Become the Chief Financial Officer for the VA Connecticut Healthcare System

In the realm of public service, few sectors demand as much operational precision and strategic oversight as federal healthcare finance. Managing resources that directly impact the health, recovery, and well-being of our nation's military veterans is both a profound honor and an intricate professional challenge. The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), through the Veterans Health Administration, is seeking a seasoned executive to serve as the Financial Manager (Chief Financial Officer) for the VA Connecticut Healthcare System (VACHCS) located in West Haven, Connecticut. This GS-14 position represents a remarkable opportunity for a high-performing finance leader to direct major fiscal initiatives and ensure optimal care delivery to thousands of veterans across the region.

As the final authority on all accounting, budgeting, and resource allocation policies within the facility, the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) plays a pivotal role in the executive leadership team. This article provides a comprehensive overview of the role, details the specific qualifications required, examines the generous compensation and benefits package, and offers essential guidance on how to successfully navigate the federal application process.

About the Agency: The Veterans Health Administration

The Veterans Health Administration is the largest integrated healthcare network in the United States, providing comprehensive medical care to millions of veterans. At its core, the VA operates under a noble mission inspired by President Abraham Lincoln: "To care for those who have served in our nation's military and for their families, caregivers, and survivors."

To fulfill this calling, the VA has established five core values, commonly referred to as the "I CARE" principles:

• Integrity: Acting with high moral character and adhering to ethical standards.
• Commitment: Working diligently to serve veterans and their beneficiaries.
• Advocacy: Championing the needs of veterans and putting their interests first.
• Respect: Treating everyone with dignity, equity, and appreciation.
• Excellence: Striving for the highest quality in clinical care, administration, and customer service.

By joining VACHCS, you will be part of a highly advanced system that blends clinical care with deep research and academic partnerships. For financial executives, this translates to working within a complex, multi-layered environment where every strategic budget allocation directly supports life-saving medical care and rehabilitation programs.

Job Responsibilities

The Chief Financial Officer provides direct administrative and technical oversight to a diverse, multi-functional Fiscal Service team. Acting as the senior advisor to the Medical Center Director, Associate Medical Center Director, and the wider Executive Leadership Team, the CFO is responsible for the financial architecture of the entire healthcare system.

Key responsibilities include:

• Fiscal Operations Leadership: Overseeing general ledger accounting, facility budgeting, payroll operations, agent cashier actions, voucher audits, accounts receivable, fee-basis programs, and general post funds.
• Personnel Management: Providing direct supervision to the Deputy CFO and technical direction to multiple subordinate supervisors. The CFO establishes performance standards, hears grievances, recommends hires, evaluates performance, and implements Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) policies.
• Strategic Planning: Participating actively in facility financial planning and resource forecasting, aligning expenditures with the strategic objectives of the VA Connecticut Healthcare System.
• VISN Collaboration: Serving as an active member of the Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN) Finance Budget Committee. In this capacity, the CFO helps formulate funding distributions, budget reserves, policy updates, and financial strategies across the network.
• Accounting System Design: Engineering and optimizing complex automated financial systems across multiple clinical and administrative operating sites, ensuring strict alignment with federal laws and statutory guidelines.

Requirements & Qualifications

To qualify for this critical leadership role, applicants must meet rigid educational, professional, and regulatory criteria by the closing date of the announcement.

Educational Requirements (Individual Occupational Requirement)

Applicants must satisfy one of two primary pathways to prove they possess professional-level accounting knowledge:

1. A Professional Degree: A bachelor's or higher degree in accounting, or a closely related field (such as finance, business administration, or public administration) that included or was supplemented by at least 24 semester hours of accounting and auditing coursework (up to 6 hours of business law may be counted).
2. Combination of Education and Experience: At least four years of professional accounting experience, combined with a robust educational background. This background must include one of the following:
   • At least 24 semester hours in accounting or auditing courses;
   • A valid certificate as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) or Certified Internal Auditor (CIA); or
   • A combination of substantial accounting coursework (at least 15 semester hours) and a formal evaluation by a professional accounting panel confirming equivalent knowledge.

