Accountant

Full Job Description

The Accountant is responsible for the maintenance of a double entry accounting system which involves assets, liabilities, general ledger accounting and accountability for appropriations, revolving and trust fund accounts.

The Senior Accountant is responsible for detailed, efficient operation and control, applying professional concepts and methodologies as well as knowledgeable in functional program characteristics and requirements, located at the Washington DC VA Medical Center, Fiscal Service.

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 04/01/2026.

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-09 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-07 and 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.

You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below: Basic 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: 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; OR 3.

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.

GS-09 Specialized Experience: You must have one 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: - Analyzing accounting transactions and system-generated reports for accuracy and compliance.

- Reconciling discrepancies in ledgers, cost accounts, and program fund balances. Preparing and reviewing financial and cost accounting reports on a regular basis.

- Applying federal GAAP, appropriation law, and VA policy to safeguard fund integrity. Supporting, configuring, and training users of VA accounting systems (e.g. IFCAP, FMS).

- Advising leadership on accounting issues and contributing to system or process enhancements. OR Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience.

To qualify based on education for the GS-09 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 (such as LL.B.

or J.D.) in a course of study that directly reflects the job-related KSAs/competencies necessary to satisfy the minimum qualifications and perform the duties of the Staff Accountant.

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: - Analyzing accounting transactions and system-generated reports for accuracy and compliance.

- Reconciling discrepancies in ledgers, cost accounts, and program fund balances. - Preparing and reviewing financial and cost accounting reports on a regular basis.

- Applying federal GAAP, appropriation law, and VA policy to safeguard fund integrity. - Supporting, configuring, and training users of VA accounting systems (e.g. IFCAP, FMS).

- Advising leadership on accounting issues and contributing to system or process enhancements. OR Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience.

To qualify based on education for the GS-11 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 in a course of study that directly reflects the job-related KSAs/competencies necessary to satisfy the minimum qualification and perform the duties of the Staff Accountant.

Preferred Experience: GS-09 Knowledge of professional accounting principles and theory, this includes general ledger, cost and allotment accounting; Professional knowledge of accounting practices, methods, skills standards, and techniques required performing routine and non-routine assignments independently using procedures and practices that are conventional and apply to most situations encountered; knowledge of accounting procedure related to appropriation funding, budget, allotment, obligations and disbursements.

GS-11 Experience applying concepts, theories, and principles of accounting and financial reporting; experience in financial analysis, budgeting, and forecasting; interpreting financial data and providing guidance to management; experience using accounting software/systems to ensure accurate record-keeping and efficient financial processes; and experience reconciling accounts, identifying discrepancies, and conducting audits.

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:

GS-09 Accountant Performs the following typical duties: - Conducts daily examination of various accounting transaction listings, cost reports, financial statements, project fund balances, and work orders to ascertain accuracy and completeness of data.

- Directs the assignment of project and cost codes, accounting classification and file maintenance and provides information for transmitting data to appropriate office.

- Analyzes and reviews ADP maintenance listings and determines what additions, modifications, and deletions to data base are needed.

- Researches operating finance and accounting data interprets data and furnishes the data to various organizations to be used for guidance in establishing and programming costs and obligations for current and future operations.

- Performs liaison function between local operating elements and the finance office in such matters by gathering and interpreting pertinent data and deriving solutions day-to-day finance and accounting matters in accordance with accounting principles, policies and objectives of the accounting system.

- Assists in controlling financial operations by controlling obligations and/or expenditures within limitations established by appropriation, allotment, apportionment work allowance, and purposes authorized by public law.

- Serves as a professional accountant.

- Applies a thorough knowledge of the total accounting system and of well established accounting principles, techniques and regulations to process a wide variety of transactions.

- Recognizes significant account variances and assists higher level accountants in the proper research and reconciliation of all accounting records.

- Determines proper work methods and develops work sheets and forms necessary to complete assignments.

GS-11 Accountant Responsible for accounting and financial activities: - Providing systems analysis, advice, and design regarding Financial Management and Accounting systems used by VA; - Maintaining various high profile accounting transactions including fixed assets; environmental liabilities and deferred maintenance; - Financial indicators and financial reports reconciliation; taking corrective action on financial system issues or reporting errors; - Providing training to VA field station staff; and participating in financial system(s) annual close out.

- The incumbent performs analytical, evaluative and interpretive duties on any accounting matter related to the above functions.

- The incumbent provides technical expertise to accounting staff, as well as an adviser to higher management throughout the facility.

- The incumbent will apportion his/her time reviewing existing systems and workflow procedures in order to identify discrepancies or opportunities for system enhancements and analyzing systems requirement and designs of VA's Financial Management and Accounting Systems.

- The majority of the daily workload is completed by the processing of accounting information using IFCAP (Integrated Funds Distribution Control Point Accounting and Procedure), AR (Accounts Receivable), FAP (Fixed Assets Program), CCS (Credit Card System), IPPS (Invoice Payment Processing System), and FMS (Financial Management System) at the Austin, Texas VA Data Processing Center.

- The incumbent serves as an expert for all of these issues, and must be knowledgeable of these new performance measures as well as methods and procedures to correct any errors or irregularities that may occur.

- The incumbent is also faced with the challenge of mastering several computerized accounting information systems (i.e.

IFCAP, FMS, SF224, IPPS, FRS, RSD, FASPAC, SNAPWEB, CIR, OCTnet, VSSC, DIRECT, e-Concur) in order to work effectively.

- The incumbent is responsible for performing account reconciliations, audits and regular reviews to ensure the integrity of the accounting data within the computerized systems.

- The incumbent is responsible for evaluating the validity of the accounting records and recommending and establishing necessary procedural changes to maintain proper records, maintaining close contact with FMS and AMM personnel in reconciling the Fixed Asset programs.

- The incumbent provides assistance and guidance to Accounting Technicians, Accountants, Interns, and Students on a daily basis for unique or irregular situations and transactions.

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 8:00 am to 4:30 pm Virtual: This is Not a virtual position.

Position Description/PD#: Accountant/PD19014-A and PD18012-A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized