balance, access to an on-site fitness center, and the opportunity to join a team dedicated to upholding fairness and justice. The Financial Specialist position is based in San Francisco. Some telework is available after the orientation period. If you're ready to take the next step in your career while making a meaningful impact, we encourage you to apply today.
Location San Francisco, CA
Opening and Closing Dates 06/06/2025 - Open Until Filled
Appointment Type Permanent
Classification Level/Grade CL 25 - CL 26
Salary $61,119 - $109,364
Link to Court Careers Information https://www.cand.uscourts.gov/career-opportunities/
Announcement Number FY25-25
Link to Job Announcement

Position Description

The Financial Specialist assists in performing and coordinating administrative, technical, and professional work related to financial and accounting activities of the court, including compliance with appropriate guidelines, policies, and internal controls. The incumbent performs accounts payable and accounts receivable duties and reviews the accuracy of monies received and disbursed by the court, processes financial transactions, and maintains required records in accordance with court policies and approved internal controls.

Primary Duties:

  • Assist in maintaining, reconciling, and reviewing accounting records, consisting of a cash receipts journal, registry fund, and deposit fund, as well as subsidiary ledgers for fiscal records
  • Perform accounts payable and accounts receivable duties
  • Maintain and review the accuracy and accountability of monies received and disbursed by the court
  • Assist in the preparation, update, examination, and analysis of a variety of regular and non‐ standard reports as requested by court units, Administrative Office, U.S. Treasury, financial institutions, or other organizations or agencies
  • Adhere to appropriate internal controls for disbursement, transfer, recording, and reporting of monies
  • Review vouchers for payments related to expenses incurrent by the court for appropriateness of payment. Assist with oversight of financial operations to ensure compliance with internal controls, policies, and procedures.
  • Maintain control over unit cash registers and collect and balance cash drawers daily
  • Count monies received and process receipts and deposits in appropriate bank accounts
  • Conduct quality reviews and provide training to intake clerks regarding practices and procedures for financial transactions
  • Process and pay bills and invoices incurred in court units. Perform reconciliation of monies deposited, transferred, and disbursed by the court unit.
  • Process victim restitution payments. Maintain ledger of restitution payments and ensure that victims receive payments. Process returned checks and returned mail.
  • Provide customer service to victims and their representatives. Work with U.S. Attorney’s Office and U.S. Probation to reconcile criminal debt accounts and receivable records.
  • Receive, review, and process travel authorizations, travel vouchers and travel advance requests from judges and staff
  • Review centrally billed accounts for accuracy, reconcile and submit for payment
  • Check figures, postings, and documents for correct entry, mathematical accuracy, and proper codes

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications
To qualify at the CL-26 level, three years specialized experience including at least one-year equivalent work at the CL-25 level is required. One year of specialized experience may be substituted by a bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, business, public administration, or related field from an accredited college or university. Applicants currently at CL-24 are qualified but if selected must spend one year at the CL-25 level with satisfactory performance before being promoted to the target grade of CL-26.

Specialized Experience

At a minimum, candidates must have a high school diploma or equivalent. Two years progressively responsible clerical, office, or other work that indicates the ability to work independently and to set priorities across multiple assignments, as well as to work cooperatively in a team environment. Knowledge of and experience using SharePoint Online, Microsoft Office, and Adobe Acrobat. Ability to consistently demonstrate sound ethics and judgment. Ability to communicate effectively (orally and in writing).

Desirable Qualifications:

  • Prior federal court experience
  • A bachelor’s degree
  • Ability to meet and communicate effectively with a variety of people
  • Skill in using applicable automated systems
  • Skill in the use of 10-key calculator
  • Highly proficient in Microsoft Excel
  • Experience which reflects the applicant’s ability to work under pressure and deal with change
  • Experience with current versions of Outlook, Microsoft Word and Windows
  • Work experience that demonstrates the applicant’s ability to successfully manage multiple competing priorities, work with limited supervision, and skill in dealing with others in person- to-person work relationships
  • Proven analytical reasoning skills

Employee Benefits

The U.S. District Court is part of the federal Judicial branch of government and is independent of the Executive and Legislative branches. The court sets its own employment policies including remote work and performance management, while also valuing employees' individualism and continuing to strive towards a diverse, equitable and inclusive workplace.

