Accountant

BASIC REQUIREMENT: 1. 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- 2.

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; or3.

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.

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS: GS-07: A qualified candidate's online application and resume must demonstrate at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-05) in the Federal service.

Specialized experience for this position is defined as: 1) Applying basic accounting principles to review, verify, and record financial transactions in accordance with GAAP; 2) Assisting with general ledger reconciliations, journal entries, and financial data analysis using accounting systems or spreadsheets; and 3) Reviewing financial documents for accuracy and assisting with financial schedules, workpapers, or reports.

You may substitute education for specialized experience as follows: One year of graduate-level education, or superior academic achievement (S.A.A.) gained in a bachelor degree curriculum that is qualifying for the position to be filled (based on class standing, grade-point average, or honor society membership).

See the following link for more information: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-policies/#url=app -OR- Combination of education and experience as described above. Less than one year of specialized experience may be combined with completed graduate education.

GS-09: A qualified candidate's online application and resume must demonstrate at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-07) in the Federal service.

Specialized experience for this position is defined as: 1) Applying generally accepted accounting principles and standards to analyze transactions, reconcile accounts, and prepare financial reports; 2) Processing accounting transactions and supporting general ledger operations, including monthly and year-end closing ledger or subsidiary ledger closing activities; and 3) Analyzing financial data using automated accounting systems to identify discrepancies, resolve errors, and support system improvements.

You may substitute education for specialized experience as follows: Two years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a master's degree, or master's, or equivalent graduate degree; your education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work. -OR- Combination of graduate education and experience as described above.

Less than one year of specialized experience may be combined with graduate education in excess of the amount required for the next lower grade level (i.e., credit hours beyond the first year of full-time study may be credited). GS-11: A qualified candidate's online application and resume must demonstrate at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-09) in the Federal service.

Specialized experience for this position is defined as: 1) Independently performing complex accounting assignments, including preparing and reviewing financial analysis and evaluation of accounting transactions; 2) Preparing and reviewing financial statements and reports for compliance with applicable accounting standards, including GAAP or FERC requirements; and 3) Analyzing and preparing accounting treatments and financial impacts while communicating technical findings and recommendations to management and organizations. "Experience" refers to paid and unpaid experience.

Examples of qualifying unpaid experience may include: volunteer work done through National Service programs (such as Peace Corps and AmeriCorps); as well as work for other community-based philanthropic and social organizations. 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.

CTAP/ICTAP candidates: To be considered "well qualified" you must meet all of the requirements as described in this section. You must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

About the Position - Portland This position is located in Portland, OR which boasts huge spans of amazing trees, foliage, landscape, and everywhere you look you can appreciate beautiful greenery! It is known as the most bike-friendly city in America, has a train system that greets you at the airport spanning across the city, and is home to the Portland International Rose Garden, the oldest in the country!

Portland is the one place where you will find lively festivals, energetic music, mouthwatering food, and for you basketball fans, the Portland Trail Blazers are a 7 minute walk from the HQs building! There is always something new to experience in this eco-friendly town! As an Accountant, you will: Plan and conduct a variety of accounting activities independently.

Analyze accounting systems and modify and adapt conventional accounting and analytical techniques to execute accounting transactions and solve a variety of accounting problems. Use judgment to adapt guidelines to specific cases or problems and/or to interpret a large number of varied policies and regulations. Independently identify, troubleshoot, and resolve issues with financial data or processing of data within the integrated system.

Prepare, record, and document non-routine, recurring, and complex accounting transactions; prepares and/or reviews recurring accounting transactions; prepares and/or reviews general ledger account reconciliations and prepares financial information to support internal and external review. Use the full range of BES' automated systems to research, analyze, and synthesize financial information.