Accountant

Full Job Description

This position is located in Hines, Illinois, and is organizationally aligned under the Office of Management, VA Central Office.

The Accountant provides professional accounting and financial management support for VA Benefit Payment programs, working within integrated accounting systems to conduct reconciliations, review transactions, resolve discrepancies, and support accurate financial reporting and operations.

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 02/25/2026.

You may qualify based on your experience and education as described below: Individual Occupational Requirements: 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: Twenty-four semester hours in accounting or auditing courses of appropriate type and quality.

This can include up to 6 hours of business law; A certificate as Certified Public Accountant or a Certified Internal Auditor, obtained through written examination; or 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 Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-11 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization.

Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Performing professional accounting work within an accounting or financial management system; Conducting complex reconciliations and independently researching discrepancies in financial records or reports; Reviewing financial transactions to ensure accuracy and compliance with accounting policies or regulations; and Analyzing accounting processes and recommending improvements.

You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Communications Compliance Internal Controls Principles of Accounting Problem Solving 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.

Physical Requirements: Work is primarily sedentary but involves use of a personal computer. A degree of manual dexterity and visual acuity enough to utilize these tools are required.

Work requires considerable data input, speaking in a group setting, and working at a personal or laptop computer.

A moderate amount of standing and walking is required in getting to and from meeting places away from the worksite.

The incumbent may become fatigued due to reading difficult types of printed and handwritten material over an extended period. No special physical demands are required.

For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at http://://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/.

The Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) and Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced Federal/VA competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies.

To be qualified for this vacancy, you must submit appropriate documentation (a copy of the agency notice, your most recent performance rating, and your most recent SF-50 noting current position, grade level, and duty location) and meet the well-qualified criteria below: Experience performing complex reconciliations between general ledger and subsidiary systems, independently researching discrepancies, and resolving out-of-balance conditions.

Experience administering or working extensively within an integrated financial or accounting system to review and validate financial data.

Experience reviewing and correcting financial transactions to ensure accuracy and compliance with accounting policies, regulations, or internal controls.

Experience interpreting and applying accounting principles and regulations related to the control of funds.

Experience evaluating accounting processes or financial procedures and recommending improvements or automation solutions.

Experience analyzing accounting reports or financial data to identify trends, systemic issues, or operational weaknesses and developing solutions.

Experience effectively communicating and collaborating with internal and external stakeholders to gather information, analyze financial processes, and provide guidance on complex accounting matters both orally and in writing.

Information about ICTAP and CTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website at http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/.

Local Commuting Area: The local commuting area for this position is defined as a radius of 50 miles from Hines, IL.

This includes all locations that fall within a 50 mile driving distance from 5000 South 5th Ave, Hines, IL 60141. Major Duties:

The initial application review cut-off for this job announcement is 50 applications. The first 50 applications received will be considered first.

Applications received after the initial cut-off number (50 applications) may not receive consideration unless otherwise requested by management.

If management requests additional certificates, applicants will continue to be reviewed in groups of 50 in the order they applied.

Note: Submitting multiple applications will change the order in which your application is reviewed.

Major Duties: Administers and maintains an integrated accounting system designed to track, reconcile, and report on agency-administered programs and appropriations Performs complex accounting analysis and reconciliations, including review of transactions, preparation of journal vouchers, and resolution of out-of-balance conditions to ensure accuracy of financial records Provides financial advice and analysis related to the control of funds, interpretation of appropriations and allotment restrictions, and application of accounting principles and regulations Evaluates accounting procedures and work processes, devising solutions to regulatory or production problems and recommending improvements and automation to enhance efficiency and effectiveness Communicates and collaborates with internal and external stakeholders to gather information, analyze financial processes, and provide guidance on accounting matters Work Schedule: Mon - Fri 8:00 am - 4:30 pm Compressed/Flexible: Available with supervisory approval.

Telework: Ad hoc telework (situational telework) available as determined by the agency policy. Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Position Description/PD#: PD00063A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not Required