Lead Accountant

Full Job Description

The Lead Accountant position is for Fiscal Service of the VA Eastern Colorado Healthcare System (ECHCS), in Aurora, Colorado.

This position works under minimal supervision of the Supervisory Accountant, and as such, is responsible for the accuracy of the Fiscal Accounts of ECHCS and VA Community-Based Clinics in the Region.

The Lead Accountant is responsible for the detailed and efficient operation and oversight control of day-to-day fiscal activities at this facility.

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 04/14/2026.

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 12 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS 11. 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.

You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below: To qualify for this position, applicants must meet BOTH basic requirements and grade level requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

Individual Occupational Requirements: (Proof of education required)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: 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 the basic requirements, applicants must also meet the below specialized experience requirements: 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: Communication and interpersonal relations, including the ability to appropriately and courteously relate to internal and external customers; t possesses a strong knowledge of Integrated Funds Distribution, Control Activity, Accounting & Procurement System (IFCAP) and Financial Management System (FMS), with an in-depth knowledge and understanding of how the systems interface and the ability to solve problems which arise within the systems.

Knowledge of and the ability to interpret and apply applicable laws, policies and regulations pertaining to agency financial activities, i.e.

VA Directives and Handbooks, Comptroller General Decisions, General Accounting Office Guidelines, General Services Administration and Treasury Department Regulations.

Incumbent must possess an extensive knowledge of fund control point accounting, allotment accounting, accrual accounting and double entry general ledger accounting systems which include assets, liabilities, revenue, expenses, and capital accounts.

The accountant determines functional accounting requirements, assures interface with the larger automated management system, guides systems programming, develops functional tests, writes standard operating procedures, gives oral presentations, and attends meetings on system integration and problem resolution.

Additionally, the accountant possesses knowledge of the various automated accounting systems; Incumbent must possess a high degree of knowledge of appropriations, allotments, analysis accounts, cost accounts, general ledger accounts in a variety of funds, and applicable restrictions.

In addition, the incumbent must be knowledgeable of fund and appropriation accounting concepts and procedures 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: Maintaining the standard general ledger reporting system. Analyzing report data which records transactions within the system for the purpose of correcting errors.

Preparing financial schedules for briefings. Duties performed require the application of professional accounting principles, theories, concepts and practices to unique situations.

Employing accounting policies/standards in the resolution of unprecedented problems/situations.

Serving as the principal point of contact performing staff level accounting work, including analyzing/interpreting higher headquarters accounting polices and procedures and reporting directives for implementation throughout the command.

Performing fund distribution including receiving allocations, issuing allotments, monitoring, controlling, and reporting annual program and fund authorization for current and prior year.

Evaluating current funding utilizing historical trend analysis.

Coordinating with management personnel levels to identify situations responsible for poor performance and recommending alternative avenues to resolve recurring problems.

Analyzing and reconciling the financial inventory accounting fund reporting system.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday; 8:00am - 4:30pm Telework: Location negotiable/virutal" (employee will be assigned space at a VA facility). Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Position Description/PD#: Lead Accountant/PD122530 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not Authorized