Accountant

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 11/12/2026. 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 by the closing date of this announcement. For a GS-11 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-09. For a GS-09 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-07.

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.

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. -AND- Individual Occupational Requirement: Positions in the occupational series 0510 MUST MEET 1 of the following bullet points: 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 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; 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- For GS-09 Specialized Experience: 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 would typically include, but are not limited to: Experience analyzing data. Experience with reviewing and adhering to policies and procedures. Experience reviewing financial records and data. Experience organizing funds/or responsible for budgets. -OR- 2 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a master's degree or master's or equivalent graduate degree. -OR- combination of specialized experience and education.

The total qualifying experience as a percentage of the specialized experience required plus the total creditable education as a percentage of the education required equals at least 100 percent. For GS-11 Specialized Experience: 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 would typically include, but are not limited to: Experience analyzing data in accounting systems. Experience with accounting policies and procedures. Experience reviewing financial records, cost reports and other financial data.

Experience performing monthly reconciliation of assets recorded in general ledgers. -OR- 3 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree. -OR- combination of specialized experience and education.

The total qualifying experience as a percentage of the specialized experience required plus the total creditable education as a percentage of the education required equals at least 100 percent. Please note: You must have the IOR AND time in grade AND specialized experience to meet minimum qualificationsThe IOR, Time In Grade and Specialized Experience are 3 completely separate items and all 3 must be met to meet minimum qualifications* You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Accounting: Knowledge of traditional accounting practices including accrual, obligations, and costs methods.

Financial Systems: Knowledge of the standards, architecture, and specifications of automated financial systems, including source documents, system flows, system interfaces, and related internal controls.

Analysis and Problem Solving: Applies the process of discovery that involves the diagnosis of a problem or issue, identification and gathering of relevant information, formulation and evaluation of alternative solutions or courses of action, and selection or recommendation of the preferred solution or course of action.

Customer Service: Works and communicates with clients and customers (e.g., any individuals who use or receive the services or products that your work unit provides, including individuals who work in your agency or in other agencies or organizations outside the Government) to satisfy their expectations. Committed to quality services.

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.

01Physical Requirements

Position is mostly sedentary; some walking, standing, bending, or carrying of light files/binders. 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/.

Accountant performs professional accounting work supporting VA programs by preparing, reviewing, and reconciling general ledger and related subsidiary activity. Analyzes accounting data, researches discrepancies, and determines root causes (e.g., timing differences, miscoding, missing documentation, or interface/processing issues) to support accurate financial reporting and data integrity.

Prepares and maintains reconciliation schedules and working papers; identifies abnormal balances and out-of-balance conditions; and recommends corrective actions (e.g., recoding, adjustments/journal vouchers, suspense/clearing resolution) consistent with governing standards and established VA/VHA procedures.

Participates in process improvement and quality assurance reviews by identifying control weaknesses, recommending improvements to accounting procedures, and coordinating with appropriate system support personnel and stakeholders to resolve transaction and data issues. Prepares written instructions, desk guides, or SOP updates for assigned processes, and provides technical input to supervisors/lead staff and business partners regarding proper documentation and accounting treatment.

Additional Duties Include But Not Limited To: Prepare, review, and reconcile general ledger and subsidiary accounts in accordance with USSGL/Treasury guidance (including applicable Treasury Financial Manual requirements), FASAB SFFAS, OMB Circular A-136, and VA/VHA financial policy, as implemented through VA and VHA/FSC standard operating procedures (SOPs), close checklists, job aids, and local desk guides.

Perform month-, quarter-, and year-end close activities; compile trial balances and working papers; and investigate and resolve abnormal balances, prior-period adjustments, and dearing/suspense accounts. Applies professional judgment to select the most appropriate governing guidance and method depending on the transaction, timing, system/interface conditions, and reporting requirement.

Determining whether discrepancies are attributable to miscoding, timing differences, missing/insufficient supporting documentation, feeder-system/interface errors, or out-of-balance conditions; assessing the scope and potential materiality of identified issues; and selecting corrective actions. Coordinates with Fiscal, Supply Chain, and program offices to resolve data integrity issues across VA financial/procurement systems.

Recommends decisions and corrective actions to the supervisor/lead accountant, finance leadership, and affected stakeholders. Recommendations include the corrective approach, required documentation, and any needed control or process changes to prevent recurrence. Documents reconciliation outcomes, root-cause analysis, and corrective actions, and prepares clear written guidance/instructions for staff and stakeholders.

Designs, refines, and implements data validation checks and reconciliation tools to improve accuracy, timeliness, and compliance. Documents facts and impacts, identifies applicable requirements across USSGL/TFM/SFFAS/OMB and VA/VHA policy, develops compliant options with a recommended course of action, and elevates novel/high-risk matters through supervisory channels and, when appropriate, to the responsible policy authority for definitive interpretation.

Analyzes current and/or required accounting procedures to design new or improved processes. Participate in process improvement and quality assurance reviews to streamline close processes and reduce reconciliation backlogs; identifies control weaknesses, recommend updates to local procedures, and coordinates with appropriate system support personnel to address transaction flow, edit checks, and data integrity concerns. Drafts SOPs and quick-reference guides.

Validates current processes with respect to regulatory requirements. Recommends revisions affecting local accounting process based on specific objectives and approaches. Performs quality assurance review of existing and proposed accounting processes to provide assurances as to financial integrity and conformance to Federal laws and agency regulations and practices, Refines assigned phases or sub-processes of complex accounting procedures to improve accuracy, timelines, and compliance.

Performs reviews of existing and proposed accounting processes for financial integrity and conformances to Federal laws and agency regulations and practices. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 8:00am- 4:30pm. Telework: Telework May be Eligible within VISN 2 Catchment area for highly qualified staff. Still reporting to an office. VISN?2 covers Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Virginia. Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Position Description/PD#: Accountant/PD03142A and PD03141A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized. Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved. Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized.