Accountant (Systems)

• Plans, directs, and coordinates resolution of daily accounting system issues; manages user access reviews; collaborates with financial systems staff, OCIO, and vendors on upgrades, enhancements, troubleshooting, and user support needs.
• Provides expert accounting systems guidance to financial systems staff and program managers; supports system integration, test plans, user acceptance testing, documentation, issue tracking, and development of manuals, methods, and directives.
• Conducts formal and informal reviews of agency accounting operations; identifies deficiencies; recommends improvements; applies flexible standard accounting procedures to meet changing financial management factors and operational requirements.
• Leads long-range and comprehensive studies for design, modification, and implementation of automated accounting systems; gathers and documents business requirements; analyzes system data structures; and validates data conversion and setup integrity.
• Coordinates financial reporting system activities, prepares consolidated financial statements, supports government-wide financial system initiatives, and develops project plans while guiding staff and conducting cost-benefit analyses.

Conditions of employment

• Must be a U.S. Citizen or National
• Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service
• Suitable for Federal employment, determined by a background investigation
• May be required to successfully complete a probationary period

Qualifications

This position has a positive education requirement.

To qualify for this position, you must meet one of the basic requirements described below.

Basic Education Requirements

You must possess 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. (The term "accounting" means "accounting and/or auditing" in this standard. Similarly, "accountant" should be interpreted, generally, as "accountant and/or auditor.")
OR
You must possess a 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 non-conformance to the requirement of 24 semester hours in accounting, the applicant's education, training, and experience fully meet the specified requirements.

IN ADDITION TO MEETING THE BASIC QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS ABOVE, APPLICANTS MUST HAVE SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE AS LISTED BELOW:

For the GS-14: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-13 grade level. Specialized experience is defined as having professional knowledge of the theory, concepts, principles, and practices of accounting to complete a variety of accounting functions such as auditing, and financial management involving interfaces and inter-relationships between and among programs, systems, functions, policies. Analyzing, and evaluating automated and manual accounting, budgeting, and integrated financial management systems to determine effectiveness, identify issues, and recommend improvements supporting accurate financial operations.

Merit promotion applicants must meet time-in-grade requirement as defined in 5 CFR 300, Subpart F. One year at the GS-13 level is required to meet the time-in-grade requirements for the GS-14 level.

Applicants must meet all eligibility requirements (e.g., time-in-grade and qualification requirements) within 30 days of the closing date specified in the vacancy announcement.

Applicants must meet all eligibility requirements within 30 days of the closing date specified in the vacancy announcement.

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.

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 based on how well you meet the qualifications listed in this vacancy announcement. 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 (knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics):

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

The USA Hire Assessments includes a cut score based on the minimum level of required proficiency in these critical general competencies. You must meet or exceed the cut score to be considered. You will not be considered for the position if you score below the cut score or fail to complete the assessment.

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.

This announcement uses the Rule of Many/Cut-off Score method under 5 CFR § 332.402. Under Rule of Many, a numerical ranking process is used to evaluate applicants through validated assessments to produce a numeric score. Veterans' preference points are added to the passing score of candidates eligible for either 10-point or 5-point preference.

We will provide the selecting official with a sufficient number of names, when available, to consider at least three candidates per vacancy. If fewer than three eligible and available candidates per vacancy result, we will expand the group in accordance with our pre-announced supplement strategy and OPM policy. Under the Rule of Many procedures, the agency is not limited to considering the top three candidates, nor does the agency have to consider candidates in groups of three. Any of the preference eligibles may be selected. Ties in ratings are broken by veterans' preference eligibility, that is, preference eligible candidates are listed ahead of non-preference eligibles within each rating.

Career Transition Assistance Programs: These programs apply to employees who have been involuntarily separated from a Federal service position within the competitive service or Federal service employees whose positions have been deemed surplus or no longer needed. To receive selection priority for this position, you must: 1) meet CTAP or ICTAP eligibility criteria; 2) be rated well-qualified for the position with a score of 85 or above based on the competencies listed above; and 3) submit the appropriate documentation to support your CTAP or ICTAP eligibility. For more information visit: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/

Equal Employment Opportunity
The United States government does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, military service or other non-merit factor.

To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes:

1. Your Resume (NOT TO EXCEED 2 PAGES) showing work schedule, hours worked per week, dates of employment and duties performed. Resumes over the 2-page limit, will not be reviewed beyond page 2 or may be disqualified. If your resume does not reflect demonstrated evidence of your qualifications, you will not receive consideration for the position.
2. College Transcripts, ifusing education in lieu of experience to qualify.
3. This position has a basic education requirement; you MUST submit a copy of your transcripts for further consideration.
4. Veterans' Preference documentation, if applicable (e.g. DD-214 Member Copy 4 showing type of discharge/character of service; Current Active Duty members must submit a certification of expected discharge or release from active duty under honorable conditions dated within 120 days; SF-15 Form and related documentation; VA letter.)
5. Career Transition Assistance Program/Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program documentation, if applicable (e.g. Certification of Expected Separation, Reduction-In-Force Separation Notice, or Notice of Proposed Removal; SF-50 that documents the RIF separation action; and most recent performance appraisal.
6. Worker's Compensation Separation: Agency certification of inability to place employee AND Notification of Separation OR Separation SF-50.
7. Disability Annuity Termination: Notification from OPM of disability annuity termination AND Separation SF-50 of the last position held.
8. Military Reserve or National Guard Technician Special Disability Retirement Annuity under 5 U.S.C. 8337(h) or 8456: Certification of special disability retirement annuity from a military department or National Guard Bureau AND Separation SF-50 of the last position held.
9. Current or Former Political Appointees (if applicable) - The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must authorize employment offers made to current or former political appointees. If you are currently or have been a political Schedule A, Schedule C or Non-Career SES employee in the Executive Branch within the last 5 years, you must disclose this in your application package.

Failure to submit documents required may result in loss of consideration.

Next steps