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Pathways Recent Graduate, Accountant, GS-0510-07 - DT

Employer
USAJobs
Location
Suitland, Maryland
Closing date
May 22, 2021

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Duties

Summary

This vacancy is for an Recent Graduate Accountant position in the ANY DIVISION located at the U.S. Census Bureau Headquarters in Suitland, Maryland. The Census Bureau is accessible from the Metro Rail Green Line - Suitland Station.

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Responsibilities

Performs a variety of routine technical accounting assignments that are structured to increase the incumbent's professional competence in the application of accounting principles, procedures, and techniques.

Duties typically performed include the following: examining accounting documents for proper accounting classification and authorization; performing reconciliations; analyzing a variety of accounts; entering and processing data into various accounts and the general ledger; adjusting differences between the general ledger and subsidiary accounts; closing entries; preparing monthly trial balances and financial reports; developing automated accounting instructions and procedures for routine transactions; analyzing financial and statistical data from domestic and/or foreign business firms.

Travel Required

Not required

Supervisory status
No

Promotion Potential
TBD - Full Promotion Potential (FPL) is determine after the successfully completion of the RG program at the time of conversion. Upon conversion the FPL could be at the Grade-12.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

  • U.S. citizen.
  • Suitable for Federal employment.
  • Registered for Selective Service if applicable. (www.sss.gov)
  • You may be required to complete a financial disclosure (OGE-450).


Applicants must meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

This announcement will close at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on the date May 22, 2021.

The Census Bureau is seeking bright, innovative, results-oriented individuals to join our Recent Graduates Program (RGP). The Recent Graduate Program is a one-year program that targets individuals who have recently graduated from qualifying educational institutions or programs. Successful applicants will be placed in a dynamic, one-year career development program. Throughout the program, you will participate in formal training, job assignments and receive a mentor to develop competencies applicable to the Census Bureau's mission and needs. These positions are at the grade GS 07 entry level, with an opportunity for permanent appointment upon successful completion of the program.

TO BE ELIGIBILTY FOR THE RECENT GRADUATE PROGRAM: Recent Graduates must have completed, within the previous two years, a qualifying associate's, bachelor's, master's, professional, doctorate, vocational or technical degree or certificate from a qualifying educational institution. http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/Search.aspx Exception: For a person who has completed a period of obligated service in a uniformed service of more than four years, the degree may be awarded by an institution of higher education not more than four years before the date of the appointment of the applicant.

Students enrolled in a degree program can apply if the anticipated graduation date is Spring 2021. Official Graduation Transcripts must be received before start date.

To be eligible for conversion to a permanent or term position, Recent Graduates must:
  • Successfully completed at least 1-year of continuous service in addition to all requirements of the Program.
  • Demonstrate successful job performance.
  • Meet the Office of Personnel Management's qualifications for the position to which the Recent Graduate will be converted.

This position is in the excepted service. This is a bargaining unit position.

This position is eligible for telework; additional criteria will be required (e.g., supervisory approval).

A probationary period may be required. If non-competitively converted, the time spent as a Recent Graduate will count towards the probationary period.

Qualifications

Minimum Education Requirement:

Basic Requirements

  • Bachelor 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
  • 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.

  • AND

    Specialized Experience: For GS-07, you must have one year of specialized experience at a level of difficulty and responsibility equivalent to the GS-05 grade level in the Federal services. Experience for this position includes assisting with and performing a variety of routine accounting assignments, to include, interpreting and applying accounting laws, policies and procedures; recording financial transactions; analyzing and classifying financial reports to draw conclusions; providing guidance and assistance on a variety of financial matters; and preparing memos, letters, and other correspondence.

    OR

    Education: 1 full year of graduate level education or Superior Academic Achievement.

    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; religious; 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.

    Students enrolled in a degree program can apply if the anticipated graduation date is Spring 2021. Official Graduation Transcripts must be received before start date.

    Education

    Additional information

    The Department of Commerce provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please notify the Human Resources Office. The decision on granting reasonable accommodation will be on a case-by-case basis. TTY users can contact the Human Resources Office via the Federal Relay Service, 1-800-877-8339.

