Duties

Summary

Responsible for participating in the development, review and analysis of accounting policies and procedures pertaining to SSA's financial accounting system.

Works under the direction of a higher-graded accountant and participates in conducting segments of accounting studies and research projects, implements and maintains segments of SSA's financial accounting system and assures that new policies and procedures are effective and comply with existing accounting principles.
Learn more about this agency

Responsibilities

• Ensures that the day-to-day operation of the accounting system or assigned segment is carried out and in accordance with accounting principles and the policies and objectives of the accounting system.
• Under the direct guidance of a project leader, develops written operational accounting policy and procedures in the form of accounting manual chapters to be incorporated into the SSA Accounting Manual.
• Assists in evaluating decisions made by government agencies, such as General Accounting Office (GAO), Office of Management and Budget (OMB), and other SSA components, and determines what impact such decisions will have on accounting operations.
• Assists in the preparation and analysis of various accounting reports.

Travel Required

Not required

Supervisory status
No

Promotion Potential
None

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• U.S. Citizenship required
• Selective Service Registration, if applicable (www.sss.gov)
• Background and/or security investigation required
• Job offers are contingent on background / security investigation results
• Selectees may be required to serve a 1 year probationary period
• Relocation expenses will not be paid
• All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of the announcement

Qualifications

This position requires specific education IN ADDITION TO specialized experience as described below - you must meet both requirements to eligible for this position.

A full explanation of these requirements can be found at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/0500/accounting-series-0510/ .

(1) A -- you must have a bachelor's or higher degree in accounting or a bachelor's or higher degree in a related field (such as business administration, finance, or public administration) that included (or was supplemented by) at least 24 hours in accounting. The 24 hours may include up to 6 hours of credit in business law. (The term "accounting" means "accounting and/or auditing" in this standard. Similarly, "accountant" should be interpreted, generally, as "accountant and/or auditor.")

OR

B -- You can meet this educational requirement with a combination of education and experience as follows: at least 4 years of experience in accounting, or an equivalent combination of accounting experience, college-level education, and training that provided professional accounting knowledge. This experience must also include one of the following: (a) twenty-four semester hours in accounting or auditing courses of appropriate type and quality (which may include up to 6 hours of business law); (b) a certificate as Certified Public Accountant or a Certified Internal Auditor, obtained through written examination; or (c) completion of the requirements for a degree that included substantial course work in accounting or auditing, e.g., 15 semester hours, but that does not fully satisfy the 24-semester-hour requirement in A, provided that (a) you have successfully worked at the full-performance level in accounting, auditing, or a related field, e.g., valuation engineering or financial institution examining; (b) a panel of at least two higher level professional accountants or auditors has determined that you have demonstrated a good knowledge of accounting and of related and underlying fields that equals in breadth, depth, currency, and level of advancement that which is normally associated with successful completion of the 4-year course of study described in paragraph A; and (c) except for literal nonconformance to the requirement of 24 semester hours in accounting, your education, training, and experience fully meet the specified requirements.

IN ADDITION, you must meet one of the following:

(2) A -- You must have at least 52 weeks of *Specialized Experience. This experience must have been gained in a federal position at or above GS-07 OR (if your position/experience is in another federal payscale or outside of federal service) by performing duties at a level equivalent to those performed in a federal position at or above GS-07. This Specialized Experience must have provided you with the specific knowledge, skills and abilities to perform the functions of this GS-09 Accountant position.

* Specialized Experience consists of applying concepts, principles, and methods sufficient to perform accounting work using conventional procedures and practices that apply to most situations.
Duties should include preparing or reviewing accounting reports, working with automated accounting systems, creating and working with spreadsheets, producing written accounting procedures or instructions, and interpreting and applying accounting policies, procedures, and guidelines.

NOTE: Duties of this nature should be typical of your everyday work. Your performance of duties relevant to the specialized experience must be clearly and specifically described in your resume.

OR

B -- In lieu of Specialized Experience (and in addition to the education you used to meet the requirement in section A above), you can meet the qualifications with a Master's or equivalent graduate degree.

OR

C -- In lieu of specialized experience or a Master's or equivalent graduate degree (and in addition to the education you used to meet the requirement in section A above), two full years of graduate level education leading to a Master's or equivalent graduate degree.

OR

D -- In lieu of the full amount of specialized experience or the full amount of qualifying education (and in addition to the education you used to meet the requirement in section A above), a combination of experience and education that when added together meets 100% of the requirements for this position.

NOTE: you must submit a transcript to substantiate claimed education.

Qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement.

Education

As stated above, this position has an educational requirement that must be met by all applicants (in addition to the required specialized experience).

You must submit a transcript that demonstrates this education and/or documents that support a combination of education and experience.

Unofficial transcripts or screenshots of electronic/web transcripts will be accepted for application purposes, but original transcripts may be required if you are selected for this position. Transcripts (copies included) must show your name, the name of the educational institution and the degree you earned. If you are claiming specific credits, highlight the relevant courses on your transcript.

You must upload your transcripts as part of your application package. Documents submitted via email, fax or regular mail will not be accepted.

If selected, you may be required to provide your official college transcripts prior to the effective date of your appointment.

Combining Education and Experience: Experience and education as described above may be combined to meet the minimum qualification requirements. Experience and education will be computed as percentages of the overall requirements and must equal to 100 percent when combined.

Foreign Education: If your transcripts show education completed in foreign colleges or universities, you must also provide documentation that the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and that such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in a conventional/accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university.

Additional information

Selective Service: If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, you must certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System, or are exempt from having to do so under the Selective Service Law. See www.sss.gov .

