Clarification from the agency

1st Area of Consideration: Current, Permanent James J Peters VA Medical Center employees. 2nd Area of Consideration: Current, Permanent VA employees. 3rd Area of Consideration: Other Current, Permanent Federal employees. 4th Area of Consideration: Status

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The Technical Career Field (TCF) is a national workforce development program within VHA that was designed to replenish technical staff in critically identified positions. The TCF career fields represent those technical fields where VA-specific knowledge and experience is desirable for success in the field. Individuals selected follow a formal training plan for two years during which they are trained, coached, and supervised by a preceptor. Preceptors are selected annually, through an extensive application process, for their technical expertise, their commitment to training and the suitability of their facility as a training location. Trainees must remain at the hiring grade level for a minimum of one year. *Selectees will be required to sign Mobility, Training, and Continued Service Agreements.

This is a developmental position leading to a GS-11, performing assignments intended to broaden skills and provide practical experience leading to progressively more complex assignments performed under progressively less supervision. 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.

Duties may include but are not limited to:

• Knowledge of accounting practices; methods and techniques required to perform assignments using procedures and practices that are conventional and apply to most situations encountered.
• Review and process accounting documents
• Assist in maintaining, analyzing and reconciling general ledgers and subsidiary ledgers
• Assists in preparing related reports and in initiating corrective actions.
• Provides advice and assistance to technicians, analysts and clerical personnel on transactions requiring professional accounting determinations.
• Maintains liaison with serviced activities, providing advice on availability of funds, reporting methods and account reconciliations.
• Studies and charts the flow of accounting documents
• Observes and reports on prevailing practices concerning the treatment of selected transactions.
• Analyzes current procedures and systems to determine if improvement or simplification is needed.
• Studies, analyzes and interprets manuals and other accounting regulations from higher authority and discusses their application with supervisor.
• Performs other related duties as assigned

Work schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00am - 4:30pm
Compressed/Flexible Schedule: Not Available
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. Telework eligibility will be discussed during the interview process.
Position Description Title/PD#: Accountant - Technical Career Field (TCF)/ PD55677A

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.
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
• 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.
• Training-Service Agreement and Mobility Agreement required.
• 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, 08/15/2022.

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-07 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-05. 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. 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 education and/or experience as described below:

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:
  1. Twenty-four semester hours in accounting or auditing courses of appropriate type and quality. This can include up to 6 hours of business law; or
  2. A certificate as Certified Public Accountant or a Certified Internal Auditor, obtained through written examination; or
  3. 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.

GS-5: Applicants who meet the basic requirements described above, meet the GS-5 level qualification requirement. Transcripts required to verify education.

To qualify at the GS-07 level, applicants must meet the Basic Requirement and one of the requirements below:

GS-07 Specialized Experience: Requires one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-05 grade level that has equipped you with the knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSA's)necessary to perform the duties of the position. Specialized experience includes but is not limited to: Knowledge of the concepts and principles of accounting; ensuring the accuracy of accounting transactions; working with checks and balances; and using automated accounting systems. (Resume(s) must clearly support the duties and experience required for this position. We will not make assumptions regarding experience.)

-OR-

Superior Academic Achievement (SAA) (TRANSCRIPT REQUIRED): At the baccalaureate level in the course work detailed above.

NOTE: Applicants who wish to apply under this provision must submit proof from their educational institution that they meet one of the criteria listed below.
To qualify for SAA, applicants must have completed all the requirements for a bachelor's degree as described above under "Basic Requirements" and meet one of the following:
1) A grade-point average of "B" (a G.P.A. of 2.95 or higher out of a possible 4.0) for all completed undergraduate courses, or those completed in the last two (2) years of undergraduate study.
2) A grade-point average of "B+" (a G.P.A. of 3.45 or higher out of a possible 4.0) for all courses in your major field of study, or those courses in your major completed in the last two (2) years of undergraduate study.
3) Rank in the upper one-third (1/3) of your class in the college, university or major subdivision.
4) Membership in a national scholastic honor society (other than freshman honor societies)recognized by the Association of College Honor Societies.

-OR-

Substitution of Education for Experience (Transcript Required): Requires one (1)full year of graduate education (18 semester hours is usually equivalent to one full year of study)at an accredited college or university in courses related to the field of accounting.

-OR-

Combination of Education and Experience (Transcript Required): Requires an equivalent combination of successfully completed graduate-level education and specialized experience, as described above, which meets the total experience requirements for this grade level.

You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position:

• Accounting
• Administration and Management
• Attention to Detail
• Auditing
• Internal Controls/Integrity

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.

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/.

Physical Requirements: The work is primarily sedentary. Employee must be able to get around the office and to other offices; no significant physical ability or exertion is required.

How you will be evaluated

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

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE.

Narrative responses are not required at this time. If you are referred for consideration, you may be asked to submit additional job related information, which may include, but not limited to; responses to the knowledge, skills and abilities; completion of a work sample, and/or contact for an interview. Your resume and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating or consideration for employment.

For more information on the "Who may apply" eligibility requirements, please refer to the OHRM Status Candidates and Other Candidate Definitions document.

Placement Policy: The posting of this announcement does not obligate management to fill a vacancy or vacancies by promotion. The position may be filled by reassignment, change to lower grade, transfer, appointment, or reinstatement. Management may use any one or any combination of these methods to fill the position.

It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.

Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.