Accountant

Full Job Description

The purpose of this position is to perform the full range of professional accounting work requiring the application of sound accounting principles, theories, concepts and practices involved in preparing, analyzing, interpreting and presenting accounting data.

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet time-in-grade requirements and specialized experience within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement, 03/02/2026.

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 within 30 days of 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.

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet the Individual Occupational Requirement (IOR). An IOR is a basic requirement that must be met in order to qualify for the GS 0510 occupational series.

Education must be accredited by an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education at the time the degree was obtained.

To qualify for this occupational series, applicants must have one of the following listed below: 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; OR 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, applicants may qualify based on experience and/or education as described below: GS-07: Specialized Experience: You must have 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade, GS-05, in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization.

Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Applying accounting and auditing concepts and principals sufficient to work independently.

Identify accounting problems, inaccurate records and reports, and the lack of inadequate documentary evidence to support financial statements.

Utilizing commercial software programs to present financial data and analysis to customers. Develop reports comparing actual results to plans and budgets. Reconciling reports and financial data.

Assembling information and making comparative and statistical analyses. Develop cost estimates. OR, Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience.

Please see Education section; OR, Applicants may qualify based on superior academic achievement: Applicants must be in the upper third of their graduating class; OR have a GPA of 3.0 or higher; OR be a member of an Association of College Honor Societies.

Please see Education section; OR, Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify. Please see Education section.

GS-09: Specialized Experience: You must have 1 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: Applying accounting and auditing concepts and principals sufficient to recommend adaptations to guidelines and procedures.

Identify significant account variances such as inadequate maintenance of fund controls and assists higher level staff in the proper research and reconciliation of all accounting records.

Utilizing commercial software programs to present financial data and analysis to customers and provide advice and assistance.

Develops and revises regulations for project and revolving fund accounting control and reporting instructions.

Prepares and implements supplemental accounting procedures, reports, and modifications to existing procedures.

Conducts daily examination of various accounting transactions and performs the necessary research to reconcile account balances. Develop reports comparing actual results to plans and budgets.

Assembling information and making comparative and statistical analyses. OR, Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience.

Please see Education section; OR, Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify. Please see Education section.

GS-11: Specialized Experience: You must have 1 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: Applying accounting and auditing concepts and principals sufficient to recommend adaptations to guidelines and procedures and provide assistance.

Identify source of problems, impact on other elements, and develops resolutions to problems.

Reviews the work of accounting of other staff members to assure accuracy and conformity to policy and procedures.

Work closely with systems personnel on the design of automated systems to facilitate the processing of accounting data.

Conducts daily examination of various accounting transactions and performs the necessary research to reconcile account balances. Develop reports comparing actual results to plans and budgets.

Assembling information and making comparative and statistical analyses. Makes independent decisions regarding unusual and complex transactions. Maintains oversight of the edit master files.

OR, Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. Please see Education section; OR, Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify.

Please see Education section. Major Duties:

This position involves a multi-grade career ladder.

The major duties listed below represent the full performance level of GS-11, however a selection can be made at any of the following grade levels: GS-07, GS-09 OR GS-11.

At the GS-07 grade level, you will perform assignments of a more limited scope and with less independence.

At the GS-09 grade level, you will progressively acquire the background necessary to perform at the full performance level of GS-11.

Promotion is at the discretion of the supervisor and is contingent upon satisfactory performance.

The major duties include but are not limited to: Provides assistance, performs review, analysis and evaluation of existing and proposed accounting practices.

Responsible for fiscal law, rules, regulations, policies, automated accounting and non-accounting systems, and procedures pertinent to financial management or accounting matters within the department or program area assigned.

Works independently on continuing assignments or projects that require application of VA generally accepted principles, practices, and theories of professional accounting.

Performs special projects and assignments for automated financial systems, daily review of accounting outputs, and maintains oversight of the edit master files.

Works closely with systems personnel on the design of automated systems to facilitate the processing of accounting data to assure the results attained meet all accounting requirements.

Performs special reviews and analyses to ensure the integrity of the general control system and prepares special reports and financial statements relating to the financial condition of specified program activities.

Reviews the work of Accounting of other fiscal staff to assure accuracy and conformity to policy and procedures, instructing them when necessary on proper methods and assigns projects to be accomplished.

Works closely with activities and their designated resource personnel in promoting understanding and effective application of financial management and accounting policies and procedures and monitors the implementation of new and/or supplemental accounting systems and procedures.

Identifies source of problems, impact on other elements in the accounting systems, accounting adjustments required, and recommends procedural changes to preclude reoccurrence of problems identified.

Applies corresponding professional accounting knowledge and skills in the application of corrective procedures when necessary and provides technical advice and assistance to Budget Technicians and Analysts in the resolution of problems.

Assists program managers in developing accounting data structure and participates in the planning, coordination, direction of meetings and telephone conferences associated with accounting closeouts or reorganization events.

Reviews report media, directs and/or prepares and analyzes internal and external statements and reports.

Examples include: Statement of Financial Conditions, Selected Data, Analysis of Costs Incurred and Statement of Selected Support Data.

Makes day-to-day decisions regarding unusual and complex accounting transactions, and is available to consult on solution of management problems and to provide alternatives through sound application of professional knowledge of the accounting system.

Performs other related duties as assigned.

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 - Friday, 8:00am - 4:30pm MST Telework: Not Authorized Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Position Description/PD#: Accountant/PD604620, PD604630, and PD604640 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized