Accountant (Staff) Job in Washington, DC

Vacancy No. 25-HUD-63 Department Assistant Secretary for Housing-Federal Housing Commissioner
Salary $82,764.00 to $153,354.00 Grade 11 to 13
Perm/Temp Permanent FT/PT Full-time
Open Date 10/30/2024 Close Date 11/12/2024
Job Link Apply Online Who may apply Public
Locations:
Washington, DC


Summary

This position is located in the Department of Housing and Urban Development, Asst Secretary for Housing-Federal Housing Commissioner.

This job is open to

Clarification from the agency

All candidates who meet the following are eligible to apply for this job: Current or former federal employees qualifying as Status Candidates, Federal employees currently serving on a VRA, VEOA eligibles, CTAP/ICTAP eligibles, eligible for special hiring authorities (e.g., the Schedule A appointment for persons with disabilities, or covered by an Interchange Agreement, or VRA (GS-11 only) eligibles or Land Management employees eligible under Public Law 114-47).

Duties

The following are the duties of this position at the GS-13. If you are selected at a lower grade level, you will have the opportunity to learn to perform all these duties, and will receive training to help you grow in this position.

As an Accountant (Staff), you will:

  • Design, implement, and develop automated accounting systems; provide expert advice in specialized areas of accounting, resolve problems, develop procedures; determine accounting system adequacy; review legislation and regulations; develop processes to implement regulation and guidelines for program users.
  • Develop and monitor accounting internal control program(s): identify problem areas and developing solutions to improve operating program effectiveness.
  • Maintain complex operating accounting systems, which includes developing system improvements, and providing solutions to program management.
  • Provide advice to financial and program managers and other accountants to address unusual or challenging accounting system processes or limitations and or operational issues. Develop procedural manuals, methodologies, and directives.
  • Conduct studies for special projects. Conduct financial analyses, audits, and reviews; analyze and validate industry financial data; develop segments of surveys and systems for gathering and analyzing data; resolve accounting discrepancies in reported data.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

The official duty station for this position will be in Washington, District of Columbia. Failure to report to duty at this location may be grounds for a disciplinary action, including removal.

Key Requirements:

  • Must be U.S. Citizen or U.S. National.
  • A one year probationary period may be required.
  • Must successfully complete a background investigation.
  • Public Trust - Background Investigation will be required.
  • Complete a Declaration for Federal Employment to determine your suitability for Federal employment, at the time requested by the agency.
  • Have your salary sent to a financial institution of your choice by Direct Deposit/Electronic Funds Transfer.
  • If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System or are exempt from having to do so.
  • Go through a Personal Identity Verification (PIV) process that requires two forms of identification from the Form i-9. Federal law requires verification of the identity and employment eligibility of all new hires in the U.S.
  • Please refer to "Additional Information Section for additional Conditions of Employment."

Qualifications

You must meet the following requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement.

Specialized Experience: For the GS-13 grade level, you must have one year (52 full weeks) of specialized experience at a level of difficulty and responsibility equivalent to the GS-12 grade level in the Federal service. Specialized Experience for this position includes:
- Operating and maintaining accounting systems, including identifying inefficiencies and developing system improvements; AND
- Identifying and evaluating outdated accounting policies or procedures and making recommendations for improvements to senior management; AND
- Ensuring financial activities are accomplished in compliance with applicable guidelines, such as Generally Accepted Accounting Principles, Federal Accounting Standards, federal regulations, or organizational policies; AND
- Preparing, analyzing and interpreting accounting data, records, and reports; AND
- Participating on audits, reviews, or management requested studies of financial statements or operations.

Specialized Experience: For the GS-12 grade level, you must have one year (52 full weeks) of specialized experience at a level of difficulty and responsibility equivalent to the GS-11 grade level in the Federal service. Specialized Experience for this position includes:
- Assisting with the development or implementation of accounting system enhancements or modifications; AND
- Ensuring financial activities are accomplished in compliance with applicable guidelines, such as Generally Accepted Accounting Principles, Federal Accounting Standards, federal regulations, or organizational policies; AND
- Preparing, analyzing and interpreting accounting data, records, and reports; AND
- Participating on audits, reviews, or management requested studies of financial statements or operations; AND
- Conducting special studies or specialized projects and assignments.

Specialized Experience: For the GS-11 grade level, you must have one year (52 full weeks) of specialized experience at a level of difficulty and responsibility equivalent to the GS-09 grade level in the Federal service. Specialized Experience for this position includes:
- Assisting with the operation and maintenance of an accounting system; AND
- Ensuring financial activities are accomplished in compliance with applicable guidelines, such as Generally Accepted Accounting Principles, Federal Accounting Standards, federal regulations, or organizational policies.; AND
- Preparing, analyzing and interpreting accounting data, records, and reports; AND
- Resolving accounting discrepancies.

