Accountant (RECENT GRAD) Job in Washington, DC

Vacancy No. WWICS-25-01 -PATHWAY- FMO Department Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars
Salary $57,164.00 to $74,318.00 Grade 07 to 07
Perm/Temp Permanent FT/PT Full-time
Open Date 12/31/2024 Close Date 1/17/2025
Job Link Apply Online Who may apply Public
Locations:
Washington, DC


Summary

This is a Pathways Recent Graduate position. The Recent Graduate (RG) will receive on-the-job training as required to support the assignment area. The incumbent will serve as an entry-level Accountant, providing support and assistance on a diverse array of Accounting, and Financial Reporting related issues and operations.

Duties

Duties include, but are not limited to performing tasks and assignments related to the following areas: 

  • General Ledger-Develops and prepares journal entries to reflect recurring transactions for Federal Grants, fixed assets, budget and proprietary, and debt/Maintains assigned ledger and accounts through reconciliations, review, and analysis procedures to ensure accuracy of financial reporting. General ledger account reconciliations include cash, inventory, accounts receivables, fixed assets, prepaid and deferred expenses, deferred revenue, and accrued liabilities, etc. 
  • Financial Reporting-Prepares, validates, and/or generates general financial reports as assigned. Reports may include, but are not limited to, net asset reports, various US Federal reports, contributions, inter-unit transactions, and general ledger detail reports/Reviews and validates Program prepared financial reports against general ledger information
  • Accounting Operations-Analyzes financial transactions for proprietary and potential impact on funding sources or the financial position of a specific Wilson Center unit/Advises Wilson Center personnel on specific accounting transactions, regulatory requirements, financial policies, and the interpretation of data in the following areas: purchases, receivables, returns

Position serves as a trainee on a formal training plan that leads to increasing responsibility and independence. Works under the guidance of a senior accountant.

NOTE: This position has a minimum onsite presence of 3 days per week.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

  • This position has a minimum onsite presence of 3 days per week.

  • You must be a U.S. Citizen or National
  • You must complete a background investigation
  • Selective Service Registration is required, as applicable
  • You may be required to complete a one-year probationary period
  • You must maintain a bank account for direct deposit
  • All qualification requirements for this position must be met by the closing date of this announcement
  • This position has a minimum onsite presence of 3 days per week.

To be eligible for the Recent Graduate program you must be either a:

  • Recent graduate who has completed, within the previous two years, a qualifying associate, bachelors, masters, professional, doctorate, vocational or technical degree or certificate from a qualifying educational institution.

OR

  • Veteran unable to apply within two years of receiving their degree, due to military service obligation (have as much as six years after degree completion to apply).

Conversion: Pathways Recent Graduates may be converted to a term or permanent position upon program completion. This is not automatic nor guaranteed; it is at the discretion of the employing office.

To be eligible for conversion, a Recent Graduate must: (1) complete at least one year of continuous service; (2) be a U.S. citizen; (3) demonstrate successful job performance (4) meet the qualification standards for the position to which converted; (5) receive a recommendation for conversion from the first-level supervisor; and (6) meet agency-specific requirements, as specified in the Participant Agreement.

Qualifications

Basic Requirement: 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.

COMBINATION OF EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION: 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


At least 1 full academic year of graduate education in a related field of study such as accounting finance, economics, business administration or other related fields.

OR


Superior Academic Achievement: is defined as a Bachelor's degree in a field related to the work of the position and eligibility for superior academic achievement (S.A.A.). S.A.A. is based on: 


1.) Class standing -- Applicants must be in the upper third of the graduating class in the college, university, or major subdivision, such as the College of Liberal Arts or the School of Business Administration, based on completed courses.

2.) Grade-point average (G.P.A.) -- Applicants must have a grade-point average of: (a) 3.0 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ("B" or better) as recorded on their official transcript, or as computed based on 4 years of education, or as computed based on courses completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum; or (b) 3.5 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ("B+" or better) based on the average of the required courses completed in the major field or the required courses in the major field completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum. Grade-point averages are to be rounded to one decimal place. For example, 2.95 will round to 3.0 and 2.94 will round to 2.9.

3.) Election to membership in a national scholastic honor society -- Applicants can be considered eligible based on membership in one of the national scholastic honor societies listed by the Association of College Honor Societies. Agencies considering eligibility based on any society not included in the list must ensure that the honor society meets the minimum requirements of the Association of College Honor Societies. Membership in a freshman honor society cannot be used to meet the requirements of this provision.

NOTE: THIS INFORMATION MUST BE SUPPORTED IN YOUR RESUME/APPLICATION DOCUMENTS TO BE CONSIDERED FOR THE POSITION 

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. If your resume does not support your questionnaire answers, we will not allow credit for your response(s).

For more information on the qualifications for this position OPM Qualification Standards 

Volunteer Experience: 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 experience.

You must include months, years and hours per week worked to receive credit for your work and/or volunteer experience. One year of specialized experience is equivalent to 12 months at 40 hours per week. Part-time hours are prorated. You will not receive any credit for experience that does not indicate exact hours per week or is listed as "varies".

Additional information

The work is primarily sedentary; although, requires moving around to offices and/or to similar areas for meeting to conduct human resources business. May require standing in conjunction with travel and attendance at meetings and conferences away from the worksite.

Work Environment

Work is performed in a typical office setting that is adequately lighted, heated and ventilated.

