Accountant (Systems)

Plans, directs, and coordinates resolution of daily accounting system issues; manages user access reviews; collaborates with financial systems staff, OCIO, and vendors on upgrades, enhancements, troubleshooting, and user support needs.

Provides expert accounting systems guidance to financial systems staff and program managers; supports system integration, test plans, user acceptance testing, documentation, issue tracking, and development of manuals, methods, and directives.

Conducts formal and informal reviews of agency accounting operations; identifies deficiencies; recommends improvements; applies flexible standard accounting procedures to meet changing financial management factors and operational requirements.

Leads long-range and comprehensive studies for design, modification, and implementation of automated accounting systems; gathers and documents business requirements; analyzes system data structures; and validates data conversion and setup integrity.

Coordinates financial reporting system activities, prepares consolidated financial statements, supports government-wide financial system initiatives, and develops project plans while guiding staff and conducting cost-benefit analyses.

This position has a positive education requirement. To qualify for this position, you must meet one of the basic requirements described below.

Basic Education Requirements You must possess a 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 You must possess a 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 non-conformance 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 BASIC QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS ABOVE, APPLICANTS MUST HAVE SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE AS LISTED BELOW: For the GS-14: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-13 grade level.

Specialized experience is defined as having professional knowledge of the theory, concepts, principles, and practices of accounting to complete a variety of accounting functions such as auditing, and financial management involving interfaces and inter-relationships between and among programs, systems, functions, policies.

Analyzing, and evaluating automated and manual accounting, budgeting, and integrated financial management systems to determine effectiveness, identify issues, and recommend improvements supporting accurate financial operations. Merit promotion applicants must meet time-in-grade requirement as defined in 5 CFR 300, Subpart F.

One year at the GS-13 level is required to meet the time-in-grade requirements for the GS-14 level. Applicants must meet all eligibility requirements (e.g., time-in-grade and qualification requirements) within 30 days of the closing date specified in the vacancy announcement.

Applicants must meet all eligibility requirements within 30 days of the closing date specified in the vacancy announcement.

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; religious; 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.