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STAFF ACCOUNTANT

Employer
USAJobs
Location
Washington, D.C
Closing date
Oct 27, 2021

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Duties

Summary

The Office of Investment Advisers and Investment Companies (IA/IC) within the Division of Examinations is filling two positions for a Staff Accountant, SK-0510-12 or 13 in Washington, DC.
Learn more about this agency

Responsibilities

The Division of Examinations conducts the SEC's National Exam Program. The Division's mission is to protect investors, ensure market integrity and support responsible capital formation through risk-focused strategies that: (1) improve compliance; (2) prevent fraud; (3) monitor risk; and (4) inform policy. The results of the Division's examinations are used by the SEC to inform rule-making initiatives, identify and monitor risks, improve industry practices and pursue misconduct.

If selected, you will join a well-respected team that is responsible for supporting EXAMS' mission to conduct and coordinate the nationwide examination program for entities over which the Commission has regulatory authority

As a Staff Accountant, you will:
  • Participate in and provide technical assistance and support to examination or inspection activities for investment advisers and investment companies;
  • Work as a member of a team with other staff members engaged in conducting examinations; respond to trends in the market; identify areas of the market that merit special attention; and develop new inspection/examination procedures and processes;
  • Provide technical advice and assistance in the areas of accounting principles and standards, evaluate internal control processes, perform complex and difficult assignments supporting the mission of the Division of Examinations;
  • Prepare reports, correspondence, memoranda and other documents summarizing reviews, research and analysis related to registered entities' compliance with the federal securities laws; and
  • Analyze complex internal control systems and processes, analyze the methods used for valuing and accounting for a portfolio of securities, reconstruct records and process flows, analyze cash-management systems, investigate new financial products, analyze performance calculations, and/or analyze risk.


Travel Required

Occasional travel - Travel averages 5 days a month.

Supervisory status
No

Promotion Potential
14

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

  • You must be a US Citizen.
  • Application procedures are specific to this vacancy announcement. Please read all the instructions carefully. Failure to follow the instructions may result in you not being considered for this position.
  • Supplementary vacancies may be filled in addition to the number stated in this announcement.
  • This position has promotion potential to the SK-14
  • PROBATIONARY PERIOD: This appointment may require completion of a one-year probationary period.
  • SECURITY CLEARANCE: Entrance on duty is contingent upon completion of a pre-employment security investigation. Favorable results on a Background Investigation may be a condition of employment or selection to another position.
  • DRUG TESTING: This position may be subjected to drug testing requirements.
  • PERMANENT CHANGE OF STATION (PCS): Moving/Relocation expenses are not authorized.
  • DIRECT DEPOSIT: All Federal employees are required to have Federal salary payments made by direct deposit to a financial institution of their choosing.
  • This position is in the collective bargaining unit.
  • Due to COVID-19, the SEC is currently in an optional telework posture. This position is eligible to request telework in accordance with the SEC 's telework policy.
  • Typical Examiner Travel: Examination staff routinely travel to the offices of registered entities to conduct on-site inspections of facilities, to meet with and interview entity personnel, and to examine certain business records.
  • All SEC employees (whether teleworking or working onsite) who are not approved for a reasonable accommodation must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by no later than Nov. 22, 2021.
  • For information about where to obtain a vaccine at no cost to you, please visit Vaccines.gov.


Qualifications

All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement.

Time-in-grade for this announcement is one year at the GS/SK-11 level.
Time-in-grade for this announcement is one year at the GS/SK-12 level.

Qualifying experience may be obtained in the private or public sector. 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. Qualifying education must have been obtained from an accredited college or university recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

BASIC REQUIREMENT:
    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.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENT: In addition to meeting the basic requirement, applicants must also meet the minimum qualification requirement.
SK-12: Applicant must have at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS/SK-11 level. Specialized experience includesperforming at least two of the following functions:
  • Participating in examinations, investigations, audits or internal compliance reviews of securities-related financial institutions such as investment advisers, investment companies, broker-dealers, clearing agencies, national securities exchanges or transfer agents;
  • Assisting in the adoption, implementation, or testing of internal controls or internal risk management programs (such as enterprise or operational risk management);
  • Analyzing financial, operational, or securities industry data;
  • Assisting with the review of procedures, practices, or records related to the issuance, distribution, and/or trading of securities;
  • Engaging in securities trading, portfolio management, or investment management or performing investment analysis or management of securities; or
  • Applying public accounting and auditing standards such as Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS).

  • SK-13: Applicant must have at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS/SK-12 level. Specialized experience includesperforming at least three of the following functions:
  • Performing examinations, investigations, audits, or internal compliance reviews of securities-related financial institutions such as investment advisers, investment companies, broker-dealers, clearing agencies, or transfer agents;
  • Developing and implementing tests of internal controls or internal risk management programs (such as enterprise or operational risk management);
  • Applying forensic accounting techniques and analyses to financial, operational, or securities industry data;
  • Performing reviews of procedures, practices, and records related to the issuance, distribution, and/or trading of securities;
  • Engaging in securities trading, portfolio management, or investment management or performing investment analysis or management of securities; or
  • Applying public accounting and auditing standards such as Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS)


  • Education

    FOREIGN EDUCATION: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. For further information, visit: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html

    Additional information

    Salary Ranges:
    • SK-12: $95,470 - $161,756
    • SK-13: $113,533 - $192,347
    Disability Employment: For information on disability appointments, please visit http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/disability-employment/

    IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR SURPLUS OR DISPLACED FEDERAL EMPLOYEES: Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) and Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) are available to individuals who have special priority selection rights under this plan. Individuals must be well-qualified for this position to receive consideration for special priority selection. CTAP or ICTAP eligibles will be considered well-qualified when receiving an adjudicated score of 80 or higher.

