Accountant

Summary Serve as an Operation Accountant and is responsible for the maintenance of a double entry commercial type accounting system which involves assets, liabilities, general ledger accounting, cost accounting and accountability for appropriations, revolving funds and trust accounts. Responsibilities Duties consist of the following, but are not limited to: Assists the Chief Accountant. Meets with operating officials to train and/or explain financial data and information derived from accounting or cost reports. Assists to endure documents associated with returned checks, invoice processing, public vouchers for refund, overpayment and bills of collections are processed on a timely basis and proper controls are implemented. Assists in disseminating pertinent information to management concerning current problems, future programs or the financial implications revealed by accounting data trends and reports that may affect policy decisions. Assists in working with Information Resources Service (IRMS) to interface accounting systems software packages with current programs. Assists in continuously monitoring the Accounting Section at the Medical Center with a constant goal of improvement. Promotion Potential: The selectee may be promoted to the full performance level without further competition when all regulatory, qualification, and performance requirements are met. Selection at a lower grade level does not guarantee promotion to the full performance level. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8:00am-4:30pm Telework: 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(Reg Teleworks 6+ Days/Per Pay period). Telework eligibility will be discussed during the interview process. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Accountant/PD07411A and PD06351A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Requirements Conditions of Employment You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job 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 To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 11/18/2024. 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-09 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-07 and for a GS-11 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-09. 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 and/or education as described below: For the GS-09 Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade (GS-07) in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Provide cost reports, financial statements and other informational data reflecting the interrelation of accounting and cost budgeting; Oversee activities concerning entry of data into the various ledgers and records, transfers of funds, disbursements, receivables and payables to ensure funds are efficiently controlled and reports accurately reflect station financial position; Devise procedures and other methods to accumulate data for preparation of financial reports and financial/cost related analytical studies; Reconcile general ledger and subsidiary reports and statements of accountability; Analyze accounting systems or in modifying and adapting conventional accounting and analytical techniques; Examine documents, records and accounting reports and processes to ensure conformance with generally accepted accounting principle; Performs technical review of financial data and analysis, and interpretation of cost data. OR, Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have 2 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a master's degree or master's or equivalent graduate degree (Transcript required). OR, Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have an combination of specialized experience and graduate-level education beyond 1 year of graduate-level education For the GS-11 Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-09 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Provide cost reports, financial statements and other informational data reflecting the interrelation of accounting and cost budgeting; Oversee activities concerning entry of data into the various ledgers and records, transfers of funds, disbursements, receivables and payables to ensure funds are efficiently controlled and reports accurately reflect station financial position; Devise procedures and other methods to accumulate data for preparation of financial reports and financial/cost related analytical studies; Reconcile general ledger and subsidiary reports and statements of accountability; Analyze accounting systems or in modifying and adapting conventional accounting and analytical techniques; Examine documents, records and accounting reports and processes to ensure conformance with generally accepted accounting principle; Performs technical review of financial data and analysis, and interpretation of cost data. OR, Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have a 3 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree. OR, Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have an combination of specialized experience and graduate-level education beyond a Master's degree. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Accounting Operations Analytical Reasoning Communication Principles of Accounting 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: Are of the type that would normally occur in an office environment. Incumbent is subject to normal pressure in meeting accounting deadlines (monthly/quarterly reconciliation and end of the year close out). Work is primarily sedentary but may require some walking, bending, standing, lifting, stooping, climbing stairs, carrying computer reports, files, manual and ledgers. Working is performed in an office setting. Incumbent is responsible to learn, practice and support all existing safety practices relevant to this position. Incumbent will further contribute to and keep abreast of new safety practices as they are developed. 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 This occupational series has an Individual Occupational Requirement (IOR) which is a minimum qualification requirement. To be considered for the position, you must ensure that the experience is reflected in your resume and/or if applicable, transcripts must be uploaded to support education requirement or substitution. Individual Occupational Requirement (IOR) Basic Requirements 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. 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 Receiving Service Credit or 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. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. 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. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. 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.