Compensation will be set based on experience and qualifications pursuant to the policies and guidelines set forth in the Court Personnel System (CPS).

Judicial Branch employees are "at will” employees and are not subject to the employment regulations of competitive service. However, full-time judiciary employees are entitled to:

  • A minimum of 11 paid holidays per year
  • Paid annual leave in the amount of 13 days per year for the first three years, 20 days per year after 3 years, and 26 days per year after 15 years
  • Paid sick leave in the amount of 13 days per year
  • Federal Employees' Retirement System (FERS)
  • Commuter Benefit Program
  • Optional participation in the Thrift Savings Plan (with up to 5% employer matching contributions), the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHBP), Federal Dental and Vision Insurance Program (FEDVIP), the Federal Employees’ Group Life Insurance (FEGLI), the Flexible Benefits Program, the Commuter Benefit Program, SmartBenefits (mass transit subsidy up to $130 per month), Long-Term Care Insurance, and Professional Liability Insurance
  • Employee Assistance Program (EAP)/Work Life Services

For more information about federal court benefits, please visit: www.uscourts.gov/careers/benefits.

Miscellaneous

The Financial Specialist assists in performing and coordinating administrative, technical, and professional work related to financial and accounting activities of the court, including compliance with appropriate guidelines, policies, and internal controls. The incumbent performs accounts payable and accounts receivable duties and reviews the accuracy of monies received and disbursed by the court, processes financial transactions, and maintains required records in accordance with court policies and approved internal controls.

Primary Duties:

  • Assist in maintaining, reconciling, and reviewing accounting records, consisting of a cash receipts journal, registry fund, and deposit fund, as well as subsidiary ledgers for fiscal records
  • Perform accounts payable and accounts receivable duties
  • Maintain and review the accuracy and accountability of monies received and disbursed by the court
  • Assist in the preparation, update, examination, and analysis of a variety of regular and non‐ standard reports as requested by court units, Administrative Office, U.S. Treasury, financial institutions, or other organizations or agencies
  • Adhere to appropriate internal controls for disbursement, transfer, recording, and reporting of monies
  • Review vouchers for payments related to expenses incurrent by the court for appropriateness of payment. Assist with oversight of financial operations to ensure compliance with internal controls, policies, and procedures.
  • Maintain control over unit cash registers and collect and balance cash drawers daily
  • Count monies received and process receipts and deposits in appropriate bank accounts
  • Conduct quality reviews and provide training to intake clerks regarding practices and procedures for financial transactions
  • Process and pay bills and invoices incurred in court units. Perform reconciliation of monies deposited, transferred, and disbursed by the court unit.
  • Process victim restitution payments. Maintain ledger of restitution payments and ensure that victims receive payments. Process returned checks and returned mail.
  • Provide customer service to victims and their representatives. Work with U.S. Attorney’s Office and U.S. Probation to reconcile criminal debt accounts and receivable records.
  • Receive, review, and process travel authorizations, travel vouchers and travel advance requests from judges and staff
  • Review centrally billed accounts for accuracy, reconcile and submit for payment
  • Check figures, postings, and documents for correct entry, mathematical accuracy, and proper codes

Application Info

Applicants must submit the following:

  1. Cover letter
  2. Resume
  3. Three professional references.

To be considered for this position, visit our agency website to submit the online application, along with the above-listed documents. Please be sure to fully complete your application by providing all work history from the past 10 years. Attachments should be submitted as Microsoft Word (DOC) or Adobe Acrobat (PDF) files. Other formats are not acceptable. 

Applications will be considered complete when the online application and all required attachments, in the appropriate format, are received by the Human Resources Unit.

The federal Judiciary is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer.