The Technical Career Field (TCF) is a national workforce development program within VHA that was designed to replenish technical staff in critically identified positions. The incumbent serves in a developmental capacity at the Chillicothe VA Medical Center. The operating accountant is responsible for the detailed and efficient operation and control of day-to-day fiscal activities at the Chillicothe VA Medical Center.

Duties

The TCF career fields represent those technical fields where VA-specific knowledge and experience is desirable for success in the field. Individuals selected follow a formal training plan for two years during which they are trained, coached, and supervised by a preceptor. Preceptors are selected annually, through an extensive application process, for their technical expertise, their commitment to training and the suitability of their facility as a training location. *Selectees will be required to sign Mobility, Training, and Continued Service Agreements. This is a developmental position leading to a GS-09 target GS-11, performing assignments intended to broaden skills and provide practical experience leading to progressively more complex assignments performed under progressively less supervision. 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. When selected at the GS-7 level, the incumbent will accomplish a prescribed agenda of formal and informal instruction, self- development, and on-the-job training through rotational job assignments including, but not limited to: Performs developmental assignments involving the review and processing of accounting documents. Assists in maintaining, analyzing, and reconciling general ledgers and subsidiary ledgers. Assists in preparing related reports and in initiating corrective actions. Provides advice and assistance to technicians, analysts and clerical personnel on transactions requiring professional accounting determinations. Maintains liaison with serviced activities, providing advice on availability of funds, reporting methods and account reconciliations. Participates with higher grade accountants in furnishing assistance and advice to operating elements, recommending solutions to problems, and devising new or alternative procedures for accounting or related functions involving analysis of accounting operations. Studies and charts the flow of accounting documents. Observes and reports on prevailing practices concerning the treatment of selected transactions. Analyzes current procedures and systems to determine if improvement or simplification is needed. Studies, analyzes, and interprets manuals and other accounting regulations from higher authority and discusses their application with supervisor. Provides analysis and technical expertise for accounting matters to the Chief, Accountant, Fiscal Officer, and upper management. Responsible for the completion of miscellaneous or special assignments from local management as well as VISN and/or financial management. Provides guidance and assistance to lower graded accountants, accounting trainees and technicians in the resolution of complex problems, the interpretation of written guidelines and similar technical matters. Initiates, leads, and/or participates in special studies or reviews of accounting operations and prepares reports, automated systems changes and/or standard operating procedures based on study results. Reviews regulations, procedures and policy guidance, audit findings, customer complaints and managerial directives dealing with day-to-day operations to identify new requirements, sources of problems, interfaces with other appropriations/accounting systems and functions susceptible to more economical, efficient, and effective operation. Gathers and analyzes data from a variety of sources. Coordinates with specialists in other units of the Comptroller or affected elements to develop corrective approaches to problem situations. Work schedule: 8:00 am-4:30 pm, Monday through Friday Compressed/Flexible Schedule: Not 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. Position Description Title/PD#: Accountant (TCF Trainee)/PD927220 TCF is a national workforce development program within VHA that was designed to replenish technical staff in critically identified positions. The TCF career fields represent those technical fields where VA-specific knowledge and experience is desirable for success in the field. Individuals selected follow a formal training plan for 2 years during which they are trained, coached, and supervised by a preceptor. Preceptors are selected annually, through an extensive application process, for their technical expertise, their commitment to training and the suitability of their facility as a training location. *Selectees will be required to sign Mobility, Training, and Continued Service Agreements.

Requirements

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 07/17/2024. 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-07 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-05. 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. 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. Individual Occupational Requirements: Applicants who meet the Individual Occupational Requirements described below are fully qualified for the specified entry grade and must also meet the specialized experience and/or education requirements. This position involves professional accounting responsibilities that require professional accounting knowledge. For this position, applicants must meet the minimum qualification requirements for the Accounting Series, GS-510. You must meet the following basic requirements within the Individual Occupational Requirements below: Please note, a transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education. 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. AND Your 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. In addition to meeting the above basic requirements within the Individual Occupational Requirements (IOR), applicants must also meet the education/experience relevant to this position. You may qualify based on education and/or experience as described below: GS-7: Specialized Experience: You must have at least one (1) full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (GS-5) in the Federal service that has equipped me with the knowledge, skills and abilities necessary to perform the duties of this position. Qualifying experience includes reviewing and processing accounting documents; preparing related reports and initiating corrective actions; providing advice and assistance on transactions requiring professional accounting determinations; monitoring reports to identify and correct any out of balance conditions. NOTE: Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must clearly indicate the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment. ~OR~ Education: Successful completion of one (1) year of graduate education or 18 semester hours in accounting courses or directly related to the work of this position. Education must be from an accredited college or university that provided the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to perform the work of an Accountant. Degree/coursework must be directly related to the work of this position. NOTE: You must submit a copy of your transcript (unofficial or official) with your application. Education cannot be credited without documentation. ~OR~ Combination: Equivalent combinations of successfully completed graduate-level education and specialized experience directly related to the work of the Accountant position. This education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university. NOTE: You must submit a copy of your transcript (unofficial or official) with your application. Education cannot be credited without documentation. 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. 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/. Physical Requirements: The subject position is primarily of an administrative nature in an office setting; however, there is periodic walking, standing, bending, carrying of light items. Incumbent will spend a significant portion of their day utilizing a personal computer, including a keyboard and mouse, and a telephone. Government travel for training or meetings may be required. Work Environment: The work is performed in a professional office setting, although it is required that the employee leave the area to attend meetings and gather documents and information needed in the daily operations. Incumbent will be working in an administrative office and is expected to comply with all facility security and safety protocols, participate in safety and security exercises, wear required identification; comply with facility dress code policies and meet compliance with all

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/.

Contacts

• Address Chillicothe VA Medical Center 17273 State Route 104 Chillicothe, OH 45601 US
• Name: Katelyn Clark
• Phone: 740-253-8915
• Email: [email protected]