Duties

Summary

This position is with the Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Office of Administration, Division of Financial Management, Branch of Payment and Accounting Services located in Washington D.C.

-This position is inside the bargaining unit

Learn more about this agency

Responsibilities

Duties may include but are not limited to the following:

• Serves as BLS's technical expert on matters pertaining to the general ledger. Ensures that the data included in the general ledger and other accounting records are complete, accurate, and recorded in a timely manner. This responsibility includes the preparation of periodic and ad hoc reconciliations between the general ledger and subsidiary ledgers or other accounting records. Develops policies and procedures related to general ledger reconciliations and preparation of journal vouchers. Analyzes the need for journal vouchers to make corrections to the general ledger as required and prepares these journal vouchers and supporting documentation in accordance with BLS, DOL, and other Federal accounting standards. When requested by management may approve journal vouchers approved by other staff members. Monitors compliance by other BLS accountants with these BLS-level accounting policies and procedures to ensure the accuracy and integrity of the general ledger data at all times.
• Takes the lead role in preparing all financial reporting and financial analysis deliverables requested on a recurring or ad hoc basis by BLS management as well as DOL management, such as the SF-133 certification, Agency Financial Analysis (AFA), and various obligation reviews. Applies knowledge of OMB Circulars A-11 and A-136, the Treasury Financial Manual and other Treasury guidance, and other applicable Federal laws, regulations, directives, and standards in fulfillment of these financial reporting and analysis duties. Develops BLS-level accounting policies and procedures related to producing financial reporting deliverables for DOL Office of the Chief Financial Officer (OCFO) based on the BLS general ledger.
• Takes the lead role in monitoring and reconciling intragovernmental and reimbursable activity between BLS and its trading partners both internal and external to DOL. Proactively manages relationships with the BLS Division of Budget (DOB) as well as accounting and/or program staff at all trading partners to ensure the complete and accurate financial records are maintained. Develops procedures for reconciliations of intragovernmental and reimbursable records between BLS and its trading partners.
• Develops and implements plans, policies, and programs for accounting and financial management functions, including financial program analysis and fiscal operation, and preparation and review of financial data and other reports. Improves program operations to meet BLS program operational needs. Administers and manages the execution, review, and evaluation of all accounting policies and programs within the BLS, including audit follow up and resolution relative to accounting issues involving financial statements or other fiscal and/or reporting matters.
• Develops and recommends process improvement of existing financial, accounting, and operational systems and procedures. Reviews and documents current accounting and operational procedures as needed, and assesses these processes and recommends changes that lend to improvement in effectiveness, efficiency and/or controls.
• Resolves a wide range of complex and unprecedented accounting problems that are of vital importance to ensuring the fiscal integrity of the BLS. Ensures that the BLS is compliant with new and changing Federal government and DOL accounting regulations and requirements; provides the Accounting Officer with recommendations and process improvement initiatives; and proactively addresses issues to ensure that the BLS achieves successful financial statement audits.
• Provides research and documentation necessary to fulfill the requirements of audit requests from the OCFO liaison (on behalf of the Office of Inspector General (OIG) and its contractors). May perform additional follow-up to audit inquiries and provide potential recommendations and corrective action plans for improvement to operational process and controls.
• Through on-the-job training and/or procedural documentation, provides "hands on" support as needed and conducts special analyses or other projects.

Travel Required

Occasional travel - Occasional travel may be required.

Supervisory status
No

Promotion Potential
14 - This position is at the full promotion level (FPL).

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• Must be at least 16 years old and a U.S. Citizen.
• Appointment to this position may require a background investigation.
• Requires a probationary period if the requirement has not been met.

Applicants must meet time-in-grade, time-after-competitive-appointment and qualifications requirements within 30 calendar days after the closing date of the vacancy to be eligible for consideration for selection.

