The incumbent serves as an Accountant in the Support Services Division. The purpose of the work is to ensure accurate reporting of all accounting, cost, and budget data, and to facilitate the efficient use of allocated funds for the Regional Office (RO). Assists management in providing analytical and organizational expertise for all division activities, including financial, budgetary, and administrative.

Duties

Examines, certifies and audit vouchers submitted for payment, while assessing compliance with applicable laws, regulations, policies, and procedures. Establishes and maintains internal controls systems with a special emphasis on the operational areas identified as having a high risk of fraud, waste, and abuse. Ability to communicate either by phone or correspondence with veterans, fiduciary, other offices with inquiry results. Prepares fiscal, administrative, and other statistical reports as deemed appropriate and/or as required and serves on such other projects as directed. Responds to inquiries from Congressional Offices, Regional Counsel and Office of IG. Must have a thorough understanding of the various benefit programs and the payment procedures and regulations applicable to each program administered by the Department. Independently performs reviews for accuracy and consistency of data such as audits, debts, and reimbursement. Ensures that recurring reports are accurately complied and completed on time Provides technical advice to all Regional Office employees on complex and unusual benefit award adjustments, special payment issues, and accounts receivable actions on the applicable computer applications. Ability to use specific VA computer applications, in additions to Microsoft Excel, Word and other electronic database applications. Performs accounting reviews and payment function checks for discrepancies and advises management with proposes plans to prevent future unassociated funds situations. Provides administration support to management staff for personnel management, budget administration, procurement, and other financial related activities. Serve as subject matter expert in all areas of the Financial Operations section. Oversee the work of the Financial Specialist and ensures appropriate separations of duties are in place and the financial integrity of the regional office is maintain and upheld. Develops procedures and coordinates activities across functional lines with other divisions, Regional Offices, service organization, and with other government departments or agencies. Establishes and maintains internal controls systems with a special emphasis on the operational areas identified as having a high risk of fraud, waste, and abuse. Responsible for planning, organizing, assigning, and reviewing the work performed within the Operations area. Must be well versed in all facets of the financial and general operating procedures for the Regional Office, which requires substantial technical and managerial expertise. Serves as a Certifying Official authorizing all financial transactions, adjustments, and Collections. Ability to conduct the most detailed audits and analysis. Skilled in completing oral and written presentations that are clear, concise, and logical. Promotion Potential: GS-11 is the full performance level of the position. Work Schedule: Full time, Monday through Friday- hours to be determined upon selection. Compressed/Flexible: Available Telework: Available according to agency policy Virtual: This is not a virtual position Position Description/PD#: Accountant; GS-11 37347A, GS-9 37358A, GS-7 37357A, Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not Required

Requirements

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
• You may be required to serve a probationary period
• Subject to background/security investigation
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement: 01/19/2023 MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement. Applicants must meet both the Individual Occupational Requirement and Specialized Experience in order to qualify for the Accountant position. There is an Individual Occupational Requirement (IOR) that must be met to be found minimally qualified for this series, please read the requirement description carefully. 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. 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. To support your claim of time in grade, you must submit your most recent appointment, promotion, or within grade increase SF-50 (not an award or general adjustment SF-50). Some applicants may have to submit more than one SF-50 to demonstrate their eligibility. For a GS-07 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-05 level. For a GS-09 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-07 level. For a GS-11 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-09 level. If you are a current VBA employee outside of the commuting area seeking reassignment or change to lower grade via this vacancy announcement, you must currently hold the GS-05 (or higher) and the promotion potential of your current position must be at least GS-11. GS-07 Level: Specialized Experience: To qualify at the GS-07 level, applicants must have One year of specialized experience which was equivalent to the (GS-05) level. Experience with the basic accounting and budgetary methods and procedures, experience using and inputting data into financial systems, and experience assisting in the preparation of financial statements and reports. Education: One (1) full year of graduate-level education or superior academic achievement GS-09 Level: Specialized Experience: To qualify at the GS-09 level, applicants must have One year of specialized experience which was equivalent to the (GS-07) level. Experience with the basic accounting and budgetary methods and procedures, experience using and inputting data into financial systems, and experience assisting in the preparation of financial statements and reports. Education: Two (2) full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a master's degree or master's or equivalent graduate degree GS-11 Level: Specialized Experience: To qualify for this position at the GS-11 level, applicants must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-09 level and demonstrate the specialized experience as described for the GS-09 level, at an advanced level. In addition, the applicant must also demonstrate specialized experience to include reconciling accounts, validating a variety of accounting data, which is then entered into an accounting system or systems; ability to manipulate excel proficiently with large data pools; ability to clearly, concisely and proficiently convey analytical findings to various levels of lower level and upper-level management of the agency. Education: Three (3) full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree (education must meet the IOR requirement listed above). OR Applicants may substitute education for the experience required. GS-7: Bachelor's degree with Superior Academic Achievement for two-grade interval positions 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 position GS-9: Master's (or equivalent graduate degree such as LL.B. or J.D. as specified in qualification standards or individual occupational requirements) 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 position,2 years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a master's degree or master's or equivalent graduate degree. GS-11: 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 position. OR Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify. Combining Education & Experience: If you do not fully meet the length of experience and education described for a specific grade level (e.g. have six months of experience and some coursework but not a degree), the two can be combined to total 100% of the requirement. Click here for more information. For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at http://://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/.-standards/.

Education

Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education to be credited towards qualifications. Provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

All education claimed by applicants will be verified upon appointment. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript to receive credit.

Contacts

• Address VBACO HRC Denver 810 Vermont Ave NW Washington, DC 20420 US
• Name: Traci Hopper
• Phone: (303) 236-6176
• Email: [email protected]