Accounting Technician (OA)

Summary This is an Open and Continuous Announcement, first applicant review will be conducted on 11/30 and any eligible and qualified applicants will be forwarded to the hiring officials for consideration. Reviews will continue to take place every 3 weeks until all positions are filled or otherwise closed by the hiring official. This OCA will continue until the end of February 2025. Responsibilities Major duties include but are not limited to: Employee Travel Program Coordinator (60%) The Chief Financial Manager (CFM) is administratively responsible for the FHCC's employee travel program. As the Employee Travel Program Coordinator, the employee is technically responsible for employee travel activity at the FHCC. Primary employee travel duties include assisting employees in preparing electronic Travel Plans and performing first level review of Travel Plans. Additional duties. Incumbent serves as the local coordinator of the Travel Program. The coordinator has an influential part in the Travel program and communicates with management, employee travelers and fellow employees. Incumbent coordinates all training efforts to ensure a successful program. The incumbent analyzes the program, identifies ways to improve (be more efficient) or provide better service. In coordination with Budget Supervisor sets goals and objectives, implements new ideas and follows up on the process. Travel Program Oversight (15%) The nature of the incumbent's duties involve, but are not limited to, Travel fund control point management and maintenance; on-line input to the Travel Package and systems related to the Travel Management Center (TMC). Incumbent provides management with reports, analyses and evaluations on a quantitative or qualitative basis, the effectiveness of programs or operations in meeting established goals and objectives of the Budget Supervisor, CFM, and/or Resource Directorate of the FHCC. The incumbent performs Financial Management system actions. Reconciles subsidiary accounts with general ledger control accounts for obligations, payables and a wide range of documents from various travel related functions. Travel Management Center (TFM) Program Coordinator (25%) Incumbent is the facility level liaison between the FHCC and the TMC program. Responsible for monitoring the electronica billings made from the TMC to the Austin Finance Center through Financial Management System (FMS). The incumbent reviews the charge on the employee itineraries to assure accuracy of the appropriate individual credit card accounts. Monthly US Bank reports are consistently reviewed and follow up initiated for delinquent accounts or misuse of the US Bank card. Ensures TM rejects are reviewed and corrected timely. Incumbent systemizes the overall operation of the travel card program. provides management with reports, analyses and evaluation, on a quantitative or qualitative basis, the effectiveness of program or operations in meeting established goals and objectives of the travel program. Manages both the US Bank, and Citi Direct Bank corporate and individual employee accounts. Reviews and audits transactions are in compliance with established rules and regulations. Incumbent works with minimum supervision and is familiar with generally accepted accounting principles as pertains to travel and all other ancillary duties described below. A general description of what is accomplished: Receives, analyzes, and classifies all commitment and obligation documents. Reviews documents for validity of budget data, expenditure limitation, accounting data', and for proper authorization and compliance with existing manuals, regulations, and station policies. Certifies fund availability to cover all initiations, commitments, and obligations pursuant to the Financial Management System (FMS) instruction guide and daily reports Prepares correspondence concerning the status of outstanding obligations. Matches disbursing documents with obligation data; verifies accuracy and completeness of data and ensures that equipment, materials, or services have been reviewed. The incumbent performs accounting duties that include classification of transactions and maintenance of segments of the accounting system. This includes maintenance of the Trial Balance through general ledger entries, the Operating Ledger by proper costing of documents, and the E-Travel Package. Incumbent examines accounting transactions for accuracy, adequacy of documentation of citations, compliance with regulations, and justification. Incumbent prepares travel authorities, vouchers and advances. Reviews payment of travel claims, tuition and travel advances. Incumbent assists employee travelers with completion of expense reports and proper travel related expenditures. Examines and Maintains Accounts & Accounting Data Manages checks and balances to transactions and procedures to ensure data integrity and regulatory compliance. Examines, verifies and maintains financial accounts, according data and classifies accounting transactions including the verification of accuracy and completeness of accounting data. Additional duties are included. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 7:30am-4:00pm Telework: Ad-Hoc Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Accounting Technician (OA)/PD10320A Financial Disclosure Report: Not required Requirements Conditions of Employment You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA. Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959 You may be required to serve a probationary period Subject to background/security investigation Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP) Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details. Qualifications This position is located at the Captain James A. Lovell Federal Health Care Center (FHCC) in North Chicago, lllinois, in the Department of Financial Management, Travel Division. The incumbent serves as the Employee Travel Program Coordinator and the Travel Management Center (TMC) Program Coordinator for the facility. Has primary responsibility for all employee travel operations including associated accounting transactions To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 02/28/2025. Time-In-Grade Requirement: Applicants who are current Federal employees and have held a GS grade any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement. For a GS-7 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-6. The grade may have been in any occupation, but must have been held in the Federal service. An SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials. If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate you possess one-year time-in-grade, as required by the announcement. In this instance, you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one-year time-in-grade. Note: Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to former Federal employees applying for reinstatement as well as current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment. You may qualify based on your experience as described below: Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-6 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: performing clerical, assistant or technician level work in support of a budget, accounting, payroll and/or financial management functions; understanding accounting principles, methods, procedures, and techniques; and utilizing accounting system software package applications and computer systems to perform a variety of accounting related duties. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Accounting Accounting Operations Attention to Detail 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. Note: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment. Physical Requirements: The work of this position is primarily sedentary with some carrying of computer reports, boxes and ledgers. The work is performed in a normal office setting. For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/. Education A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on 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. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/. Additional Information This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. Pursuant to VHA Directive 1193.01, VHA health care personnel (HCP) are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 subject to such accommodations as required by law (i.e., medical, religious or pregnancy). VHA HCPs do not include remote workers who only infrequently enter VHA locations. If selected, you will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination before your start date. The agency will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request a legally required accommodation from this requirement using the reasonable accommodation process. If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement. Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.