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Accountant - Direct Hire

Employer
USAJobs
Location
Washington, D.C
Closing date
Oct 16, 2019

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Duties

Summary

Work Schedule: 8:00am- 4:30pm
Position Description Title/PD#: Accountant/81675A, 81674A, 81673A, 81670A
Compressed/Flexible Schedules: Eligible
Telework: Yes, in accordance with OM Policy.
Virtual Position: No

This recruitment is for One position with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of Finance, Office of Financial Policy, located in Washington, D.C.

DIRECT HIRE AUTHORITY: This position is being filled using Direct-Hire Authority (5 CFR 337.205) for this occupation.

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Responsibilities

81675A, 81674A, 81673A, 81670A

GS 9 Duties
Assist with the preparation of Department financial policies and procedures for assigned accounting matters. Assist in the preparation of non-complex elements of financial statements and footnotes. Assist in the collection of VA-wide financial information used in reporting to Treasury and OMB for government-wide consolidation. Monitor the validation of general ledgers and reconciliation with subsidiary records; preparation, submission, or distribution of reports, and; general overall quality of data produced by the accounting system. Perform routine reconciliations of disbursing authority transactions. Analyze challenges and provide recommendations in a variety of areas related to accounting contained in General Ledger for all funds administered by VA. Maintain operating accounting systems as they are replaced, interfaced, or integrated into the core financial management system. Assist in the production of standard reports as required by external regulation.

GS-11 Duties
Assist with the preparation of Department financial policies and procedures for assigned accounting matters. Assist in the preparation of non-complex elements of the Performance and Accountability Report. Draft responses related to the agency financial statement audit. Report VA-wide financial information to Treasury and OMB for government-wide consolidation. Monitor the validation of general ledgers and reconciliation with subsidiary records; preparation, submission, or distribution of reports, and; general overall quality of data produced by the accounting system. Perform routine reconciliations of disbursing authority transactions, comparing VA balances by appropriations to totals maintained by the Treasury Department. Analyze challenges and assist in decision-making for a variety of areas related to accounting contained in General Ledger for all funds administered by VA. Maintain operating accounting systems as they are replaced, interfaced, or integrated into the core financial management system. Assist in the production of standard and specialized reports as required by external regulation.

GS-12 Duties
Assist with the preparation of Department financial policies, and procedures for assigned accounting matters. Assist in the preparation of complex elements of the Performance and Accountability Report. Review and verify information contained on draft responses related to the agency financial statement audit. Draft financial statement auditor responses to questions and reconciliations. Report VA-wide financial information to Treasury and OMB for government-wide consolidation. Monitor the validation of general ledgers and reconciliation with subsidiary records; preparation, submission, or distribution of reports and; general overall quality of data produced by the accounting system. Review and coordinate responses to VA staff offices in the application of fiscal policies, plans, standards, and procedures, and assist in the analysis and solution high-complexity fiscal procedural matters. Perform routine reconciliations of disbursing authority transactions, comparing VA balances by appropriations to totals maintained by the Treasury Department. Analyze challenges and make decisions or recommendations in a variety of areas related to accounting contained in General Ledger for all funds administered by VA. Maintain operating accounting systems as they are replaced, interfaced, or integrated into the core financial management system. Produce standard and highly specialized reports as required by external regulation.

GS-13 Duties
Prepare Department financial policies and procedures for assigned accounting matters. Review and approve policy work of lower level staff. Prepare the Performance and Accountability Report. Coordinate the agency financial statement audit. Report VA-wide financial information to Treasury and OMB for government-wide consolidation. Monitor the validation of general ledgers and reconciliation with subsidiary records; preparation, submission, or distribution of reports, and; general overall quality of data produced by the accounting system. Provide counsel to VA staff offices and in the application of fiscal policies, plans, standards, and procedures, and assist in the analysis and solution of difficult and complex technical fiscal procedural matters to assure integration and interface between existing systems. Perform reconciliations of disbursing authority transactions, comparing VA balances by appropriations to totals maintained by the Treasury Department. Analyze challenges and make decisions or recommendations in a variety of areas related to accounting contained in General Ledger for all funds administered by VA. Maintain operating accounting systems as they are replaced, interfaced, or integrated into the core financial management system. Produce standard and highly specialized reports as required by external regulation.

Travel Required

Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position.

Supervisory status
No

Promotion Potential
13

Requirements

Conditions of Employment


  • You must be a U.S. citizen to apply for this job
  • Subject to a background/suitability investigation
  • May have to serve a 1 year probationary period
  • Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
  • A complete application package; Resume, Transcripts, etc.
  • Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process
Physical Requirements: The work is primarily sedentary.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet BOTH Basic and Grade level requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

Basic Requirements:
Degree in accounting; or a degree in a related field such as business administration, finance, or public administration that included or was supplemented by 24 semester 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
Combination of education and experience: 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. The applicant's background must also include one of the following:

1.Twenty-four semester hours in accounting or auditing courses of appropriate type and quality. This can include up to 6 hours of business law;

2.A certificate as Certified Public Accountant or a Certified Internal Auditor, obtained through written examination; or

3.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 of paragraph A, provided that (a) the applicant has 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 the applicant has 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, the applicant's education, training, and experience fully meet the specified requirements.

