This vacancy is for a LeadAccountant position in the Chief Financial Officer located at the U.S. Census Bureau Headquarters in Suitland, Maryland. The Census Bureau is accessible from the Metro Rail Green Line - Suitland Station.
This Job Opportunity Announcement may be used to fill other Accountant, 0510-13, FPL GS-13, positions within the Census Bureau in the same geographical location with the same qualifications and specialized experience.
Summary
This vacancy is for a LeadAccountant position in the Chief Financial Officer located at the U.S. Census Bureau Headquarters in Suitland, Maryland. The Census Bureau is accessible from the Metro Rail Green Line - Suitland Station.
This Job Opportunity Announcement may be used to fill other Accountant, 0510-13, FPL GS-13, positions within the Census Bureau in the same geographical location with the same qualifications and specialized experience.
Current Federal employees serving under a career/career-conditional appointment in the competitive service; Former Federal employees with reinstatement eligibility; CTAP/ICTAP eligibles; Applicants eligible under special hiring authorities; Veterans who are preference eligible, or separated from the U.S. Armed Forces under honorable conditions after 3 years or more of continuous active service may apply under the Veterans Employment Opportunity Act.
Serves as a Team Lead within the Accounts Receivable Branch, collaborating with branch and division chiefs to plan, coordinate, and oversee the work of staff.
Provides authoritative technical advice, guidance, and operational support to management and stakeholders on federal Accounts Receivable requirements, policies, and reporting standards established by OMB, GAO, and the U.S. Department of the Treasury.
Conducts comprehensive Accounts Receivable financial analyses, reviews, and validations of federal and non-federal receivables, including aging balances, collections, adjustments, write-offs, refunds, cash receipts, and outstanding debts.
Prepares and communicates AR performance metrics, financial analyses, aging trends, collection results, and outstanding receivable information, identifying emerging issues and recommending solutions to improve branch and organizational performance.
Coordinates with Treasury, budget, program offices, systems, and other financial management stakeholders to resolve complex AR issues, strengthen internal controls, improve financial data quality, and ensures compliance with financial requirements.
Applicants must meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement.
U.S. Citizen.
Suitable for Federal employment.
Registered for Selective Service, if applicable (www.sss.gov).
Time-in-grade requirements must be met by closing date.
This is a NON-BARGAINING unit position.
Qualifications
Minimum Education Requirement:
You must meet the Basic Requirements andSpecialized Experience as described below.
BASIC REQUIREMENTS (A) 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.
OR
(B) 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.
AND
SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE
Specialized Experience: For the GS-13, you must have one year of experience at a level of difficulty and responsibility equivalent to the GS-12 in the Federal service. Experience for this position includes: Gather, record, analyze, and process financial data and transactions within accounting and financial management systems, with a specific focus on Accounts Receivable (AR), including federal and non-federal receivables, collections, reconciliations, adjustments, and account resolution; Oversee and support Collection Information Repository (CIR) and Pay.gov processes to facilitate electronic billing, collections, payment processing, and reconciliation of customer receivables and federal financial transactions; Prepare, review, and validate Treasury Report on Receivables (TROR) reporting, including analysis and reconciliation of receivable balances, aging, collections, adjustments, write-offs, and other required Treasury reporting data to ensure accurate and timely reporting; Analyze and reconcile financial transactions, including receivables, collections, Intra-Governmental Payment and Collection System (IPAC)/G-Invoicing activity, cash receipts, adjustments, and general ledger balances; research discrepancies and coordinate corrective actions to ensure accurate financial reporting;
Applicants must demonstrate and provide evidence in at least 3 of the above areas to be qualified.
Education: Substitution of education may not be used in lieu of specialized experience for this grade level. 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; religious; 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.
Education
You are not required to submit official transcripts/documents at this time; copies are sufficient. For further information on the educational requirement outlined above in the Qualifications section, see the OPM Qualification Standards associated with the Accounting Series 0510: Accounting Series 0510.