To ensure compliance with an applicable preliminary nationwide injunction, which may be supplemented, modified, or vacated, depending on the course of ongoing litigation, the Federal Government will take no action to implement or enforce the COVID-19 vaccination requirement pursuant to Executive Order 14043 on Requiring Coronavirus Disease 2019 Vaccination for Federal Employees. Therefore, to the extent a Federal job announcement includes the requirement that applicants must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 pursuant to Executive Order 14043, that requirement does not currently apply. Federal agencies may request information regarding the vaccination status of selected applicants for the purposes of implementing other workplace safety protocols, such as protocols related to masking, physical distancing, testing, travel, and quarantine.

Recent Graduates


This position is for Recent Graduates who have completed a qualifying associates, bachelors, masters, professional, doctorate, vocational or technical degree or certificate from a qualifying educational institution within the previous 2 years. Note: (1) Certain veterans precluded from applying within the timeframe due to a military service obligation have up to 6 years from completing their education to apply.

This is an excepted service, developmental experience appointment expected to last only 1 year under the Pathways Recent Graduates Program. The Wilson Center will require the selected applicant to complete a Participant Agreement in which it shall document the anticipated start and end dates for this developmental appointment.

The agency may noncompetitively convert a Recent Graduate who is a U. S. citizen to a term or permanent appointment in the competitive service, as long as the Recent Graduate successfully completes the 1 year developmental program and meets the OPM Qualification Standards for the targeted occupational series.

Pathways participants must be U.S. Citizens in order to be eligible for conversion to permanent positions

Benefits

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.

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. Benefits Information

EEO Statement

Reasonable Accommodation Statement

Selective Service

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.

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

Once the announcement has closed, a review of your application package (resume, supporting documents, and responses to the questionnaire) will be used to determine whether you meet the qualification requirements listed on this announcement. If you are minimally qualified, your résumé and supporting documentation will be compared against your responses to the assessment questionnaire to determine your level of experience. If, after reviewing your résumé and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and/or experience, you may lose consideration for this position. Please follow all instructions carefully when applying, errors or omissions may affect your eligibility.

Your application will be evaluated in accordance with Office of Personnel Management's (OPM) Delegated Examining Procedures using category rating. 

Your application will then be placed in one of three categories:

Best Qualified

Well Qualified

Qualified

Your qualifications will be evaluated on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities and other characteristics):

- Technical Knowledge

- Ability to communicate verbally

- Ability to communicate in writing

In order to be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process. In addition to the application and application questionnaire, this position requires an online assessment. The online assessment measures critical general competencies required to perform the job.


You may preview questions for this vacancy.

Required Documents

Note: Failure to submit a resume or supporting documentation may result in elimination for further consideration.

The following documents are required and must be submitted by the closing date of this announcement.

1. Résumé/CV, which includes a list of all significant jobs held and duties performed, with dates specified in month and year format, and indicate hours worked per week. If military or civilian, please include your rank and/or grade.
2. A complete Occupational Questionnaire.

3. Veteran Preference Documentation:

  • If you are a Discharged, Non-Disabled Veteran, you must submit a copy of your DD-214 showing character of discharge (Member 4 copy), or other Documentation of Service and Separation under Honorable Conditions, as listed on the SF15. If you don't have your DD-214, you may request it after discharge from the National Archives.
  • If you are a veteran within 120 days of discharge, you must submit signed documentation from the Armed Forces certifying: 1) your expected release/retirement from active duty, 2) under honorable conditions, 3) your pay grade/rank/rate at time of discharge, 4) dates of active duty service, 5) any campaign or expeditionary medals received, & 6) dated within 120 days of your separation.
  • If you are a Disabled Veteran, Purple Heart Recipient, or Mother or Spouse of a Disabled or Deceased Veteran, you must submit all additional proof required by the SF15, and if applicable, a completed SF15. You may request a copy of your Department of Veterans Affairs letter from www.ebenefits.va.gov or call 1-800-827-1000 to establish proof of disability.

4. Documentation that supports eligibility for the Recent Graduate program (examples include: Transcripts, Diplomas, Certificates, etc.)


Do not submit photographs with your application package. Documents with photographs may not be seen by hiring officials - you must remove your image from any badges, licenses, etc.

If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:

Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

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.

How to Apply

You must submit a complete application package by 11:59 PM (EST) on the closing date of this announcement.

To begin, click Apply Online to create a USAJOBS account or log in to your existing account. Follow the prompts to select your USAJOBS resume and/or other supporting documents and complete the occupational questionnaire.

Click the Submit My Answers button to submit your application package.
* It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and appropriate documentation is submitted prior to the closing date of the announcement.

*To verify your application is complete, log into your USAJOBS account, https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login, select the Application Status link and then select the more information link for this position. The Details page will display the status of your application, the documentation received and processed, and any correspondence the agency has sent related to this application. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process. 

* To return to an incomplete application, log into your USAJOBS account and click Update Application in the vacancy announcement. You must re-select your resume and/or other documents from your USAJOBS account or your application will be incomplete.

Agency contact information

Wilson Center HR
Phone
000-000-0000
Fax
000-000-0000
Email
HR@wilsoncenter.org
Address
Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars
1300 Pennsylvania Ave. NW
Washington, District of Columbia 20004
United States
Learn more about this agency

Next steps

Once the Occupational Questionnaire is received you will receive acknowledgement that your submission was successful. If you are among the most qualified candidates and your name is referred to the hiring official, you may be contacted directly for a possible interview. You will be notified of the status of your Application Package at the time candidates are referred for consideration, and when the selection process is complete.

This announcement may be used to fill additional positions if identical vacancies occur within 90 days of the issue date of the referral certificate.


Note: We cannot accept applications on behalf of Federal Agencies. Application instructions are listed within the Job Description.


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