GS-9 grade level: One year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-07 grade level in the federal service); experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities (KSA's) and other characteristics to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled, in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Specialized experience includes: Composing documents or correspondence involving simple or routine information. Drafting documents or correspondence involving non-complex financial and accounting information, adapting writing to audience's level of knowledge. Performing routine reconciliations of disbursing authority transactions.
OR
2 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a master's degree or master's or equivalent graduate degree.
OR
A combination of education and experience adding up to 100% of the requirements.

GS-11 grade level: One year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-09 grade level in the federal service); experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities (KSA's) and other characteristics to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled, in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Specialized experience includes: Monitoring the validation of general ledgers and reconciliation with subsidiary records; preparation, submission, or distribution of reports, and general overall quality of data produced by an accounting system. Assisting in the collection of financial information used in reporting. Assisting in the production of standard reports as required by external regulation, such as Trial Balances, Balance Sheets, Statement of Net Cost, Statement of Net Position, Statement of Budgetary Resources, GTAS, Flux analysis, Reclassified Statements, Notes to the Financial Statements, etc.
OR
3 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree.
OR
A combination of education and experience adding up to 100% of the requirements.

GS-12 grade level: One year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-12 grade level in the federal service); experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities (KSA's) and other characteristics to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled, in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Specialized experience includes: Drafting responses related to financial statement audits. Drafting documents or correspondence involving intermediate or technical information, adapting writing to audience's level of knowledge. Assisting in the preparation of non-complex elements of performance and accountability reports, financial statements and footnotes.

GS-13 grade level: One year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-12 grade level in the federal service); experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities (KSA's) and other characteristics to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled, in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Specialized experience includes: Composing documents or correspondence involving complex or technical financial, and accounting information, adapting writing to audience's level of knowledge. Assisting with the preparation of financial policies, and procedures for assigned accounting matters. Reviewing and coordinating responses to staff offices in the application of fiscal policies, plans, standards, and procedures, and assist in the analysis and solution high-complexity fiscal procedural matters.

Combination of education and experience to qualify at the GS-09 or GS-11 level:To calculate, first identify the percentage of required education you have earned (when substituting, you cannot use the first 60 semester hours that you earned). Then identify the percentage of required experience you possess. Add the two percentages. The total percentage must equal at least 100 percent to qualify at the GS-09. For example, an applicant who has 9 semester hours of graduate level education (i.e. 50% of graduate education required) and 6 months of creditable specialized experience (i.e. 50% of the required experience) would equal 100% of the required experience for the position A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.

There is no educational substitution for the GS-12 or GS-13 level.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

Education

Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/ .

If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education.

Additional information

VA supports the use of telework as a way to help attract and retain talented individuals in public service, increase worker productivity, and better prepare the agency to operate during emergencies. This position may be authorized for telework. Telework eligibility will be discussed during the interview process.

The Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) and Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced VA competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. To be well-qualified, applicants must possess experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors if applicable, and must be proficient in most of the requirements of the job. Information about ICTAP and CTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website which can be found at https://www.opm.gov/ .

Receiving Service Credit for Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. VA may offer newly-appointed Federal employee's credit for their job-related non-federal experience or active duty uniformed military service. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed.

This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

If you are unable to apply online view the following link for information regarding an Alternate Application .

How You Will Be Evaluated

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

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Applicants will be referred in alphabetical order.

Background checks and security clearance

Security clearance
Other

Drug test required
No

Position sensitivity and risk
Moderate Risk (MR)

Trust determination process
Suitability/Fitness

Required Documents

Documents Accepted:
  • Cover Letter
  • DD-214/ Statement of Service
  • Disability Letter (Schedule A)
  • Disability Letter (VA)
  • License
  • Other (1)
  • Other (2)
  • Other (3)
  • PCS Orders
  • Performance Appraisal
  • Professional Certification
  • Resume
  • Separation Notice (RIF)
  • SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action
  • Transcript

Documents Required:
  • Resume
  • Transcript

Please review the above list(s) to ensure you have included all necessary documents required for your application.Not every applicant will require the same documents, therefore it is the applicants responsibility to ensure that their application package includes all necessary documents to determine qualifications and eligibility for appointment, such as a copy of your SF-50, transcript, ICTAP/CTAP documentation (for displaced Federal employees). You will not be contacted for additional information. Applicants will be deemed ineligible if supporting documentation is not submitted.

Veterans' Preference: Since the Direct-Hire Recruitment Authority is being used, traditional Veterans' Preference rules do not apply. Qualified veterans will, however, be given full consideration for this position.

Applications are accepted online. Applying online will allow you to review and track the status of your application.

If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:

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 .

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.

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