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ACCOUNTANT

Department of Defense
Defense Finance and Accounting Service
Disbursing Operations
This job announcement has closed

Summary

Who may apply: Current, permanent DFAS employees in the competitive service and current DFAS VRA employees within Disbursing Operations - Indianapolis and eligible Priority Placement Program DoD Military Spouses Preference applicants.

Overview

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Reviewing applications
Open & closing dates
06/18/2025 to 07/02/2025
Salary
$50,425 to - $97,011 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 7 - 11
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Indianapolis, IN
1 vacancy
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
No
Travel Required
Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
11
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Secret
Drug test
No
Position sensitivity and risk
Critical-Sensitive (CS)/High Risk
Trust determination process
Financial disclosure
No
Bargaining unit status
Yes
Announcement number
IN-12751192-25
Control number
838942600

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

This announcement is open to current, permanent DFAS employees in the competitive service and current DFAS VRA employees within Disbursing Operations - Indianapolis and eligible Priority Placement Program DoD Military Spouses Preference applicants.

Duties

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  • Duties described below reflect the full performance level GS-11. Duties assigned to an entry grade of GS-7 or GS-9 will be developmental in nature.
  • Serves as a staff expert regarding the operational accounting functions and the application of generally accepted accounting principles, policies, and procedures.
  • Identifies problem areas and determines actions required to improve operating program effectiveness, ensure the propriety of accounting transaction processing, and maintain the integrity of accounting records and financial information.
  • Reviews, analyzes, and evaluates a variety of incoming accounting reports and/or accounting source documents.
  • Assists in establishing and monitoring internal controls to identify problem areas, determine actions required to improve operating program effectiveness, and ensure and maintain the integrity of financial and accounting information.
  • Coordinates with budget personnel regarding actions required to identify, track, research, liquidate/cancel unliquidated balances in expiring and closing appropriations.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • Must be a U.S. Citizen or National
  • Registered for Selective Service (males born after 12-31-1959)
  • Suitable for Federal employment
  • Time after Competitive Appointment: Candidates must have served 3 months after latest competitive appointment in the Federal service.
  • This national security position, which may require access to classified information, requires a favorable suitability review and security clearance as a condition of employment. Failure to maintain security eligibility may result in termination.
  • Time in Grade Requirement - see the Qualifications field below for more details.
  • Obtain/Maintain Financial Management Certification
  • New employees to the Defense Finance and Accounting Service will be required to successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit e-verify.gov.

Qualifications

This position has a positive education requirement. To qualify for this position you must meet one of the basic requirements described below:

(1) Completion of all requirements for a bachelor's degree in accounting from an accredited college or university; 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. OR

(2) Candidates may also qualify through a combination of education and experience: at least 4 years of accounting experience or an equivalent combination of accounting experience, college-level education, and training that provided professional accounting knowledge AND 24 semester hours in accounting/auditing courses, which may include up to 6 hours of business law, OR a certificate as a Certified Public Accountant or Certified Internal Auditor.

You may need to send proof of education or of certification to be considered for this position. Click here for more information on who must submit documentation at the time of application and what documentation is acceptable: Transcripts and Certifications.

In addition to meeting the basic requirement, qualified applicants must possess one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade (GS-05 for the GS-07 level, GS-07 for the GS-09 level, or GS-09 for the GS-11 level) in the Federal service, which demonstrates the ability to perform the duties of the position.

Specialized experience at the GS-07 grade level is defined as: applying accounting laws, principles, systems, policies, methods, and practices to provide routine technical guidance to managers, employees and/or customers; evaluating reports from financial systems; gathering financial data from various sources related to a specific financial issue; and researching accounting policies and laws to resolve common issues.

Specialized experience at the GS-09 grade level is defined as: providing professional accounting services, advice, assistance, and information to an assigned area by applying accounting concepts, principles, and methods to the day-to-day accounting operations and automated accounting systems.

Specialized experience at the GS-11 grade level is defined as: providing professional accounting services in the interpretation and application of accounting principles, policies, and procedures; designing, implementing and assessing internal control processes; conducting studies of financial management execution activities; enhancing the validity, accuracy, and integrity of accounting processes.

Time-in-Grade GS-07: Current or former federal employees who have held a GS position in the preceding 52 weeks, must meet the time in grade requirement. Applicant must have served 52 weeks as a GS-05 or higher grade in Federal Service.
Time-in-Grade GS-09: Current or former federal employees who have held a GS position in the preceding 52 weeks, must meet the time in grade requirement. Applicant must have served 52 weeks as a GS-07 or higher grade in Federal Service.
Time-in-Grade GS-11: Current or former federal employees who have held a GS position in the preceding 52 weeks, must meet the time in grade requirement. Applicant must have served 52 weeks as a GS-09 or higher grade in Federal Service.

You may qualify for consideration if meeting time-in grade, specialized experience, education requirement, 90 days after competitive appointment requirement, and all other qualification requirements within 30 calendar days after the closing date of the announcement, unless otherwise indicated on the announcement.

Education

GS-07 Substitution of Education for Experience: One full year of graduate level education or a bachelor's degree with Superior Academic Achievement may be substituted to meet the specialized experience requirement. Superior Academic Achievement: S.A.A. is based on (1) class standing, (2) grade-point average, or (3) honor society membership.

GS-9 Substitution of Education for Experience: Two full years of progressively higher level graduate education, Master's or equivalent graduate degree, may be substituted to meet the specialized experience requirement. Equivalent combinations of successfully completed graduate level education and experience may be used to meet total experience requirements. If you are using education to substitute for the specialized experience, you must submit transcripts at the time you apply. To be creditable, education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university recognized by the U.S. Department of Education (http://www2.ed.gov/admins/finaid/accred/index.html).

GS-11 Substitution of Education for Experience: Three full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree may be substituted to meet the specialized experience requirement. Equivalent combinations of successfully completed higher-level graduate level education and experience may be used to meet total experience requirements. If you are using education to substitute for the specialized experience, you must submit transcripts at the time you apply. To be creditable, education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university recognized by the U.S. Department of Education (http://www2.ed.gov/admins/finaid/accred/index.html).

If you are using education to substitute for the qualifying experience, you must submit transcripts at the time you apply.

To be creditable, education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university recognized by the U.S. Department of Education (http://www2.ed.gov/admins/finaid/accred/index.html).

Additional information

  • Moving expenses will not be paid.
  • Telework availability is limited and will only be provided on a rare case-by-case basis during situations where Agency Leadership has determined that telework serves a compelling DoD need.
  • We may use this announcement to make a temporary promotion. For some positions, the temporary promotion may be made permanent without further competition.
  • Selections are subject to restrictions resulting from the DoD Program for Stability of Civilian Employment.
  • A one year probationary or trial period may be required.
  • We may use this announcement to fill additional vacancies within 120 days of the closing date.
  • This position is Non-exempt at the GS-07 and 09 grade levels and exempt at the GS-11 level from the Fair Labor Standards Act.
  • Travel requirement is occasional.
  • This position iscovered by a bargaining unit.
  • For grades below the full performance level, only MSP/PPP eligible candidates who currently occupy a formal training program position will be entitled to exercise their priority preference.
  • Retired Civil Service Employee: Employment of retired Federal employees receiving an annuity is subject to the requirements of the Department of Defense (DoD) policy guidance. (See DoD Instruction 1400.25, Volume 300 here)
  • This position will be covered by formal training under the DFAS Career Acclimation Program (DCAP). The purpose of this program is to develop well-qualified, well-trained, high potential employees for future positions within DFAS. Promotion is conditional based on performance, successful completion of training, and availability of higher graded work. Participants who do not successfully complete the program may be separated.
  • This position requires you to obtain and maintain a Level 2 Certification under the DoD Financial Management (FM) Certification Program as a condition of employment. If you are selected, you will have to obtain this certification within two (2) years of your entry on duty in the position unless you are already in a position that requires a Level 2 Certification in which case you must complete the certification within the original 2-year period. Failure to become certified within the required time-frame may be grounds for removal from the position and/or from Federal service.
  • The Security Designation will vary and dependent upon position and may require a secret clearance or higher. Employment in this position requires a background investigation which may delay starting date. If you are selected and cannot obtain a favorable security determination within a reasonable period of time due to disclosed/undisclosed background issues, the employment offer may be withdrawn. Individuals selected are required to obtain/maintain a favorable security determination to occupy a sensitive position within the agency as a condition of employment. Failure to maintain eligibility to occupy a sensitive position may result in termination. For more information see the security section of Understanding Vacancy Announcements.
  • Criminal History Inquiries- For some positions, criminal history inquiries may not take place before you receive a conditional job offer. Please see Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs Act of 2019 (dfas.mil) for more information on The Fair Chance to Compete Act, exceptions, and DFAS contact information.
  • All applicants are encouraged to apply electronically. If you are unable to apply on-line, you may contact 317-212-0454 for assistance.

How you will be evaluated

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

All information included in the resume and Occupational Questionnaire is subject to review and verification. HR will review your resume and supporting documentation to ensure you meet the minimum qualification requirements. Applicants meeting the minimum requirements will be further evaluated based upon information you provided in the Occupational Questionnaire. If a determination is made that the work experience described in your submitted resume does not support your responses to the self-assessment questionnaire, your score may be reduced, and you may lose consideration for this position. If you are already a DFAS employee, you may be subject to disciplinary action, up to and including removal from Federal service, if you are found to have exaggerated, embellished, inflated, mischaracterized, or falsified your resume or qualifications.

The Assessment Questionnaire takes approximately 15 minutes to complete and collects information on your education, training and experience related to the following critical competencies:

  • Accounting Analysis
  • Concepts, Policies, and Principles of Accounting
  • Customer Service
  • Decision Support
  • Problem Solving


You can preview the Assessment Questionnaire here: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12751192

DFAS recognizes the value of competencies gained through formal education and professional certifications. To ensure that consistent credit is given for these credentials in the selection process, DFAS has developed standard selection criteria to be used when filling positions in professional and administrative series. Selections for professional and administrative positions will be based on four categories of selection criteria: Experience, Other, Education, and Certifications.

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