Clarification from the agency

ALL US CITIZENS. DIRECT HIRE AUTHORITY: This position is being filled using Direct-Hire Authority (5 CFR 337.201) for this occupation.

Videos

MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• The operating accountant is responsible for the detailed and efficient operation and control of day to day fiscal activities at this facility.
• Provides analysis and technical expertise for accounting matters to the chief, accountant, Fiscal Officer and upper management.
• Responsible for the completion of miscellaneous or special assignments from local management as well as VISN and/or VACO financial management
• Provides guidance and assistance to lower graded accountants, accounting interns and technicians in the resolution of complex problems, the interpretation of written guidelines and similar technical matters.
• Initiates, leads, and/or participates in special studies or reviews of accounting operations and prepares reports, automated systems changes and/or standard operating procedures based on study results.
• Reviews Command and higher echelon regulations, procedures and policy guidance, audit findings, customer complaints and managerial directives dealing with day-to-day operations to identify new requirements, sources of problems, interfaces with other appropriations/accounting systems and functions susceptible to more economical, efficient and effective operation.
• Gathers and analyzes data from a variety of sources.
• Coordinates with specialists in other units of the Comptroller or affected elements of the Command and serviced activities to develop corrective approaches to problem situations.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday; 8:00 am - 4:30 pm
Position Description Title/PD#: Accountant/PD02654A
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.
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.

****All required documentation must be uploaded before the announcement closes, to support eligibility.****

Failure to submit documentation will constitute the application being categorized as incomplete and therefore ineligible for referral.

Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. citizen to apply for this job
• Subject to a background/suitability investigation
• May serve a probationary period
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
• A complete application package; Resume, Transcripts, etc
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 05/03/2024.

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;
  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.

In addition to meeting the basic education requirements, you must possess the required specialized experience, education, or combination of experience and education as identified below:GS-9

• GS-9 SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: One year of specialized experience (equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (GS-07) in the Federal Service). Specialized experience includes identifying accounting problems such as inadequate maintenance of fund controls, inaccurate records and reports, improper methods for document control, and lack of documentary evidence to support performance of regulatory reconciliations. Examples of Specialized Experience may include: checking data and comparing reports or transactions to source documents, or authorizations against transactions to ensure their acceptability for further processing; drafting simple instructions to describe internal accounting procedures for a procedures manual to be prepared by a senior accountant; assisting senior auditors in executing portions of an audit plan that tracks process flow, verifies reported data, or assures that functional operating instructions generate desired results; conducting searches of budget and financial records to provide factual data on the amount and type of funds available for submission to others within the employing entity who will use the data to prepare budget estimates and reprogramming actions; or serving as a source of information on specific rules and procedures governing the processing of routine budgetary actions.

OR;.

• GS-9 EDUCATION: Applicants may substitute education for the experience required for the GS-9 level which is completion of two (2) years of progressively higher level graduate education or a Master's Degree or equivalent graduate degree which provided the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of the Accountant. Only graduate level education in excess of the amount required for the next lower grade level may be combined with experience. (TRANSCRIPTS REQUIRED)

OR;

• GS-9 COMBINING EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at the GS-9 level. (TRANSCRIPTS REQUIRED)

GS-11

• GS-11 SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: Applicants must possess at least one (1) full year of specialized experience (equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (GS-9) in the Federal Service). Specialized experience includes identifying accounting problems in an automated accounting system such as inadequate maintenance of fund controls, inaccurate records and reports, lack of documentary evidence to support performance of reconciliations required by regulation, and improper methods of document control. Examples of Specialized Experience should include: Accounting - uses conventional accounting methods to reconcile payroll system and general ledger payroll data and to analyze internal controls over accounts receivable over payments. Auditing - uses standard audit procedures to measure the degree of program and financial management compliance with regulations and adherence to accepted accounting principles and management practices. Budget Analysis - applies specific budgetary rules, regulations, principles, and procedures associated with all phases of budget formulation and execution related to segments of the budget for assigned support activities.

OR;

• GS-11 EDUCATION: Applicants may substitute education for the experience required for the GS-11 level which is completion of three (3) years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree which provided the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of the Accountant. (TRANSCRIPTS REQUIRED)

OR;

• GS-11 COMBINING EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at the GS-11 level. (TRANSCRIPTS REQUIRED)

To calculate, first identify the percentage of required education you have earned (when substituting, you cannot use the first 60 semester hours that you earned). Then identify the percentage of required experience you possess. Add the two percentages. The total percentage must equal at least 100 percent to qualify at the GS-XX. For example, an applicant who has 9 semester hours of graduate level education (i.e. 50% of graduate education required) and 6 months of creditable specialized experience (i.e. 50% of the required experience) would equal 100% of the required experience for the position A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.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.

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. Applicants will be referred in the order in which they were received.

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.

The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position.

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.

Financial disclosure not required.