Specialized Experience

In addition to academic qualifications, candidates must have at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-13 grade level in the federal service. Examples of qualifying experience include:

• Designing, adapting, or installing automated accounting systems in complex corporate or public-sector environments.
• Developing advanced auditing methods to analyze integrated financial and operational programs.
• Managing, controlling, and planning budgets for a large hospital, healthcare network, or multi-site organization.
• Overseeing complex financial processes, including workload/cost analyses and general ledger reviews.

Education Pathway Comparison

Feature / Metric	Option 1: Degree Pathway	Option 2: Education & Experience Combo
Primary Degree Field	Accounting, Finance, Business, or Public Admin	Any field, supplemented by professional experience
Accounting Coursework	Minimum 24 semester hours	Minimum 24 semester hours (or 15 hours + panel evaluation)
Work Experience	Not strictly required if degree is held (though GS-13 specialized experience still applies)	Minimum 4 years of professional accounting experience
Alternative Credentials	N/A	Active CPA or CIA certification meets education requirements

Salary Overview & Location

The position offers a highly competitive annual salary range of $148,222 to $192,694 (GS-14 equivalent). This salary includes locality-based comparability adjustments for the West Haven, Connecticut region. Additionally, the VA may authorize a Recruitment Incentive or Relocation Incentive to attract highly qualified, top-tier financial talent to the facility.

West Haven is situated beautifully on the Connecticut coast, offering an excellent quality of life, outstanding schools, historic charm, and easy access to both New York City and Boston.

Benefits

Working for the federal government, and the VA in particular, comes with a legendary suite of employment benefits designed to support your health, financial security, and work-life harmony:

• Retirement Security: Coverage under the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS), which features a defined-benefit pension alongside the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP). The government matches up to 5% of TSP contributions.
• Comprehensive Health Insurance: Access to the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) program, offering a wide array of premium healthcare, dental, and vision plans.
• Generous Paid Leave: Earn robust annual vacation hours (accrual rates increase with years of service), sick leave with no accrual limit, and enjoy 11 paid federal holidays.
• Work-Life Balance: Opportunities for flexible scheduling and ad hoc telework based on agency policy and operational demands.
• Wellness Programs: On-site employee wellness options, counseling through the Employee Assistance Program, and potential credit toward vacation accrual based on prior non-federal work experience.

Application Tips & Critical Requirements

Applying for a federal leadership role requires close attention to detail. Below are vital tips to ensure your application is successful:

1. The Two-Page Resume Rule: In compliance with the federal Merit Hiring Plan, resumes must not exceed two pages in length. Resumes longer than two pages will be automatically disqualified. Ensure your resume is concise, results-oriented, and clearly demonstrates your GS-13 level competencies.
2. Explicitly Document Hours: To receive credit for your experience, you must clearly write your start and end dates (month/year), your exact job titles, and the number of hours worked per week (e.g., "June 2018 to Present, 40 hours/week") for every job listed.
3. Provide SF-50s: If you are a current or former federal employee, you must submit your most recent SF-50 (Notice of Personnel Action). If your most recent SF-50 is less than a year old, upload an additional, older SF-50 to explicitly prove you have completed 52 weeks of time-in-grade at the GS-13 level.
4. Submit Clear Transcripts: Upload legible copies of your college transcripts to prove you meet the educational accounting requirements. If you are using foreign education, you must include a formal Certificate of Foreign Equivalency.

2. Is there a travel requirement for this position?

Travel is minimal but may be required occasionally to participate in regional budget committees or national VA leadership meetings.

3. What is the probationary period for this job?

Selectees will be required to serve a one-year supervisory/managerial probationary period during which their leadership fitness and administrative performance will be evaluated.

4. Are clinical vaccinations required?

Yes, as healthcare personnel within the Department of Veterans Affairs, participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a condition of employment unless a medical or religious exemption is approved.

The Chief Financial Officer position at the VA Connecticut Healthcare System is more than just an executive finance job; it is a profound opportunity to lead a dedicated workforce in the stewardship of critical healthcare resources. By utilizing your expertise in accounting, team leadership, and strategic planning, you will directly influence the quality of care provided to our nation's heroes. If you possess the required GS-13 experience and meet the accounting educational standards, prepare your targeted two-page resume and apply before the closing date on July 24, 2026.