Federal Employees Please Note: Your SF-50 must include enough information to be able to determine that time-in-grade requirements have been met and reflects your position title, pay plan/series/grade, tenure and the type of appointment (i.e. competitive/excepted). In some cases you may need to submit more than one SF-50.

Reference the "Required Documents" section for additional requirements.

Qualifications

Basic Requirement

A. Degree: 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

B. 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; 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 1; 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.

Specialized Experience

In addition, applicants must also have 52 weeks of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level, GS-13, in the Federal Service. This experience must have equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills, and ability to successfully perform the duties of this position. Specialized experience is defined as operational experience in providing advice and assistance to top level executive staff and key program officials on matters relating to accounting operations and financial reporting, and the impact of changes in accounting policies and standards; providing written guidance on best practices in Federal accounting and financial systems and procedures.

Candidates must have demonstrated in their work experience or training that they possess, or have the potential to develop the qualities of successful supervision.

YOUR APPLICATION MUST INCLUDE EVIDENCE OR DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF YOUR SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE.

Education

Any applicant falsely claiming an academic degree from an accredited school will be subject to actions ranging from disqualification from federal employment to removal from federal service.

If your education was completed at a foreign college or university, you must show comparability to education received in accredited educational institutions in the United States and comparability to applicable minimum course work requirements for this position. Click Evaluation of Foreign Education for more information.

Additional information

DOL seeks to attract and retain a high performing and diverse workforce in which employees' differences are respected and valued to better meet the varying needs of the diverse customers we serve. DOL fosters a diverse and inclusive work environment that promotes collaboration, flexibility and fairness so that all individuals are able to participate and contribute to their full potential.

Federal Employees Please Note: Your SF-50 must include enough information to be able to determine that time-in-grade requirements have been met and reflects your position title, pay plan/series/grade, tenure and the type of appointment (i.e. competitive/excepted). In some cases you may need to submit more than one SF-50.

Refer to these links for more information: GENERAL INFORMATION , ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTATION , FORMER FEDERAL EMPLOYEES

The information you provide may be verified by a review of your work experience and/or education, by checking references and through other means (ex. interview). Your evaluation may also include a review by an HR Specialist or panel and may include other assessment tools (ex. interview, structured interview, written test, work sample, etc). The examining Human Resources Office (HRO) makes the final determination concerning applicant ratings. Your resume MUST provide sufficient information to substantiate your vacancy question responses. If not, the HRO may amend your responses to more accurately reflect the level of competency indicated by the content of your resume.

How You Will Be Evaluated

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

Click here for Evaluation details. For Displaced Employees ONLY: if you meet the eligibility requirements for special priority selection under ICTAP / CTAP , you must be well-qualified for the position to receive consideration for special priority selection. ICTAP/CTAP eligibles will be considered "well-qualified" if they attain at least a rating score of 85 in a numerical rating scheme. Be sure to review DOL Account Eligibility Questions #24 and 27 to reflect that you are applying as an ICTAP/CTAP eligible and submit supporting documentation.

Evaluation Factors (Competencies) - All qualified applicants will be evaluated on the following key competencies:

Customer Service - Works with clients and customers (that is, any individuals who use or receive the services or products that your work unit produces, including the general public, individuals who work in the agency, other agencies, or organizations outside the Government) to assess their needs, provide information or assistance, resolve their problems, or satisfy their expectations; knows about available products and services; is committed to providing quality products and services.

Decision Making/Problem Solving - Makes sound, well-informed, and objective decisions; perceives the impact and implications of decisions; commits to action, even in uncertain situations, to accomplish organizational goals; causes change.

Interpersonal Skills - Shows understanding, friendliness, courtesy, tact, empathy, concern, and politeness to others; develops and maintains effective relationships with others; may include effectively dealing with individuals who are difficult, hostile, or distressed; relates well to people from varied backgrounds and different situations; is sensitive to cultural diversity, race, gender, disabilities, and other individual differences.