    ***Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and individual states being in different phases of reopening, once the selectee becomes an employee, the report date to the official duty station/facility may be delayed until such time that management notifies the employee of their requirement to report. Until it is safe to relocate, the employee may be approved to telework to the maximum extent possible, up to and including full-time.

    How You Will Be Evaluated

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

    Your resume, optional cover letter and supporting documentation will be reviewed to determine if you meet the minimum qualifications for the position. If you meet the minimum qualifications stated in the job opportunity announcement, we will compare your resume, optional cover letter and supporting documentation to your responses on the scored occupational questionnaire (True/False, Yes/No, Multiple Choice questions) and place you in one of three pre-defined categories. These categories are "gold," "silver," and "bronze." Your resume and/or optional cover letter must support your responses to the scored occupational questionnaire, or your score may be lowered. Candidates placed in the "gold" category will be identified for referral to the hiring manager and may be invited for an interview.

    How you will be evaluated for preference eligibility: Within each category, those entitled to veterans' preference will be listed at the top of the pre-defined category for which they are placed.

    Preference eligibles with a service-connected disability of 10% or more will be listed at the top of the highest quality category (gold) for the grade 7 only.

    The scored occupational questionnaire will evaluate you on the following competencies; please do not provide a separate written response:
    • Knowledge of accounting principles, practices, methods and techniques.
    • Knowledge of procedures used to enter, modify, retrieve and delete information in an automated accounting system.
    • Knowledge of Federal accounting regulations, procedures, policies and precedents to carry out accounting functions.
    • Knowledge of generally accepted accounting principles of the United States and/or foreign countries to analyze financial data.
    • Ability to work independently or in a team environment, as well as having the ability to communicate in person and in writing with internal and external customers.

    For more information on category rating, please go to: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/hiring-information/competitive-hiring/#url=Category-Rating .

    We recommend that you preview the online questions for this announcement before you start the application process.

    Do NOT include the following types of information in your application:
    • Social Security Number (SSN)
    • Date of Birth (DOB)
    • Photos of yourself (if included on your resume you will not be considered for this position)
    • Personal information: such as age, gender, religious affiliation, etc.

    To preview questions please click here .

    Background checks and security clearance

    Security clearance
    Other

    Drug test required
    No

    Position sensitivity and risk
    Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk

    Trust determination process
    Suitability/Fitness

    Required Documents

    A complete application consists of the following:
    • Resume showing relevant experience; cover letter optional. Your resume should list your educational and work experience including the dates (mm/dd/yy) of each employment along with the number of hours worked per week. Your resume may be used to validate your responses to the scored occupational questionnaire. Your resume should also indicate your citizenship and if you are registered with the Selective Service System if you are a male born after 12/31/59.
    • Veterans' Preference Documentation: Please indicate on your resume the type of veterans' preference you are claiming and provide the appropriate supporting documentation (DD-214 stating disposition of discharge or character of service, VA letter, SF-15, etc.) to validate your claim. For more information regarding eligibility requirements, please go to: http://www.fedshirevets.gov/job/vetpref/index.aspx .
    • Education Documentation: If this position requires proof of higher education, or you are substituting education for experience, you must submit an unofficial transcript or a list of courses that includes the following information: name of accredited institution, grades earned, completion dates, and quarter and semester hours earned. This also applies to Census Bureau employees. Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the requirements. Please refer to http://www.opm.gov/qualifications/policy/ApplicationOfStds-04.asp for more information.

    You are not required to submit official documents at this time; copies are sufficient.

    Special Instructions for Foreign Education: Qualifying education from colleges and universities in foreign countries must be evaluated in terms of equivalency to that acquired in U.S. colleges and universities. Applicants educated in whole or in part in foreign countries must submit sufficient evidence, including transcripts, to an accredited private organization for an equivalency evaluation of course work and degree. A listing of these accredited organizations can be found on the Department of Education's website - http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html . You must provide a copy of the letter containing the results of the equivalency evaluation with a course by course listing along with your application. Failure to provide such documentation when requested will result in lost consideration.

    NOTE: You will not be considered if you fail to provide all required documents.

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