Staff Accountant

Full Job Description

The Staff Accountant verifies and maintains the integrity of data being recorded in the various accounting systems.

Analyzes output to ensure accuracy, completeness, and compliance with guidelines, policies, and GAAP.

The need for accurate and timely accounting data is essential to budget formulation and forecasting and to the control and judicious use of appropriated funds.

Properly records cost data as it pertains to the resource allocation model which has a direct impact on station funding To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 02/23/2026.

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-9 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.

You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below: 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: Demonstrated proficiency in federal accounting systems.

Ability to interpret and apply federal financial regulations Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify for the grade levels listed above.

Only graduate education in excess of the amount required for the next lower grade level may be used to qualify for positions at grades GS-9 and GS-11.

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:

Primary duties include but may not be limited to the following: Review transactions recorded throughout the system to ensure accuracy and uniformity of appropriation charges and accounting concepts applied Interpret and execute at appropriate time all accounting manual changes of VA Handbooks, Directives, and other written policies affecting accounting operations Uses sound judgment in establishing local procedures to insure accounting principles are adhered to Provides accounting expertise and fiscal services to subordinates as well as department, top management, and/or VA Central Office (VACO) financial management personnel Provide FMS, IFCAP, and Fund Management training to accounting technicians, control point officials, service/ service line chiefs, and fund control clerks throughout the medical center Participates in decision making sessions and advises multiple program managers on regulatory requirements, financial policies, the interpretation of data, and program improvements through analysis of program operations, monthly reports, and special system edits Responsible for the maintenance, reconciliation and auditing of accounts in a general ledger covering the full range of assets, liabilities, income, expense, cost accounting and budgeting Monitors unfavorable trends or deviations and suggests necessary corrective action Manages processing and completion of reconciliation's and audits Directs the preparation, reviews and analysis of reconciliation reports (trail balances, operation of personnel quarters, Real Property Reports, accounts payable, accounts receivable, undelivered orders, Credit Card System and cost reports for all FMS, IFCAP, and PAID systems Establishes and maintains liaison between operating and management officials at the medical centers Responsible for compilation of cost data to develop reports, the accuracy of which has a major impact on the budgetary process for the Medical Centers and are used as a tool by the agency to allocate resources within the Veterans Health Administration Maintains and performs monthly reconciliation of various general ledger accounts with related subsidiaries for various independent appropriations, including revolving funds, fund accounts, construction and grant accounts Assures accounting data, computerized cost accounting reports and trial balances are in balance, to include: preparation of Internal Audit Reports for operating officials and other segments of management / VISN staff as requested Performs monthly and year-end accruals for the general ledger accounts that are required for proper financial statements Maintains the overall controls for expenditure accounting Determines transactions are properly processed Analyzes and views reports to assure they are in balance, that the data is valid and that they adhere to prescribed regulatory manuals and procedures Classifies erroneous conditions and recommends changes in procedures to prevent recurrence of the problem 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: Full-Time, Monday-Friday, 7:00am - 3:30pm Telework: Ad-hoc Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Position Description/PD#: Staff Accountant/PD19013A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized