Accountant

Full Job Description

This position is located in the Financial Management Service Line, this section provides support for Accounting activities for Raymond G Murphy VA Health Care System, Albuquerque, NM.

The purpose of the position is to perform duties involved in preparing, analyzing, interpreting, and presenting accounting data.

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 04/08/2026.

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-07 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-05. For a GS-09 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-07. For a GS-11 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-09.

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.

This position has an Individual Occupation Requirement (IOR).

You must meet one of the following: 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.

In addition to meeting the IOR above, you must meet the following: GS-7 Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-5 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization.

Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: reconciling errors or provides assistance in the development of automated procedures for clerical operations using knowledge of automated accounting budget systems, reviewing transactions recorded throughout the system to assure accuracy and uniformity of appropriation charges and accounting concepts applied, identifying unfavorable trends, and suggest corrective action.

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

To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have 1 year of graduate-level education or superior academic achievement.

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

GS-9 Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-7 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization.

Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: using sound judgment in establishing local procedures to insure accounting principles are adhered to, providing accounting expertise and fiscal services to staff, management, and executive leadership, participating in decision making sessions and advises a number of program managers on regulatory requirements, financial policies, the interpretation of data, and program improvements through analysis or program operations, monthly reports, and special system edits.

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

To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have 2 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a master's degree or master's or equivalent graduate degree.

OR, Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level.

You must have an combination of specialized experience and progressively higher level graduate education leading to a master's degree, a masters degree, or equivalent graduate degree.

GS-11 Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-9 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization.

Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: managing processing and inputting of reconciliation's and audits in financial systems, directing the preparation, reviews and analyzes reconciliation reports, analyzing and evaluating reports to ensure they are in balance, that the data is valid and that they adhere to prescribed regulatory manuals and procedures, classifying erroneous conditions and recommends changes in procedures to prevent recurrence of problems.

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 progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree.

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:

Major duties include, but are not limited to: Provides assistance and performs reviews, analyses, and evaluations of existing and proposed accounting practices.

Ensures the effectiveness and efficiency of supported financial management functions.

Applies knowledge of federal appropriations law, regulations, policies, procedures, and automated financial systems to support financial management and accounting operations within the assigned department or program area.

Works independently on continuing assignments or projects requiring the application of generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), practices, and theories of professional accounting.

Performs special projects and assignments involving automated financial systems; conducts daily reviews and reconciliations of accounting outputs to ensure accuracy and completeness; and maintains oversight of financial data processing.

Reviews the work of other fiscal staff to ensure accuracy and conformity with policies and procedures, providing guidance on proper methods and assigning work when necessary.

Performs special reviews and analyses to ensure the integrity of the general control system and the accuracy, completeness, and reliability of financial data in accordance with internal control standards and financial reporting requirements.

Prepares and analyzes financial reports and statements related to the financial condition of assigned programs and activities.

Identifies issues affecting accounting processes and systems and recommends improvements to enhance efficiency, accuracy, and internal controls.

Assists program managers in developing accounting data structures and participates in the planning, coordination, and facilitation of meetings and teleconferences associated with accounting closeouts or organizational changes.

Applies professional accounting knowledge and skills in implementing corrective actions and provides technical advice and assistance to budget technicians and analysts in resolving accounting and financial management issues.

Promotion Potential: The selectee may be promoted to the full performance level without further competition when all regulatory, qualification, and performance requirements are met.

Selection at a lower grade level does not guarantee promotion to the full performance level. Work Schedule: Monday to Friday, 8:00am to 4:30PM Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Position Description/PD#: Accountant/PD13624A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized