Incumbent serves as an accountant for the Accounting Section within the Financial Management Service Line at VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System. The accountant must be vigilant in terms of accuracy, timeliness and reporting requirements of various functions assigned. The incumbent devises solutions to regulatory or production problems and suggests improvements to accounting processes; and identifies measures to improve efficiency and effectiveness of the accounting operations.

Duties

Classifies and processes transactions that include verifying the accuracy and completeness of the accounting data, compliance with regulations, determining the accounts and subsidiary accounts affected and determining the entries to be made. The incumbent carefully analyzes each document/transaction to determine propriety of payment coordinates and resolves discrepancies and/or problems, and corrects rejects promptly. Reviews transactions for timeliness and reasonableness and resolves problematic areas. Verifies that obligations are set up timely and reports all delinquent obligations to Chief Accountant, taking action to ensure that delinquencies are corrected. Ensures that funds are available to cover obligations to prevent anti-deficiency. This includes review of undelivered orders, accounts payable, accounts receivable, suspense, outstanding travel, travel expense reports and others. Researches and analyzes discrepancies or problems noted and determines the corrective entries required to adjust accounts. Also recommends actions to prevent recurrence of similar discrepancies. Responsible for monitors reported as financial indicators by reviewing and taking action based on criteria to achieve a successful rating for the fiscal year to include Undelivered Orders, Equipment, Accounts Payable, Suspense Accounts, Accounts Receivable, General Post Fund accounts, 224 and Outstanding Travel. Maintains oversight of the monthly open order process for VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System, ensuring that service line responses are received, reviewed and taken action on by all parties involved. Incumbent is responsible for conducting routine reviews of accounting transactions which requires the application of generally accepted accounting principles to ensure technical accuracy of accounting records and compliance with VA regulations. Incumbent will assist in performing financial audits, including internal audits and Financial Quality Assurance Audits, as well as prepare documentation for external audits. He/she may be included in performing reviews in other sections of VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System. Incumbent is responsible for the accurate and timely preparation of recurring financial reports for submission to the VISN, Office of Financial Oversight and VA Central Office and for preparing special reports for use by local management and operating officials. Incumbent is responsible for updating financial data in Microsoft Access databases and Microsoft Excel workbooks and to write queries or functions for use in financial reporting. Reconciles accounts, identify the sources of discrepancies, and makes the required adjustments to bring the account into balance. Completes all other 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 Compressed/Flexible: Available Telework: VA supports the use of telework as a way to help attract and retain talented individuals in public service, increase worker productivity, and better prepare the agency to operate during emergencies. This position may be authorized for telework. Telework eligibility will be discussed during the interview process. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Accountant/PD01411A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): 15% through 4/20/2024 Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 02/28/2024. 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. 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. You may qualify based on your experience and/or education for GS-09 as described below: 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 if applying for the GS-09 level; OR, Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this 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 if applying for the GS-09 level OR, Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. Combinations of successfully completed graduate level education and specialized experience may be used to meet total experience requirements. Only graduate level education in excess of the amount required for the next lower grade level may be combined with experience. For example, an applicant with 6 months of appropriate experience equivalent to GS-07 (50 percent of the experience requirement for GS-09) and 27 semester hours of appropriate graduate education (50 percent of the education requirement for GS-9, in excess of that required for GS-07) would be qualified for a GS-09 position (assuming that there is no evidence that the attended college or university requires more than 18 semester hours as equivalent to a year of graduate study). You may qualify based on your experience and/or education for GS-11 as described below: 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 if applying for the GS-09 level; OR, Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this 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 if applying for the GS-11 level. OR, Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. Combinations of successfully completed graduate level education and specialized experience may be used to meet total experience requirements. Only graduate level education in excess of the amount required for the next lower grade level may be combined with experience. For example, an applicant with 6 months of appropriate experience equivalent to GS-09 (50 percent of the experience requirement for GS-11) and 1.5 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree (50 percent of the education requirement for GS-11, in excess of that required for GS-09) would be qualified for a GS-11 position (assuming that there is no evidence that the attended college or university requires more than 18 semester hours as equivalent to a year of graduate study). You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Accounting OperationsAuditingCommunicationComputer Skills Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Note: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment. Physical Requirements: The work is primarily sedentary. 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/.

Education

A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.

Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

Along with meeting the specialized experience at each grade level applicants must also meet:

Individual Occupational Requirements

Basic Requirements

1. 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

2. 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.

Contacts

• Address Pittsburgh VA Medical Center 1010 Delafield Road Pittsburgh, PA 15215 US
• Name: Chase Wilkins
• Phone: (412) 395-6108
• Email: [email protected]