Additional information
Applicants who apply under this Job Opportunity Announcement may opt-in (at their request) to allow the sharing of their resume, and other associated documents with other Federal Agencies who have vacancies within the same occupational series, grade and pay band (or its equivalent), and full performance level in the same duty location or commuting area of the duty location listed on the Job Opportunity Announcement.
Individuals who have received a Voluntary Separation Incentive Payment, otherwise known as a buyout, must repay that incentive if they are reemployed by the Federal Government within five years of separation.
Additionally, the following links provide information on various hiring authorities that may enable you to apply through merit assignment procedures, or be eligible for a non-competitive appointment.
The Department of Commerce also provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please notify the Human Resources Office. The decision on granting reasonable accommodation will be on a case-by-case basis. TTY users can contact the Human Resources Office via the Federal Relay Service, 1-800-877-8339.
Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
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.
SME Resume Review: You will be evaluated according to your responses to the online questionnaire and the use of a Structured Resume Review. During the Structured Resume Review, Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) will review your resume to determine your technical qualifications for this position based on the required specialized experience. Applicants passing the structured resume review will move on to the next phase of the process. Upon completion of the Structured Resume Review, candidates identified as "best qualified" will be referred to the hiring manager and may be invited for an interview.
Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration. Cheating on an assessment may also result in your removal from consideration.
CTAP and ICTAP candidates:CTAP and ICTAP candidates will be eligible for selection priority if it is determined that they have exceeded the minimum qualifications for the position by attaining at least a rating of 85 out of 100. Information about CTAP and ICTAP eligibility is on the Office of Personnel Management's Career Transition Resources website, The Employee's Guide to Career Transition.
If you are invited for an interview, you may be asked to bring a copy of your most recent performance appraisal.
Due weight shall be given to performance appraisals and awards in accordance with 5 CFR ยง 335.103(b)(3).
You will be assessed on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics):
Financial Analysis
Financial Management
Technical
We recommend that you preview the online questions for this announcement before you start the application process.
Do NOT include the following types of information in your application if included on your resume you will not be considered for this position:
Social Security Number (SSN)
Date of Birth (DOB)
Photos of yourself
Personal information: such as age, gender, religious affiliation, etc.
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
The documents you are required to submit vary based on the authority you use to apply. Your complete application include the following:
Resume:Your resume must not exceed two (2) pages. If your resume exceeds the two-page limit, you will be deemed disqualified and removed from consideration. Your resume must include your educational and relevant work experience for the position for which you are applying to include the title and dates (mm/yy) of employment along with the number of hours worked per week. If your resume does not contain this information, your application may be marked as incomplete, and you will not receive consideration.
SF-50, "Notification of Personnel Action," supporting your eligibility, with the exception of current Census Bureau employees. You must provide the most current Notification of Personnel Action (Form SF-50) that verifies career/career-conditional status, title, series and grade, such as within-grade increase/within-range increase, promotion, initial appointment, reassignment, realignment, separation (Performance Award and General Adjustment SF-50s do not satisfy this requirement). Also provide the SF-50 that reflects the highest grade level held on a permanent basis or the full performance level of your current position, whichever is higher. Failure to do so will result in an ineligible rating.
Veterans Employment Opportunities Act (VEOA) documentation, if applicable. For more information, please go to the Veteran's Resource Page.
Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) and Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP):
CTAP applicants MUST submit the following:
A copy of your RIF separation notice; notice of proposed removal for declining a directed geographic relocation outside of the local commuting area; a Certificate of Expected Separation (CES); or certification that you are in a surplus organization or occupation (this could be a position abolishment letter, a notice of eligibility for discontinued service retirement, or similar notice).
A copy of your SF-50 "Notification of Personnel Action" noting current position, grade/band level, and duty location;
A copy of your latest performance appraisal including your rating; and
Any documentation from your bureau/operating unit that shows your current promotion potential.
ICTAP applicants MUST submit the following:
A copy of your RIF separation notice; notice of proposed removal for declining a directed geographic relocation outside of the local commuting area; notice of disability annuity termination; certification from your former agency that it cannot place you after your recovery from a work-related compensable injury; or certification from the National Guard Bureau or Military Department that you are eligible for disability retirement.
