Clarification from the agency

Open to current permanent employees of the West Texas VA Health Care System and CTAP eligibles.

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Analyzing, Reporting, Auditing and Accounting

Facility activities include: Providing systems analysis, advice, and design regarding Financial Management and Accounting systems used by VA; assisting Medical Center customers with various construction accounting inquiries; reconciling financial reports; taking corrective action on financial system issues or reporting errors; provide training to VA field station staff; and participating in financial system(s) annual close out. As a Financial Management Specialist, the incumbent performs analytical, evaluative and interpretive duties on any accounting matter related to the above functions. The incumbent provides technical expertise to accounting staff, as well as an adviser to higher management throughout the facility. The incumbent will apportion his/her time reviewing existing systems and workflow procedures in order to identify discrepancies or opportunities for system enhancements and analyzing systems requirement and designs of VA's Financial Management and Accounting Systems.

The majority of the daily workload is completed by the processing of local accounting information using DHCP (Decentralized Hospital Computer Program), IFCAP (Integrated Funds Distribution Control Point Accounting and Procedure), AR (Accounts Receivable), FAP (Fixed Assets Program), CCS (Credit Card System), OLCS (On-line Certification System), FMS at the Austin, Texas VA Data Processing Center, and the upcoming Nationally Implemented Financial and Logistics Integrated Technology Enterprise (FLITE) system.

The incumbent is responsible for performing account reconciliations, audits and regular reviews to ensure the integrity of the accounting data within the computerized systems. The incumbent is responsible for evaluating the validity of the accounting records and recommending and establishing necessary procedural changes to maintain proper records.

The incumbent is responsible to implement the corrective action plan for the discrepancies in the Quality Assurance Reviews (QAR's), by conducting training for both new and seasoned employees to ensure these discrepancies are corrected and don't become recurring items on future QAR's. The incumbent ensures that all employees in the section are kept informed of all new or revised procedures, as well as interpreting published accounting regulations and procedures.

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: 8:00am-4:30pm, Monday-Friday
Telework: Ad hoc available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Position Description/PD#: Accountant/PD00665A and PD00666A
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
• To be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process. In addition to the application and questionnaire, this position requires an online assessment. The online assessment measures critical general competencies required to perform the job.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
• Physical Requirements: The work required does not inherently include any physical requirements essential for successful job performance that could not otherwise be performed with accommodation or workplace adjustment. A pre-placement physical examination is not required.
• Subject to background/security investigation
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP)

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:

• your performance and conduct;
• the needs and interests of the agency;
• whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
• whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Upon completion of your probationary period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 02/23/2026.

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-9 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-7. For a GS-11 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-9. 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.

Candidates must meet the following Individual Occupational Requirement (IOR):
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.(TRANSCRIPT REQUIRED) 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. (TRANSCRIPT REQUIRED/Supporting Documentation REQUIRED)
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 the Individual Occupation Requirement, you may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below:

• GS-09 grade level: One year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-07 grade level in the federal service); experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities (KSA's) and other characteristics to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled, in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Specialized experience includes: knowledge of theories, practices, methods, and techniques of accounting and as required, auditing; and organizational or program practices, policies, and functions sufficient to independently plan and conduct a variety of assignments or investigations. 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 education beyond a bachelors degree. (TRANSCRIPT REQUIRED)

GS-11 grade level: One year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-07 grade level in the federal service); experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities (KSA's) and other characteristics to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled, in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Specialized experience includes: must possess professional, comprehensive knowledge of, and skill in applying, principles, theories, practices, methods, and techniques of accounting and auditing, and a knowledge of organizational or program practices, policies, functions, and programs, to independently execute a variety of accounting activities or assignments. Knowledge of and the ability to interpret and apply applicable laws, policies and regulations pertaining to agency financial activities, i.e., Directives, Handbooks, Comptroller General Decisions, General Accounting Office Guidelines, General Services Administration and Treasury Department Regulations. Must possess an extensive knowledge of fund control point accounting, allotment accounting and double entry general ledger accounting systems which include assets, liabilities, revenue, expenses, and capital accounts. Must possess the knowledge of the various automated accounting systems (IPPS, FMS, FAP, CCS, AR, and IFCAP) covering operations and expenses including, but not limited to payroll, travel, transportation, supplies, rents and services. Must possess a high degree of knowledge of appropriations, allotments, analysis accounts, cost accounts, general ledger accounts in a variety of funds, and applicable restrictions. Must be knowledgeable of fund and appropriation accounting concepts and procedures. OR
Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have 3 years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral 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 education beyond a masters degree. (TRANSCRIPT REQUIRED)

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

• Financial Systems
• Internal Contacts
• Principles of Accounting

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/.

How you will be evaluated

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

Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents), your responses on the application questionnaire, and your responses to all assessments required for this position. You will be assessed on the following Competencies for this position:

• Accountability
• Arithmetic/Mathematical Reasoning
• Attention to Detail
• Customer Service
• Decision Making
• Flexibility
• Integrity/Honesty
• Interpersonal Skills
• Learning
• Reasoning
• Self-Management
• Stress Tolerance
• Teamwork

Your experience must be fully documented on your resume and must include job title, duties, month and year start/end dates AND hours worked per week. 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. IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration. Cheating on the online assessment may also result in your removal from consideration.

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.

During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions.