Accountant

Full Job Description

The incumbent will serve as the Accountant for the day-to-day accounting operations to include maintenance of General Ledger Control Accounts and Subsidiary Records for Medical Care and research appropriations, General Fund Receipts, Compensated Work Therapy, Patient Funds, General post Funds and Suspense Account Funds at the Fayetteville VA Medical Center.

Maintains same accounts for the National Cemeteries serviced by the medical center.

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 03/09/2026.

Basic Occupational Requirement: Degree: Bachelor's degree (or higher) in 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.(TRANSCRIPT REQUIRED) 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.

You must qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below:GS-11 level: 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: Analyzes and interprets routine information; coordinates with others to accomplish work related activities; processes or records financial transactions or numerical information; verifies accuracy and completeness of information on paper or computer documents or records; prepares operating changes when revisions are required.

OR, Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience.

To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have 3 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree.

OR, Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have an combination of specialized experience and education beyond a master degree.

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: The work is primarily sedentary. Typically the employee may sit comfortably to do the work.

There may be some walking, standing, bending, and carrying of light items such as focus group audio visual equipment, Xerox paper and books.

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/.

Major Duties:

Duties include but are not limited to: Responsible for the day-to-day operations of the Accounting Section which operates on a double entry accrual basis under the FMS System, PAID system, and VISTA system.

Performs a variety of duties which include making decisions as to proper accounting treatment in classifying unusual and/or irregular or non­recurring transactions not covered under existing regulations and coordinating the activities of the Accounting Section to meet schedules and report deadlines and advising or assisting accounting Technicians.

Establishes quality controls and checks and, when necessary, work measurements to ensure the highest quality of work are produced.

Reviews output periodically to assure compliance with prescribed regulations and policies.

Implements new and/or revised accounting instructions, new programs, new reporting procedures and recording methods and organization structures to achieve maximum efficiency in utilizing personnel, space, and equipment.

Reviews transactions recorded throughout the system to assure accuracy and uniformity of appropriation charges and accounting concepts applies.

Responsible for reviewing all accounting manual changes of VA Handbooks, Directives, and other written polices affecting accounting operations.

Incumbent shall analyze and implement changes into operation, by independently solving technical accounting problems relating to all phases of work involving the change.

Incumbent is required to use sound judgment in establishing local procedures to ensure accounting principles are adhered to.

Performs a variety of duties in connection with the maintenance, reconciliation, and auditing of accounts in a general ledger covering a full range of assets, liabilities, income, expense, cost accounting, and budgeting.

Researches, interprets, and verifies which appropriation and general ledger accounts a document and subsequent accounting transactions will affect; establishes routines for input of these transactions.

Assigns transactions that will have the proper accounting effect. Documents financial transactions to assure a proper audit trail.

Reviews pending items and ensures that follow-up action is taken on all items pending for excessive periods of time.

Performs test audits to determine validity and accuracy of accounting records and application of accounting controls adapting the system to fit special circumstances encountered, and where appropriate, makes decisions on technical accounting matters or problems involving the application of comprehensive knowledge of accounting and the functions and responsibilities of the VA and this Medical Center.

Ensures the timely preparation of reports for VISN, Department of Treasury, VA Headquarters, and local management. Analyzes general ledger accounts to ensure accuracy of reports.

Analyzes documents for accuracy and authorization. Work Schedule: 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM, Monday - Friday Telework: AD-HOC Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Position Description/PD#: Accountant/PD076260 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized