The purpose of this work is to record financial data; analyze, review, and process accounting adjustments and corrections; and, ensure the integrity, accuracy, and reliability of accounting reports.

Duties

Performs reviews and audits of certain accounting reports and documents. Creates regular and recurring facility level reports for Fiscal Management review and approval. Performs audits, participates in local "process action teams", and confers with the Chief, Accounting and Payments Section to resolve accounting related issues. Reads, reviews, and researches an extensive and ever-changing collection of VHA directives, handbooks, manual, guides, comptroller general decisions, appropriation law, etc. in order to perform the duties of this position. Recommends and implements accounting procedures and methods that insure maximum accuracy and timeliness of accounting data and efficiency of accounting personnel. Performs purchase card audits as prescribed in the rules, regulations, directives, and handbooks issued by the Department of Veterans Affairs. The incumbent also responds to requests for data related to audits and reviews performed on VA Illiana Healthcare System purchase card data by outside sources, such as the Austin Financial Services Center. Trains fund control point clerks and purchase card holders as necessary, to facilitate proper entry of data into accounting systems. Provides regular assistance to purchase card holders with purchase order. Processes the monthly accrual of unreconciled purchase card orders. 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: 7:30 am to 4:00 pm, Monday to Friday 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. Position Description/PD#: Accounting Technician/PD07812A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: 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, 03/22/2024. 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-6 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-5. For a GS-5 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-4. 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-5 SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: Applicants must have at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade (GS-4) which provided the knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the Accounting Technician. Specialized experience includes but is not limited to: Experience working with accounting regulations, operations, and procedures to resolve nonstandard transactions, discrepancies, or perform other work that requires authoritative procedural knowledge. Handling a variety of accounting and budget functional areas to research or investigate problems or errors that require reconciliation. Using automated systems to access, retrieve, and generate various transaction data and reports. Reviewing documents for missing or incompatible information. ORGS-5 EDUCATION: Must have successfully completed 4 years of education above the high school level. This education must have been obtained in an accredited business, secretarial or technical school, junior college, college or university. One year of a full-time academic study is defined as 30 semester hours, 45 quarter hours, or the equivalent in a college or university, or at least 20 hours of classroom instruction per week for approximately 36 weeks in a business, secretarial, or technical school. OR GS-5 COMBINATION: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have an combination of specialized experience and education beyond the second year of education post high school. GS-6 SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: Must have at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-5 grade level which provided the knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of an Accounting Technician. Specialized experience includes but is not limited to: Knowledge of "generally accepted accounting principles", governmental accounting, appropriation accounting law, and accrual basis double-entry accounting theory. Knowledge of VA policy and procedural manuals, directives, handbooks, guides, and many local and VISN policy and procedure publications. The incumbent must also possess the skill necessary to and apply them to accounting transactions he/she processes. Knowledge of local organizational structures, including employees in key positions within those organizations. Knowledge and skill to effectively communicate accounting information for the purposes of explaining, reporting, training, and/or recommending accounting information and actions. There is no educational substitution at this grade level. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: AccountingCommunicationDatabase Management SystemsTechnical Competence 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 sedentary, but some walking, bending and stooping is required. The work is performed in an office setting. 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

There is no educational substitution at this grade level.

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/.

Contacts

• Address VISN 12 Directors Office 5000 West National Avenue Milwaukee, WI 53295 US
• Name: Stacy Cooper
• Email: [email protected]