Skip to main content
U.S. flag

Accountant

Department of Veterans Affairs
Veterans Health Administration
This job announcement has closed

Summary

This position is to perform the full range of professional accounting work requiring the application of sound accounting principles, theories, concepts and practices. The operating accountant is responsible for the detailed and efficient operation and control of day-to-day fiscal activities at this facility. Must be experienced in applying professional concepts and methodologies as well as knowledgeable in functional program characteristics and requirements.

Overview

Help
Hiring complete
Open & closing dates
12/20/2021 to 01/04/2022
Salary
$53,433 to - $84,049 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 7 - 11
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Coatesville, PA
1 vacancy
Telework eligible
No
Travel Required
Not required
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
11
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Not Required
Drug test
No
Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
Trust determination process
Announcement number
CBSZ-11295283-22-JS
Control number
627793800

This job is open to

Help

Clarification from the agency

Status Candidates (Merit Promotion and VEOA Eligible) and Special Hiring Authorities and those covered by the interchange agreement. First consideration will be given to permanent employees of the facility.

Videos

Duties

Help

Duties include but not limited to the following:

- 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.

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: Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Compressed/Flexible: May be considered for highly qualified applicants.
Telework: May be considered for highly qualified applicants.
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Position Description/PD#: Accountant/PD002130
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized.
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized.

Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

Help

Conditions of employment

  • You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
  • All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.
  • Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
  • 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
  • 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 Department of Veterans Affairs Personnel

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 01/04/2022.

Basic Requirements:
1) Degree in 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 in business lay (The term "accounting" means "accounting and/or auditing" in this standard. Similarly, "accountant" should be interpreted, generally, as "accountant and/or auditor.") OR
2) A combination of education and experience with 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:
a) Twenty-four semester hours in accounting and or auditing courses of appropriate type and quality. This can include up to 6 hours of business law;
b) A certificate as Certified Public Accountant or a Certified Internal Auditor, obtained through written examination; or
c) 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-hours requirement, 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; 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 Basic Requirements above, the following must also be met.

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. 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. For a GS-07 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-05 level. For a GS-09 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-07 level. For a GS-11 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-09 level.

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 your experience and/or education as described below:

In addition to meeting the time-in-grade requirement, applicants must possess the following specialized experience:

GS-07 grade level: One year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-05 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: providing systems analysis, advice, and design regarding Financial Management and Accounting systems, assisting customers with various construction accounting inquiries, reconciling financial reports, taking corrective action on financial system issues or reporting errors, provide training to staff, and conduct necessary financial close out requirements. OR

Education: Applicants may substitute education for the experience required for the GS-07 level.
Candidates must possess 1 year of graduate level education or superior academic achievement.

GS-09 grade level: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-07 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience is defined as: independently performing a variety of difficult and complex audit assignments; initiating and completing the assigned portion of audit programs steps, approaches and tests; conducting analysis and data assembly to support findings, conclusions and recommendations related to the audit objectives; developing changes to the audit plan and audit methodology. Internal control audit/testing; experience recommending action to improve operating program effectiveness and the integrity of financial and accounting information. Drafting audit reports, which present findings, showing causative situations and recommending corrective action; conducting analyses and preparing audit reports that allow for assessment of trends, potential identification of anomalies, potential identification of abnormal balancesand usage. OR

Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have two years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a master's degree or equivalent graduate which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of the position, degree such as: Accounting or Finance. (Attach a copy of transcripts or list of college courses designating semester or quarter hours earned to ensure proper credit); OR

Combination of experience and education.

GS-11 grade level: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-09 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience is defined as: independently performing a variety of difficult and complex audit assignments; initiating and completing the assigned portion of audit programs steps, approaches and tests; conducting analysis and data assembly to support findings, conclusions and recommendations related to the audit objectives; developing changes to the audit plan and audit methodology; and interpreting policy to meet established objectives. Identifying, interpreting, and applying auditing standard and accounting principles for unprecedented process design and internal control audit/testing; experience recommending action to improve operating program effectiveness and the integrity of financial and accounting information. Drafting audit reports, which present findings, showing causative situations and recommending corrective action; conducting analyses and preparing audit reports that allow for assessment of trends, potential identification of anomalies, potential identification of abnormal balances and usage. 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. Note: Such education/coursework must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work.(Attach a copy of transcripts or list of college courses designating semester or quarter hours earned to ensure proper credit) OR,

Combination of experience and education.

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

  • Accounting
  • Communication
  • Principles of Accounting
  • Technology Application


Education

There is no educational substitution at this grade level.

A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.

Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html.

Additional information

Physical Requirements: Physical Requirements: The work is sedentary. Some work may require movement between offices, hospitals, warehouses, and similar areas for meetings and to conduct work. Work may also require walking/standing, in conjunctions with travel to and attendance at meetings and/or conferences away from the work site. Incumbent may carry and lift light items weighing less than 15 pounds.

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/.

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.

Pandemic Telework Program: Due to COVID-19, the VA is currently in an expanded telework posture. If selected, you may be expected to temporarily telework, even if your home is located outside the local commuting area. Once employees are permitted to return to the office, you will be expected to report to the duty station listed on this announcement. [Management officials will provide information about returning to the official, pre-pandemic worksite, when applicable.] At that time, you may be eligible to request to continue to telework depending upon the terms of your organization's telework policy and the duties of the position.

Special Employment Consideration: VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply, including those eligible for hiring under 5 CFR 213.3102(u), Schedule A, Appointment of persons with disabilities [i.e., intellectual disabilities, severe physical disabilities, or psychiatric disabilities], and/or Disabled veterans with a compensable service-connected disability of 30% or more. Contact the Agency Contact for information on how to apply under this appointment authority via the Selective Placement Coordinator.

The Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) and Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced Federal/VA competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. To be qualified you must submit appropriate documentation (a copy of the agency notice, your most recent performance rating, and your most recent SF-50 noting current position, grade level, and duty location) and be found well-qualified for this vacancy. To be well-qualified: applicants must possess experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors, and who are proficient in most of the required competencies of the job. Information about ICTAP and CTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website at http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/.

If you are unable to apply online or need to fax a document you do not have in electronic form, view the following link for information regarding an Alternate Application.

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.

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 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.

Your session is about to expire!

Your USAJOBS session will expire due to inactivity in 8 minutes. Any unsaved data will be lost if you allow the session to expire. Click the button below to continue your session.