A copy of your SF-50 "Notification of Personnel Action", documenting your RIF separation, noting your position, grade/band level, and duty location, and/or Agency certification of inability to place you through RPL, etc.;
A copy of your latest performance appraisal including your rating; and
Any documentation from your agency that shows your current promotion potential.
Documentation supporting eligibility for non-competitive appointment (Schedule A disability, 30 percent disabled veteran, certain military spouses, etc).
Education Documentation:If this position requires proof of higher education, or you are substituting education for experience, you must submit an unofficial transcript or a list of courses that includes the following information: name of accredited institution, grades earned, completion dates, and quarter and semester hours earned. This also includes Census Bureau employees. Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the requirements. Please refer to OPM's Qualification Policy for more information.
You are not required to submit official documents at this time; copies are sufficient.
Special Instructions for Foreign Education: Qualifying education from colleges and universities in foreign countries must be evaluated in terms of equivalency to that acquired in U.S. colleges and universities. Applicants educated in whole or in part in foreign countries must submit sufficient evidence, including transcripts, to an accredited private organization for an equivalency evaluation of course work and degree. You must provide a copy of the letter containing the results of the equivalency evaluation with a course by course listing along with your application. Failure to provide such documentation when requested will result in lost consideration. For further information on the evaluation of foreign education, refer to the U.S. Department of Education's web site at Academic and Professional Mobility | International Affairs Office (ed.gov).
NOTE: You will not be considered if you fail to provide all required documents.
Resume
Transcript
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
Please read the entire announcement and all the instructions before you begin an application. To apply and be considered for this position, you must complete all required questionnaires, assessments and submit all required documentation as specified in the How to Apply and Required Documents section. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on 10/05/2026 to receive consideration. The application process is as follows:
Click the Apply Online button.
Answer the questions presented in the application and attach all necessary supporting documentation.
Click the Submit Application button prior to 11:59 PM (ET) on the announcement closing date.
To update your application, including supporting documentation: During the announcement open period, return to your USA JOBS account, find your application record, and click Edit my application. This option will no longer be available once the announcement has closed.
Chief Financial Officer
4600 Silver Hill Road
Washington, DC 20233
US
Next steps
You will be notified of your application status through USAJOBS at four points during the hiring process, as applicable. You can check the status of your application by accessing the USAJOBS website at https://usajobs.gov and clicking on "Applications." The status will be visible next to the corresponding positions. The four points of notification are:
Application Received or Application Incomplete;
Minimum Qualification Requirement Met or Minimum Qualification Requirement Not Met;
Referred or Not Referred; and
Selected or Not Selected.
By submitting your application, you are certifying the accuracy of the information contained in your application. If you make a false statement in any part of your application, you may not be hired; you may be terminated after you begin work; or you may be fined or jailed. After making a tentative job offer, we will conduct a suitability/security background investigation.
You will be required to submit official documentation prior to appointment. The agency will then verify the information provided on your application (i.e., degree, veterans' preference, disability, etc.).
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
The documents you are required to submit vary based on the authority you use to apply. Your complete application include the following:
Resume:Your resume must not exceed two (2) pages. If your resume exceeds the two-page limit, you will be deemed disqualified and removed from consideration. Your resume must include your educational and relevant work experience for the position for which you are applying to include the title and dates (mm/yy) of employment along with the number of hours worked per week. If your resume does not contain this information, your application may be marked as incomplete, and you will not receive consideration.
SF-50, "Notification of Personnel Action," supporting your eligibility, with the exception of current Census Bureau employees. You must provide the most current Notification of Personnel Action (Form SF-50) that verifies career/career-conditional status, title, series and grade, such as within-grade increase/within-range increase, promotion, initial appointment, reassignment, realignment, separation (Performance Award and General Adjustment SF-50s do not satisfy this requirement). Also provide the SF-50 that reflects the highest grade level held on a permanent basis or the full performance level of your current position, whichever is higher. Failure to do so will result in an ineligible rating.
