This position is located in the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Office of the Chief Financial Officer. The primary purpose of this position is to develop policies and procedures; and performing analysis and reviews of DHS processes, systems, and procedures related to financial audits of DHS program and operations. Non-BU: This is a non-bargaining unit position.

Duties

As a ACCOUNTANT (STAFF) (RECENT GRADUATES), GS-0510-7/9/11, your typical work assignments may include the following under supervision: Participates in the development, evaluation, analysis, and interpretation of policies to resolve complex accounting and audit problems. Provides advice and guidance to management on areas such as risk management, internal controls, analysis of transactions, work processes, and on the interpretation of audit and accounting standards and regulations, and their application to public sector operations and DHS processes. Modifies, implements, analyzes, and monitors sophisticated management information systems that focus on long and short range plans, policies, and programs in the direction of goals, objectives, and priorities established by statues, executive orders, the Department, and/or the Office of the Chief Financial Officer. Provides technical advice and direct support to headquarters and field management staff in a variety of matters relating to the application of planning systems and management programs to meet mission requirements. Advises and provides analytical support on problem definition and troubleshooting. All DHS-HQ announcements have a 5 business day open period due to the number of applications received. This announcement will be open for 5 business days OR until the first 150 applications have been received, whichever happens first. View common definitions of terms found in this announcement: Common Definitions.

Requirements

• You must be a U.S. citizen to apply for this position.
• Males born after 12/31/1959 must be registered for Selective Service.
• You must successfully pass a background investigation.
• You must submit to a pre-employment drug test.
• You must be 16 years of age or older to apply.
• The duration of Recent Graduates in the excepted service.
• Applying to this announcement certifies that you give permission for DHS to share your application with others in DHS for similar positions.
• The duration of Recent Graduates appointments in the excepted service is counted as a trial period across the Federal Government.
• Pathways Recent Graduate Training and Development: A minimum of 40 hours per year of formal interactive training that advances the goals and competencies outlined in the established Individual Developmental Plan (IDP).
• Transcripts: The transcript(s) or official letter from the registrar's office MUST include either the date your degree or certificate was conferred OR the anticipated date the degree or certificate is scheduled to be conferred.
• Pathways Participant Agreement: You will be required to sign a Program Participant Agreement that documents the appointment dates, work schedule, position information, developmental assignments, and program requirements.
• Individual Development Plan (IDP): You will be required to complete and sign a Individual Development Plan (IDP) within 45 days of your initial appointment date.
• Mentor: You will be required to identify a mentor within 90 days of the initial appointment date and collaborate with the mentor throughout the program.
• The Pathways Program requires the incumbent to submit official or unofficial transcripts with your application by the closing date of the announcement and provide official transcripts prior to entrance-on-duty (EOD).