    Veterans Employment Opportunity Act (VEOA): To be eligible for a VEOA appointment under Merit Promotion procedures, you must be a preference eligible or a Veteran separated after 3 years or more of continuous active service performed under honorable conditions.

    LAND MANAGEMENT WORKFORCE FLEXIBILITY ACT (LMWFA): The LMWFA provides current or former temporary or term employees of federal land management agencies opportunity to compete for permanent competitive service positions. Individuals must have more than 24 months of service without a break between appointments of two or more years. Service must be in the competitive service and have been at a successful level of performance or better. For more information, click here .

    Noncompetitive Appointment Authorities: For more information on noncompetitive appointment authority eligibility requirements:
    • Persons with Disabilities-Schedule A
    • Special Hiring Authorities for Veterans
    • Special Hiring Authority for Certain Military Spouses
    • Other Special Appointment Authorities
    SEC COMPENSATION PROGRAM: For questions regarding SEC pay setting practices, please click here .

    Reasonable Accommodation: If you are an applicant who needs a reasonable accommodation for disability to participate in the application process at the SEC, submit the form for Reasonable Accommodation for Participation in Job Application Process here . Please be sure to submit your request at least 5 business days in advance of the date you need the requested accommodation.

    Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Information for SEC Job Applicants: Federal EEO laws protect all applicants from discrimination on the following bases: race, color, sex (not limited to conduct which is sexual in nature, includes pregnancy, gender identity, sexual orientation, transgender status), age (40 and over), religion, national origin, disability, genetic information, retaliation for participating in the EEO process or opposing discrimination. Applicants who believe they have been discriminated against on any EEO basis can seek recourse through the SEC's administrative complaints process. To be timely, an individual must enter the EEO process within 45 days from when they know (or should have known) of the alleged discrimination. Click here for additional information.

    TTY/ASCII: Video Relay Service users are welcome to contact the appropriate SEC office or employee via the contact information listed above. If you do not otherwise have access to a Video Phone or Video Relay service, you may send us an email or use the Federal Video Relay Service via the internet. For more information about using the Federal Relay Service and to create a new account, please see: https://www.federalrelay.us/

    How You Will Be Evaluated

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

    Your resume and supporting documentation will be used to determine whether you meet the job qualifications listed on this announcement. If you are basically qualified for this job, your resume and supporting documentation will be compared to your responses on the Occupational Questionnaire. If you rate yourself higher than is supported by your application materials, your responses may be adjusted and/or you may be excluded from consideration for this job. If you are found to be among the top candidates, you will be referred to the selecting official for employment consideration.

    Your qualifications will be evaluated on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities and other characteristics):
    • Accounting Guidance and Advice, Economics and Accounting, and Technical Communication
    The Occupational Questionnaire will take you approximately 10 minutes to complete. To preview the Occupational Questionnaire, click the following link https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/11233453 .

    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

    You must provide a complete Application Package, which includes:
    • Required: Your responses to the Occupational Questionnaire.
    • Required: Your complete and comprehensive resume that includes a complete history of your work experience and the applicable employment dates with months and years. If you are a current or former Federal employee, it is recommended that your resume include the title, series, and grade (e.g. SK-0301-12) for all relevant Federal experience . To determine if you qualify for this position, OHR will review your work history that is relevant to the specific position for which you applied. If you are an external candidate selected for this position, OHR will review your complete work history to establish your starting salary. If you are a current SEC employee selected for this position, the standard percentage increases will be applied (i.e., 6% for non-supervisory and 8% for supervisory positions) if your selection results in a promotion. If your selection results in lateral movement (i.e. no change in grade) you will maintain your current salary. Note: Your resume must directly address the definition of specialized experience listed in the qualification section of this announcement and must NOT contain pictures. For external candidates: Information on how your resume will be used for pay setting purposes can be found here .
    • Required, if you are a current or former Federal employee*: Your most recent Promotion, Within Grade Increase (i.e. WGI), or Appointment/Conversion SF-50 or non-award Notification of Personnel Action (if applying as a current or former Federal Employee) must show you are/were in the competitive service and the highest grade or promotion potential held. Note: If you are in the excepted service, your current agency must have an interchange agreement with OPM - for a list of agencies with current interchange agreements please click here .
    • Required, if applicable: CTAP/ICTAP documentation (a copy of a separation notice or other proof of eligibility for priority selection; a copy of an SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action, showing current position, grade, promotion potential, and duty location; AND a copy of your most recent performance appraisal.)
    • Required, if applicable: VEOA documentation (DD-214, member 4 copy or other documentation containing dates of service and character of discharge.)
    • Required, if applicable: Special Hiring Authority eligibility documentation (VA letter, Schedule A eligibility letter, Peace Corp letter, etc)
    • Required, if applicable: Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act supporting documentation.
    *SEC EMPLOYEES: OHR will verify your competitive service eligibility via the SEC's personnel database.

    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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