Veterans Employment Opportunities Act (VEOA) documentation, if applicable. For more information, please go to the Veteran's Resource Page.
Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) and Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP):
CTAP applicants MUST submit the following:
A copy of your RIF separation notice; notice of proposed removal for declining a directed geographic relocation outside of the local commuting area; a Certificate of Expected Separation (CES); or certification that you are in a surplus organization or occupation (this could be a position abolishment letter, a notice of eligibility for discontinued service retirement, or similar notice).
A copy of your SF-50 "Notification of Personnel Action" noting current position, grade/band level, and duty location;
A copy of your latest performance appraisal including your rating; and
Any documentation from your bureau/operating unit that shows your current promotion potential.
ICTAP applicants MUST submit the following:
A copy of your RIF separation notice; notice of proposed removal for declining a directed geographic relocation outside of the local commuting area; notice of disability annuity termination; certification from your former agency that it cannot place you after your recovery from a work-related compensable injury; or certification from the National Guard Bureau or Military Department that you are eligible for disability retirement.
A copy of your SF-50 "Notification of Personnel Action", documenting your RIF separation, noting your position, grade/band level, and duty location, and/or Agency certification of inability to place you through RPL, etc.;
A copy of your latest performance appraisal including your rating; and
Any documentation from your agency that shows your current promotion potential.
Documentation supporting eligibility for non-competitive appointment (Schedule A disability, 30 percent disabled veteran, certain military spouses, etc).
Education Documentation:If this position requires proof of higher education, or you are substituting education for experience, you must submit an unofficial transcript or a list of courses that includes the following information: name of accredited institution, grades earned, completion dates, and quarter and semester hours earned. This also includes Census Bureau employees. Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the requirements. Please refer to OPM's Qualification Policy for more information.
You are not required to submit official documents at this time; copies are sufficient.
Special Instructions for Foreign Education: Qualifying education from colleges and universities in foreign countries must be evaluated in terms of equivalency to that acquired in U.S. colleges and universities. Applicants educated in whole or in part in foreign countries must submit sufficient evidence, including transcripts, to an accredited private organization for an equivalency evaluation of course work and degree. You must provide a copy of the letter containing the results of the equivalency evaluation with a course by course listing along with your application. Failure to provide such documentation when requested will result in lost consideration. For further information on the evaluation of foreign education, refer to the U.S. Department of Education's web site at Academic and Professional Mobility | International Affairs Office (ed.gov).
NOTE: You will not be considered if you fail to provide all required documents.
Resume
Transcript
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
Please read the entire announcement and all the instructions before you begin an application. To apply and be considered for this position, you must complete all required questionnaires, assessments and submit all required documentation as specified in the How to Apply and Required Documents section. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on 10/05/2026 to receive consideration. The application process is as follows:
Click the Apply Online button.
Answer the questions presented in the application and attach all necessary supporting documentation.
Click the Submit Application button prior to 11:59 PM (ET) on the announcement closing date.
To update your application, including supporting documentation: During the announcement open period, return to your USA JOBS account, find your application record, and click Edit my application. This option will no longer be available once the announcement has closed.
Chief Financial Officer
4600 Silver Hill Road
Washington, DC 20233
US
Next steps
You will be notified of your application status through USAJOBS at four points during the hiring process, as applicable. You can check the status of your application by accessing the USAJOBS website at https://usajobs.gov and clicking on "Applications." The status will be visible next to the corresponding positions. The four points of notification are:
Application Received or Application Incomplete;
Minimum Qualification Requirement Met or Minimum Qualification Requirement Not Met;
Referred or Not Referred; and
Selected or Not Selected.
By submitting your application, you are certifying the accuracy of the information contained in your application. If you make a false statement in any part of your application, you may not be hired; you may be terminated after you begin work; or you may be fined or jailed. After making a tentative job offer, we will conduct a suitability/security background investigation.
You will be required to submit official documentation prior to appointment. The agency will then verify the information provided on your application (i.e., degree, veterans' preference, disability, etc.).
Fair and transparent
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