Additional selections may be made for this vacancy six months from the closing date of this announcement.


OTHER NOTES:

This position is eligible for telework consideration.

The selectee may be approved for telework after the initial probationary period has been served if all conditions for telework are met.

Relocation expenses will not be paid.

This is a moderate risk public trust position. The selected employee will be required to complete a Standard Form 85P, Questionnaire for Public Trust Positions, in order to have the appropriate investigation conducted, unless the employee has been previously certified eligible to occupy a position at this level.

How You Will Be Evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

Preview the online questionnaire here: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/10547078

The score you receive is based on your responses to the online questionnaire. Your resume, transcript(s) and supporting documentation will be compared to your responses to the occupational questionnaire, which is designed to capture the desired competencies for this position. Your resume should describe duties you perform that demonstrate how you meet the following Knowledge, Skills, and/or Abilities as they pertain to the Specialized Experience described above.

-- Knowledge of accounting/finance operations and reporting procedures and processes.

-- Ability to use automated systems and personal computers to research information and prepare accounting reports.

-- Ability to communicate orally and in writing.

-- Ability to analyze, interpret, and apply accounting policies, procedures and guidelines in a finance operation.

Answer all questions and follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your evaluation. The questionnaire takes approximately 15 minutes to complete.

Your application will be evaluated under the Category Rating method, based on your responses to the Assessment Questions. If you meet the basic requirements for the position, your application will be evaluated and placed into one of three categories:

(1) Qualified -- Candidates who meet the Minimum Qualification Requirements.

(2) Well Qualified -- Candidates who meet the Minimum Qualification Requirements and demonstrate a satisfactory level of the knowledge, skills and abilities necessary to perform the duties of the position.

(3) Best Qualified -- Candidates who meet the Minimum Qualification Requirements and demonstrate a high level of the knowledge, skills and abilities necessary to perform the duties of the position.

Candidates eligible for veterans' preference will be placed ahead of other candidates in the appropriate category for which they have been rated. Additionally, preference eligibles who have a compensable service-connected disability of at least 10 percent and who meet the Minimum Qualification Requirements will automatically be placed in the Best Qualified Category.

Background checks and security clearance

Security clearance
Not Required

Drug test required
No

Position sensitivity and risk
Noncritical-Sensitive (NCS)/Moderate Risk

Trust determination process
Suitability/Fitness

Required Documents

You must upload your resume and your most recent transcript prior to the closing of the vacancy announcement. All education and/or qualifications must be fully documented, even if you currently hold an Accountant position.

Failure to provide all of the required information may affect your overall rating or may result in an ineligible determination.

RESUMES - for each position you've held, your resume must show your employer, job title, work schedule (e.g., full or part-time), number of hours worked per week, full start and stop dates, grade level if your position is (or was) federal, and a clear description of the duties you perform(ed) - you should also list your education on your resume (but must still submit relevant transcripts).

If you have no employment history, your resume must include your identifying information (e.g., name and contact information) and must list your education.

TRANSCRIPTS: You may submit an electronic copy of your transcript(s). Unofficial transcripts or screenshots of electronic/web transcripts copies will be accepted for application purposes, but they must clearly show your name, the name of the college or university you attended and completion of the degree or coursework you are claiming. You may be required to provide an official copy of your transcript if selected for this position.
If your degree is not in Accounting, but is a related degree which includes or is supplemented by courses in accounting, please highlight the relevant accounting and/or business law courses.

Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education .

Foreign Education: If your transcripts show education completed in foreign colleges or universities, you must also provide documentation that the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and that such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in a conventional/accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university.

VETERANS' PREFERENCE: Applicants claiming veterans' preference must submit a DD-214 (member 4 copy only) OR (if you are currently on active duty) an official statement of service from your command. To be acceptable, documents must show Character of Service. You may not receive consideration as a veteran if you fail to submit a legible copy of the proper DD-214.

Applicants claiming 10-point veterans' preference based on a service-connected disability must also submit a completed SF-15 (Application for 10-Point Veterans' Preference) AND the documents specified on the reverse of the SF-15. You may not receive consideration as a 10-point veteran if you fail to submit all of the required documents.

Applicants claiming derived preference must submit a completed SF-15 AND the documents specified on the reverse of the SF-15. You may not receive derived preference if you fail to submit all of the required documents.

IMPORTANT NOTICE TO VETERANS: The Office of Personnel Management has published the end date for Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) as August 31, 2010. To receive veterans' preference for service during the Enduring Freedom/Iraqi Freedom era, you must have served for more than 180 days between September 11, 2001 and August 31, 2010 OR be in receipt of a campaign badge or expeditionary medal. The updated CFR language is available here. Other qualifying eligibility for preference (e.g., disability) remains unchanged.

Preference will be based ONLY on the documents received for this vacancy announcement.
For more information visit the Vet Guide

INTERAGENCY CAREER TRANSITION ASSISTANCE PLAN (ICTAP): ICTAP provides eligible displaced Federal competitive service employees with selection priority for competitive service vacancies. To receive selection priority, candidates must meet the requirements for the Well Qualified category as described in the vacancy announcement. As part of your application, ICTAP candidates must also provide:

-- proof of eligibility -- such proof may include a copy of your written notification of ICTAP eligibility or a copy of your separation Notice of Personnel Action (SF-50); and
-- proof of your most recent performance rating of at least "fully successful" (Level III) or equivalent.

For more information visit http://www.opm.gov/rif/employee_guides/career_transition.asp .

Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.