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Senior Accountant

Employer
USAJobs
Location
Washington, D.C
Closing date
May 22, 2021

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Duties

Summary

This position is located in Financial Reports Division, Financial Services Directorate, Chief Operating Officer.

The position description number for this position is 325419.

The salary range indicated reflects the locality pay adjustments for the Washington, D.C., Metropolitan area.

This is a non-supervisory, bargaining unit position.

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Responsibilities

The position serves as a Senior Accountant who has the responsibility for the accuracy and integrity of the Library of Congress and its cross-service agencies general ledger, subsidiary and central accounting functions which includes accounting and control of appropriated funds, reimbursable activities, revolving funds, and gift and trust funds. The incumbent will prepare financial statements and notes; analyze, interpret and reconcile financial and accounting data; prepare Federal financial reports; manage the capitalization of agency assets and support the financial audits. The Financial Reports Office prides itself on providing timely and accurate financial statements, using sound judgement in performing analytical work, using innovative business practices and techniques, and providing excellent customer service.

Serves as a technical expert, providing technical guidance that is compliant with the U.S. Standard General Ledger (USSGL) in recording and controlling all types of accounting transactions, including assets, investments, obligations, accounts payable, accounts receivable, cost accruals, and disbursements.

Oversees, prepares, analyzes and interprets accrual based Federal financial statements and notes in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) for quarterly and year-end reporting. Performs other Federal financial reporting and analysis that supports the Library's mission essential programs and its cross-service agencies such as GTAS, SF-224, intergovernmental transfers, funds control and general ledger postings. The reporting may include the use of appropriated funds, reimbursable activities, revolving funds, and gift and trust funds. Prepares presentations to present information to operating and program officials at all management levels. Responds to questions regarding accounting data discrepancies.

Assures that fiscal transactions are in compliance with Federal government laws, regulations and standards from the Office of Management and Budget, Government Accountability Office and the Treasury Department and ensures the records and statements accurately reflect a full disclosure of the financial results of operations.

Serves as an expert authority on analysis, interpretation and reconciliation of integrated accounts for various accounting processes and systems. Evaluates and applies expert knowledge of control functions in financial reporting and accounting systems to solve complex and controversial problems that are new or novel in nature and require reconciliation of diverse needs and viewpoints in arriving at a final solution, ensuring requirements are met in accordance with laws, regulations, and standards. Develops, evaluates, and recommends options and implements approved changes to improve accounting processes and new accounting system functionality to satisfy regulatory requirements, maintain adequate controls, and capture useful, reliable, and meaningful financial information.

Establishes and monitors controls to identify problem areas and risk, determine actions required, improve operating effectiveness, and ensure and maintain the integrity of financial and accounting data. Performs special audits, studies, and/or reviews to determine the reliability and accuracy of the accounting reports and financial statements. Supports the year-end financial audits and other program audits.

Performs research, interpretation and drafting of financial policies and procedures in accordance with Federal laws, regulations and standards. Consolidates and develops guidance for complete accounting processes and systems for the Library and its cross-serviced agencies. Develops guidance and provides technical consultation to supplement guidelines received from the Library of Congress headquarters, Government Accountability Office (GAO), Department of Treasury, and/or the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).

Serves as a technical expert, providing guidance related to cost allocation methodologies and procedures. Ensuring full and proper utilization of cost accounting functions, including cost control, analysis and reconciliation. Provides expert technical guidance and advice to management related to planning, coordinating, and generating a wide variety of complex cost accounting reports and financial statements. Performs reviews, analysis, and reporting on various accounting functions. Applies specialized cost accounting knowledge to solve controversial problems in financial reporting, developing cost accounting changes, and ensuring all reporting requirements are met in accordance with laws, regulations, and standards.

Travel Required

Not required

Supervisory status
No

Promotion Potential
13

Requirements

Conditions of Employment


No additional requirements to those listed above.

Qualifications

Applicants must have had progressively responsible experience and training sufficient in scope and quality to furnish them with an acceptable level of the following knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the duties of the position without more than normal supervision.


Ability to gather, compile, analyze and reconcile financial data using analytical methods and techniques to identify and resolve complex financial issues.**

Knowledge and Application of Federal Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), U.S. Standard General Ledger (USSGL), and other accounting industry regulations.**

Ability to use core financial management systems and software applications for financial analysis, reconciliation and reporting.**

Ability to communicate in writing.

Knowledge and application of Federal financial management regulations, laws, policies and procedures.

Ability to communicate effectively other than in writing.

Education

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:
  • 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 non-conformance to the requirement of 24 semester hours in accounting, the applicant's education, training, and experience fully meet the specified requirements.

  • You must submit a legible copy of your college/university transcripts to your online application. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable at the time of application. Official transcripts will be required if selected. Failure to submit the required legible documentation at the time of application will result in disqualification of your application.