Qualifications

To be eligible for this position, you must be a recent graduate with a qualifying bachelors, masters, professional, doctorate, vocational or technical degree or certificate program from a qualifying educational institution. You must have graduated within 2 years of the closing date of the announcement, March 1, 2024, OR up to 9 months after the closing date (December 2024). You will not be eligible for the Recent Graduate Program if the degree was obtained before March 1, 2022. TRANSCRIPTS OR DOCUMENTATION MUST BE SUBMITTED WITH DATE OF CONFERRAL OR TENTATIVE CONFERRAL. Veterans unable to apply within two years of receiving their degree, due to military service obligation, have as much as six years after degree completion to apply. NOTE: Qualifying educational institution means- Any of the following educational institutions or curricula that have been accredited by an accrediting body recognized by the Secretary of Education: A technical or vocational school; A 2-year or 4-year college or university; A graduate or professional school (e.g., law school, medical school); or A post-secondary homeschool curriculum. AND In addition to the eligibility requirement above, you must meet all qualification requirements as stated below: For GS-07: Specialized Experience: One year of specialized experience which includes: 1) utilizing data software to assist with routine accounting duties; 2) researching and analyzing accounting data to complete assigned work; and 3) assisting with written reports and briefings to present findings and recommendations to senior staff. This definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed at the second lower grade/level position in the federal service (GS-05). OR Education: One full academic year of graduate level education in a field which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of the position. (TRANSCRIPTS REQUIRED at time of application). An academic year of graduate education is considered to be the number of credit hours that the school attended has determined to represent 1 academic year of full-time study. This determination is made based on normal course loads for a full year of study in the graduate program. If that information cannot be obtained from the school, 18 semester hours or 27 quarter hours should be considered as satisfying the 1 year of full-time study requirement. Part-time graduate education is creditable in accordance with its relationship to a year of full-time study at the school attended. OR Superior Academic Achievement: Successful completion of all the requirements for a bachelor's degree with Superior Academic Achievement. In order to be creditable under this provision, Superior Academic Achievement must have been gained in a curriculum that is qualifying for the position to be filled, such as that identified in Education above. Superior Academic Achievement is based on: (1) Class Standing - Applicants must be in the upper third of the graduating class in the college, university, or major subdivision, such as the College of Liberal Arts or the School of Business Administration, based on completed courses; OR (2) Grade-Point Average (G.P.A.) - Applicants must have a grade-point average of either (a) 3.0 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ("B" or better) as recorded on your official transcript, or as computed based on 4 years of education, or as computed based on courses completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum; or (b) 3.5 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ("B+" or better) based on the average of the required courses completed in the major field or the required courses in the major field completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum.; OR (3) Honor Society Membership - Applicants may be considered eligible based on membership in one of the approved national scholastic honor societies listed by the Association of College Honor Societies (https://www.achsnatl.org/). OR Combination of Education and Experience: A combination of education and experience may be used to qualify for this position as long as the computed percentage of the requirements is at least 100%. To compute the percentage of the requirements, divide your total months of experience by 12. Then divide the total number of completed graduate semester hours (or equivalent) by 18. Add the two percentages. For GS-9: Specialized Experience: One year of specialized experience which includes: 1) experience identifying and resolving accounting transaction problems in accounting systems; 2) experience compiling and verifying the accuracy of accounting data to prepare statements and reports, schedules, and comparative analysis of accounting transactions; and 3) experience using accounting and auditing skills to maintain oversight for implementation of appropriate laws, directives, and regulations of internal control programs and procedures. This definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed at the second lower grade/level position in the federal service (GS-07). OR Education: Master's or equivalent graduate degree or 2 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree in a field which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of the position, such as: Accounting. OR Combination of Education and Experience: A combination of education and experience may be used to qualify for this position as long as the computed percentage of the requirements is at least 100%. To compute the percentage of the requirements, divide your total months of experience by 12. Then divide the total number of completed graduate semester hours (or equivalent) beyond the first year (total graduate semester hours minus 18) by 18. Add the two percentages. For GS-11: Specialized Experience: One year of specialized experience which includes: 1) experience utilizing financial management and accounting systems, to monitor, reconcile, and analyze accounting reports, ledgers, and other accounting data; 2) experience applying standard accounting principles, theories, techniques and procedures; 3) experience analyzing accounting data and develop /modify accounting methods and techniques to formulate solutions to problems; 4) experience with accounting systems to monitor, reconcile, and/or analyze a variety of accounting reports; and 5) experience communicating orally and in writing to present and defend recommendations and develop operating procedures. OR Education: Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree in a field which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of the position, such as: Accounting. OR Combination of Education and Experience: A combination of education and experience may be used to qualify for this position as long as the computed percentage of the requirements is at least 100%. To compute the percentage of the requirements, divide your total months of experience by 12. Then divide the total number of completed graduate semester hours (or equivalent) beyond the second year (total graduate semester hours minus 36) by 18. Add the two percentages. NOTE: Only graduate education in excess of the first two years may be used to qualify for the GS-11 level. All qualifications and eligibility requirements must be met by the closing date of the announcement. Recent Graduates hired through this announcement are eligible to convert into positions up to the Full Performance of GS-12.

Education

Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications; applicant's resumes and supporting documentation should only reflect education received from schools accredited by such institutions. Applicants can verify accreditation at the following Website: https://ope.ed.gov/dapip/#/home.

You must submit a copy of your college transcript. An unofficial transcript or a list of courses, grades earned, completion dates, and quarter and semester hours earned can be used as a substitute for the official transcript at the time of application. Official transcripts will be required if you are selected for the position.

If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency (a U.S. private organization's interpretation that such education has been deemed at least equivalent to conventional U.S. education programs) with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For more information regarding evaluation of foreign education for federal employment, please visit the U.S. Department of Education webpage on the Recognition of Foreign Qualifications.

Contacts

• Address Department of Homeland Security Headquarters OCHCO/HRMS/MS #0170 6595 Springfield Center Drive Springfield, VA 20598-0170 US
• Name: DHS HQ Student Programs Group
• Email: [email protected]