Duties

Summary

Work Schedule: 8:00am- 4:30pm
Position Description Title/PD#: Accountant/55118-0
Compressed/Flexible Schedules: Eligible
Telework: Yes, in accordance with OM Policy.
Virtual Position: No

This recruitment is for 1position with the Office of Finance, Office of Financial Audit, Audit Readiness Support Service, located at VACO, 810 Vermont Avenue, N.W., Washington, DC 20420.

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

Learn more about this agency

Responsibilities

Accountant, PD# 55118-0
As a GS-14 Accountant you will:
Review policies, plans, systems, and procedures and assigned accounting matters pertaining to all VA medical, benefits, and administrative appropriations and funds. Manage SharePoint site to track and monitor various audit activities and audit documents. Coordinate meetings to advise and resolve audit issues, inquiries and interpretations of policies and procedures. Develop, and conduct walkthroughs on VA wide audit processes and programs for Office of Inspector General (OIG). Plan and executing monthly audit talks, annual Virtual, and Live Financial Management Leadership Training (FMLT) classes. Plan appropriate strategies and methods for their implementation and makes recommendations to management with respect to assessment of implementation across the VA. Conduct surveys for the purpose of preparing analyses and recommendations on accounting issues. Review and analyze financial processes, account activities, system functionalities, and financial reports to improve financial management operation. Provide support to and advise management, instruct staff, or produce a broad range of financial and managerial functions for which the office is responsible. Assists administration and staff offices in the application of fiscal policies and procedures, plans, standards, fiscal systems, and internal controls. Prepare and submits accounting and financial data, advice, and recommendations on specific projects, problems, plans, policies, etc., that are or will be subject to managerial consideration. Provides professional support to the Department's Chief Financial Officers. Review and analyzes audit. Act as a liaison and cooperates with staff offices to develop fiscal policies and procedures to meet the needs of management, and to provide modification and refinement due to changing conditions, requirements, and technological advances. Performs other related duties as assigned.

Travel Required

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

Supervisory status
No

Promotion Potential
14

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• You must be a US Citizen to apply for this job.
• Subject to a background/suitability investigation.
• Selective Service Registration is required for all males born after 12/31/1959.
• May have to serve a one-year probationary period
• Position requires filing a Financial Disclosure Report.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet BOTH Basic requirements 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:

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

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

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-14 grade level: One year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-13 grade level in the federal service); experience serving as an audit liaison to coordinate and facilitate financial statement audit activities from beginning to end; identifying and addressing potential deficiencies in internal controls, financial processes, and accounting systems; facilitating enterprise-wide collaboration to resolve audit findings and to enhance core accounting, audit, and financial management competencies; developing and presenting training on financial management topics; analyzing, developing and recommending solutions to complex accounting and reporting problems encountered in the audit, reconciliation, field station reports and developing training to implement the solutions.

There is no educational substitution for the GS-14 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 Federal competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. To be qualified, you must submit appropriate documentation and be found well-qualified for this vacancy. Information about CTAP and ICTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website at http://www.opm.gov/rif/employee_guides/career_transition.asp .

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.

Placement Policy: The posting of this announcement does not obligate management to fill a vacancy or vacancies by promotion. The position may be filled by reassignment, change to lower grade, transfer, appointment, or reinstatement. Management may use any one or any combination of these methods to fill the position.

It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.

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. Candidates may be referred to the selecting official based off the number of applicants. The first 50 applicants to apply will be reviewed for minimum qualifications and those that are minimally qualified will be referred to the hiring manager on a certificate in order of application date. Your application date is the date you last submitted and/or updated your application. Based on hiring needs, additional groups of the next 50 applicants to apply to this vacancy may be reviewed for minimum qualifications and be referred to the hiring manager on a certificate.

Background checks and security clearance

Security clearance
Other

Drug test required
No

Position sensitivity and risk
High Risk (HR)

Trust determination process
Suitability/Fitness

Required Documents

Documents Accepted:

• DD-214/ Statement of Service
• Disability Letter (Schedule A)
• Disability Letter (VA)
• Other (1)
• PCS Orders
• Performance Appraisal
• Proof of Marriage Status
• Reasonable Accommodation Documentation
• Resume
• Separation Notice (RIF)
• SF-15
• 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.