    Foreign Education - Education completed outside the U.S. must be deemed equivalent to conventional/accredited U.S. education programs to be acceptable for Federal employment. If your college/university is outside the U.S., your transcripts must be accompanied by a report from a credential evaluation service that is a member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) or the Association of International Credentials Evaluators (AICE) . Failure to submit a foreign education evaluation report will result in disqualification of your application.

    Additional information

    Although it is the Library's policy to afford the maximum pay benefit to employees when setting rates of pay, a new appointee who has had no previous Federal service will generally be paid the minimum step of the grade.

    The Library of Congress is an equal opportunity employer. Women, minorities, and persons with disabilities who meet eligibility requirements are strongly encouraged to apply.

    Applicants must submit a complete application package that is received by the closing date of this announcement.

    This agency provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please email ADA@loc.gov. The decision on granting reasonable accommodation will be determined on a case-by-case basis.

    Applicants with disabilities may be considered under special hiring procedures and must submit an appropriate certificate of eligibility when applying for this position. The proof or disability/certification may be issued by the State Vocational Rehabilitation Office, Disability Services or Career Services office of the applicant's college or university, or the Department of Veterans Affairs. The letter must verify that the applicant has a severe disability and must be dated within three years of the date of the application. Certification from health care providers are not accepted. For more information contact the Library's Office of EEO/Diversity Programs at 202-707-6024 or email spp@loc.gov. FAILURE TO SUBMIT YOUR CERTIFICATION WILL CAUSE YOUR APPLICATION TO NOT BE CONSIDERED UNDER THE SELECTIVE PLACEMENT PROGRAM.

    The Library of Congress is the national library of the United States and is part of the Legislative Branch of the Federal government. As such, all positions are in the excepted service.

    Appointment/retention is subject to a favorable evaluation of an appropriate personnel security/suitability investigation.

    The Library reserves the right to fill a lesser or greater number of vacancies indicated during the life of this vacancy announcement.

    Initial appointments, permanent or indefinite, to the Library of Congress require completion of a one-year probationary period.

    The Library of Congress may offer repayment for all or part of federally insured student loans. However, not all service units within the Library of Congress participates in the repayment of federally insured student loans. Therefore, determination to repay a federally insured student loan is subject to approval by the appropriate service unit.

    Are you a veteran? Please indicate the type of veterans' preference you are claiming in your application materials and/or applicant profile and provide the appropriate supporting documentation to validate your claim. Those applying for 5-point preference must submit Member Copy 4 of your DD 214. Those applying for 10-point preference must fill out an SF-15 (click here for the form) and provide the required documentation listed on the back of the form. If required supporting documentation is not attached, Veterans' Preference will not be considered in the application process.

    How You Will Be Evaluated

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

    The Library of Congress evaluates applicants through an applicant questionnaire and a structured interview. Applicants may also be screened for some jobs through licensing, certification, and/or education requirements, a narrative/application review, and/or a preliminary telephone interview.

    The knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) that are marked with a double asterisk (**) in the vacancy announcement and the applicant questionnaire are considered the most critical for a position. To be considered for final selection, applicants must demonstrate fully acceptable experience in these designated KSAs in the narrative/application review, preliminary telephone and/or full structured interview.

    The various assessment tools listed above are designed to verify or explore applicants' experience, knowledge, and training directly related to the job in order to identify the best qualified applicants for selection.

    For more information regarding eligibility requirements, please see the Library of Congress Merit Selection Plan, Section X.D, at: http://www.loc.gov/hr/employment/msp010909.pdf .

    To preview questions please click here .

    Background checks and security clearance

    Security clearance
    Not Required

    Drug test required
    No

    Required Documents

    You must submit a legible copy of your college/university transcripts to your online application. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable at the time of application. Official transcripts will be required if selected. Failure to submit the required legible documentation at the time of application will result in disqualification of your application.

    Foreign Education - Education completed outside the U.S. must be deemed equivalent to conventional/accredited U.S. education programs to be acceptable for Federal employment. If your college/university is outside the U.S., your transcripts must be accompanied by a report from a credential evaluation service that is a member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) or the Association of International Credentials Evaluators (AICE) . Failure to submit a foreign education evaluation report will result in disqualification of your application.

    Current or former federal employees must submit their most recent Notification of Personnel Action (SF-50 or equivalent).

    Applicants with disabilities may be considered under special hiring procedures and must submit an appropriate certificate of eligibility when applying for this position. The proof or disability/certification may be issued by the State Vocational Rehabilitation Office, Disability Services or Career Services office of the applicant's college or university, or the Department of Veterans Affairs. The letter must verify that the applicant has a severe disability and must be dated within three years of the date of the application. The program does not accept certification from health care providers. For more information contact the Library's Office of Equal Employment Opportunity and Diversity Programs at 202-707-6024 or email spp@loc.gov. FAILURE TO SUBMIT YOUR CERTIFICATION WILL CAUSE YOUR APPLICATION TO NOT BE CONSIDERED UNDER THE SELECTIVE PLACEMENT PROGRAM.

    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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