OR Education: You may substitute education for general or specialized experience as follows: 3 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree.

OR Combination: You may qualify by a combination of experience and education. To combine education and experience, the total percentage of experience at the required grade level compared to the specialized experience requirement, as well as the percentage of completed education compared to the education requirement must equal at least 100 percent.

Experience may have been gained in either the public, private sector or volunteer service. One year of experience refers to full-time work; part-time work is considered on a prorated basis. To ensure full credit for your work experience, please indicate dates of employment by month/day/year, and indicate number of hours worked per week on your resume.

Time-in-Grade: In addition to the above requirements, you must meet the following time-in-grade requirement, if applicable:
For the GS-13 you must have been at the GS-12 level for 52 weeks.
For the GS-12 you must have been at the GS-11 level for 52 weeks.
For the GS-11 you must have been at the GS-09 level for 52 weeks.

Time After Competitive Appointment: Candidates who are current Federal employees serving on a non-temporary competitive appointment must have served at least three months in that appointment.

Education

Basic Requirements:
A. Degree: Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a bachelor's or higher degree in accounting or 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.

The education generally must be from an accredited (or pre-accredited) college or university recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. If you are qualifying based on foreign education, you must submit proof of creditability of education as evaluated by a credentialing agency. Refer to the OPM instructions.

Additional information

OTHER INFORMATION:

  • We may select from this announcement or any other source to fill one or more vacancies.
  • Relocation expenses will not be paid.
  • Relocation incentive will not be paid.
  • Recruitment incentive will not be paid.
  • This is a bargaining unit position.
  • This position is Exempt from the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).
  • HUD offers alternative and flexible work schedules.
  • This announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies for similar positions across HUD. During the online application process, you will be asked to specify if you would like your application information shared with other hiring managers in the Program Office listed in this announcement or in other HUD Program Offices. Opting to share your application information will not impact your application for this announcement, nor will it guarantee further consideration for additional positions.
CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT (CONTINUED):

HUD employees are subject to a number of government-wide and HUD specific ethics laws and regulations, including restrictions on working in a real estate related business, and having Section 8 tenants, along with other prohibited interests and activities. To review applicable ethics rules and HUD specific restrictions, please visit https://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD?src=/program_offices/general_counsel/ethics.

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.

Review our 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 application includes your resume, responses to the online questions, and required supporting documents. Please be sure that your resume includes detailed information to support your qualifications for this position; failure to provide sufficient evidence in your resume may result in a "not qualified" determination.

Rating: Your application will be evaluated in the following areas: Analytical, Communication, Self Management, and Technical.

Your application will be rated and ranked among others, based on your responses to the online questions, regarding your experience, education, training, performance appraisals and awards relevant to the duties of this position. Your rating may be lowered, if your responses to the online questions are not supported by the education and/or experience described in your application.

Referral: If you are among the top qualified candidates, your application may be referred to a selecting official for consideration. You may be required to participate in a selection interview.

If you are a displaced or surplus Federal employee (eligible for the Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP)/Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP)) you must receive a rating of at least 84 out of 100 to be rated as "well qualified" to receive special selection priority.

Required Documents

A complete application includes:

1. A resume: All applicants are required to submit a resume either by creating one in USAJOBS or uploading one of their own choosing. (Cover letters are optional.)

  • To receive full credit for relevant experience, please list the month/date/year and number of hours worked for experience listed on your resume.
  • It is suggested that you preview the online assessment questionnaire, to ensure that your resume thoroughly describes how your skills and experience align to the criteria defined in the "Qualifications" section of this announcement and support your responses to the online assessment questionnaire.
  • For resume writing guidance, please visit USAJOBS Resources Center.
2. Vacancy assessment question responses: All applicants are required to complete vacancy question responses by clicking the apply online button of this vacancy announcement.

3. Performance Appraisal or explanation: Submit a copy of all pages of your most recent completed annual performance appraisal, dated within 12 months of the opening date of this announcement, that includes the final rating. In cases where the performance appraisal is more than 12 months old, incomplete, missing pages, or unavailable, you must attach a written explanation of the reasons. Failure to do so may prevent you from being considered for this position. If you do not have your most recent performance appraisal or have not received one in the last 12months, please submit a statement as to why it is not available when completing your assessment questionnaire.