Oral Communication - Expresses information (for example, ideas or facts) to individuals or groups effectively, taking into account the audience and nature of the information (for example, technical, sensitive, controversial); makes clear and convincing oral presentations; listens to others, attends to nonverbal cues, and responds appropriately.

Self Management - Sets well-defined and realistic personal goals; displays a high level of initiative, effort, and commitment towards completing assignments in a timely manner; works with minimal supervision; is motivated to achieve; demonstrates responsible behavior.

Writing - Recognizes or uses correct English grammar, punctuation, and spelling; communicates information (for example, facts, ideas, or messages) in a succinct and organized manner; produces written information, which may include technical material, that is appropriate for the intended audience.

Accounting Technical - Uses knowledge that is acquired through formal training or extensive on-the-job experience to perform one's job; works with, understands, and evaluates technical information related to the job; advises others on technical issues.

To preview questions please click here .

Background checks and security clearance

Security clearance
Other

Drug test required
No

Required Documents

The following documents must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. (ET) on the vacancy closing date. Warning: If you submit a document using the same document title, the 2nd submission will OVERWRITE the 1st submission. Also, do not upload password protected documents.

The following documents are required from all applicants (PLEASE READ CAREFULLY):

ARE YOU A CURRENT OR FORMER FEDERAL EMPLOYEE? If applying as a status candidate with current or former Federal Service, please provide a copy of your last or most recent SF-50, "Notification of Personnel Action" which shows your appointment eligibility for the position for which you are applying. Your SF-50 must identify the highest grade you held on a permanent basis, Pay Plan/Pay Schedule, Series, and Grade/Pay Band, and career status. Multiple SF-50 may be submitted to demonstrate your highest previous rate and eligibility.

*WARNING: An award SF-50 (ex. cash or time off award) may not indicate grade, step and competitive status. For current DOL employees, an award SF-50 DOES NOT indicate grade and step.

- Most recent performance appraisal/evaluation signed and dated within 18 months is requested by the agency, but will not disqualify candidates if not submitted. If not submitted during the application process, one may/will be requested at the time of the interview if the opportunity is extended. Applies to current and former Federal employees.

- Land Management Eligibles: a copy of your most recent Notification of Personnel Action (SF-50 or equivalent) proving your eligibility for appointment under the Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act. This service must have been performed in the competitive service, under a time limited appointment in a Land Management Agency, as defined by P.L. 114-328. For more information, click here .

The following documents are required if applicable:

- Displaced Employee Placement Documents - Only required if requesting priority consideration under ICTAP / CTAP Eligibility.

- DD-214 - verifying military service, eligibility for consideration under the Veterans Employment Opportunity Act (VEOA) and showing character of discharge (ex. Member Copy 4 and 2 are acceptable vs. Copy 1 which is not acceptable to adjudicate veteran's preference)

- Special/Non-Competitive Appointing Authority Documents - Applicants who are eligible for consideration, and wish to be considered, under one of the following non-competitive hiring authorities must submit appropriate documentation (click on the links below to see the documentation requirements):

Military Spouses (MISP)

- Cover Letters are not mandatory and will not be used to verify experience, but may be submitted

Applicants selected for employment who are not current DOL employees will be required to provide proof of citizenship , and the E-Verify system will be used to confirm the employment eligibility of all new hires.

- Unofficial Transcript(s) (in English) - submit if using education as a basis for qualifying for this position. If so, you must submit all applicable academic transcripts demonstrating that you meet the qualifying educational requirements (ex. BA/BS, MA, JD, PHD, etc). If specific course work is required to qualify, you must supply transcripts from each academic institution in which the required courses were taken in order to receive credit.

You may upload your transcript(s) as one document (3 MB size limit). If over 3 MB, please submit via fax feature.

OFFICIAL Transcripts MUST BE RECEIVED prior to selection and report date. Reference the "Education Section" for College Transcript and Evaluation of Foreign Education.

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.