4. Submission of any required documents identified below, if applicable: Please note that if you do not provide all required information, as specified in this announcement, you may not be considered for this position (or may not receive the special consideration for which you may be eligible)
  • CURRENT AND FORMER EMPLOYEES -- Documentation Relating to Your Federal Employment:
    • Submit a copy of your most recent SF-50 (Notification of Personnel Action) showing competitive service as Tenure 1 or 2 (Block 24), Position Occupied as 1 - Competitive Service (Block 34), current Grade (Block 18) and Salary (Block 20).
    • Typically Award SF-50s do not provide the required information.
    • If the full performance level of your position is different from the grade indicated in Block 18, please provide proof of the full performance level.
    • If your highest permanent grade is different from your current grade, submit a copy of an additional SF-50 showing that grade.
    • If you are currently on a Veterans' Recruitment Appointment (VRA), submit a copy of an SF-50 indicating that type of appointment. Also, you must submit a copy of your DD214 or other documentation showing dates of service and type of discharge and any other applicable documents such as SF-15, VA letters, etc.
  • FORMER FEDERAL EMPLOYEES (ELIGIBLE FOR NON-COMPETITIVE REINSTATEMENT):
    • If you are a former federal employee and wish to be non-competitively reinstated for a higher grade or full performance level than which you left federal employment, you MUST provide a copy of your separation SF50 (the "position occupied" block on the SF-50 should show a "1" and your "tenure" block should show a "1" or "2") AND the last performance appraisal you received from your federal employment which shows at least a fully successful rating. (Note: the Performance Appraisal or explanation requirement as stated above is in addition to this requirement.)
  • SPECIAL HIRING AUTHORITY ELIGIBLE INDIVIDUALS: (e.g., Military Spouses, Interchange Agreement, VEOA, VRA (GS-11 only), Schedule A Disability, etc.)
  • LAND MANAGEMENT-BASED SPECIAL HIRING ELIGIBLE INDIVIDUALS:
    • In order to be eligible under this authority you must submit all required documentation outlined in this link: here
  • CAREER TRANSITION ASSISTANCE PLAN (CTAP) OR INTERAGENCY CAREER TRANSITION ASSISTANCE PLAN (ICTAP) ELIGIBLE INDIVIDUALS:
    • If you are a displaced or surplus Federal employee, in order to be eligible under one of these authorities you must submit all required documentation as outlined in this link: CTAP/ICTAP
  • EDUCATION DOCUMENTATION:
    • For positions with an education requirement, or if you are qualifying for this position by substituting education or training for experience, you MUST submit a copy of your transcripts or equivalent. An official transcript will be required if you are selected. A college or university degree generally must be from an accredited (or pre-accredited) college or university recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Please refer to Department of Education Accreditation page.
    • If you are qualifying based on foreign education, you must submit proof of creditability of education as evaluated by a credentialing agency. Refer to the OPM instructions.

How to Apply

HUD has partnered with the Treasury's Bureau of the Fiscal Service to provide certain personnel services to its organization. Fiscal Service's responsibilities include advertising vacancies, accepting and handling applications, and extending job offers.

Please review the entire announcement before applying.

The following instructions outline our application process. You must complete this application process and submit any required documents by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on the closing date of this announcement. We are available to assist you during business hours (normally 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. ET, Monday - Friday). If applying online poses a hardship, please contact us by noon ET on the announcement's closing date.

HUD provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities on a case-by-case basis. Please contact us if you require this for any part of the application and hiring process.

  • To begin, click Apply to access the online application. You will need to be logged into your USAJOBS account to apply. If you do not have a USAJOBS account, you will need to create one before beginning the application.
  • Follow the prompts to select your resume and/or other supporting documents to be included with your application package. You will have the opportunity to upload additional documents to include in your application before it is submitted. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process.
  • After acknowledging you have reviewed your application package, complete the Include Personal Information section as you deem appropriate and click to continue with the application process.
  • You will be taken to the online application which you must complete in order to apply for the position. Complete the online application, verify the required documentation is included with your application package, and submit the application.
To verify the status of your application:
  • Log into your USAJOBS account (USAJOBS Login) A list of announcements in which you have applied will be at the Welcome screen
  • Under "application status," click "Track this application" and you will be taken to the agency website where you can check your application status. For more information regarding the job and applicant status, please refer to https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/how-to/application/status/.
  • If you wish to make changes/updates to your application and the vacancy is still open, you can click on the job announcement and "Update Application" to be taken back to your application. No updates can be made once the announcement has closed.
  • Please notify us if your contact information changes after the closing date of the announcement. Also, note that if you provide an email address that is inaccurate or if your mailbox is full or blocked (e.g., spam-blocker), you may not receive important communication that could affect your consideration for this position.
For additional information on how to apply, please visit the Partnership for Public Service's Go Government website.

To preview the assessment questionnaire: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12588454

Agency contact information

Applicant Call Center
Address
Asst Secretary for Housing-Federal Housing Commissioner
Administrative Resource Center
Parkersburg, WV 26101
US
Learn more about this agency

Next steps

Once the online questionnaire is received, you will receive an acknowledgement email that your submission was successful. We will review your resume and transcript(s) (if appropriate) to ensure you meet the basic qualification requirements. We will evaluate each applicant who meets the basic qualifications on the information provided and may interview the best-qualified applicants. After making a tentative job offer, we will conduct any required suitability and/or security background investigation.


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


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