Accountant

Duties listed are at the full performance level.

Participates in decision-making sessions with program staff and recommends solutions for effective and efficient use of accounting data.

Analyzes various systems and reports to determine validity of charges for system-related problems, and ensures data are used for management purposes.

Certifies various classes of vouchers for payment ensuring that payments are legal and within regulations.

Determines that applicable internal accounting controls are in accordance with prescribed standards of legality and fiscal integrity, are operating efficiently, and meet needs.

Establishes and maintains liaison with operating and management officials to ascertain their needs for accounting data and ensures that these needs are being met.

Determines if there is a proper balance between revenues and expenses, where cost reductions can be implemented, and if adjustments are needed, in use rates.

In order to qualify, you must meet the eligibility and qualifications requirements as defined below by the closing date of the announcement. For more information on the qualifications for this position, visit the Office of Personnel Management's General Schedule Qualification Standards.

Your application and resume must clearly show that you possess the experience requirements. Transcripts must be provided for qualifications based on education. Provide course descriptions as necessary.

Basic Requirement: GS - 0510 Series: 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; OR 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.

In addition to meeting the basic requirement, you must also possess experience and/or directly related education in the amounts listed below. Specialized Experience Requirement: For the GS-09 level: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-07 grade level.

Specialized experience is defined as three or more of the following: Analyzing and reviewing financial reports generated by the financial system; and/or assisting to establish financial policies for an organization; and/or identifying accounting or financial guidelines that need revision and developing recommendations for changes; and/or performing audits on items such as special-use permit audits, road maintenance agreement audits, and Forest Service Collection Officer audits.

OR Successful completion of 2 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a master's degree or master's or equivalent graduate degree.

OR Successful completion of an appropriate combination of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-07 grade level and education (only graduate education in excess of 18 semester hours may be used to qualify for the GS-09 grade level).

For the GS-11 level: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-09 grade level.

Specialized experience is defined as three or more of the following: Coordinating accounting systems to ensure maximum understanding and acceptance of accounting methods and information; and/or developing accounting principles, policies, procedures, and overall accounting structures and systems; and/or planning and carrying out accounting assignments and resolving financial discrepancies; and/or analyzing various systems and reports to determine validity of charges for system-related problems and ensure data are used for management purposes.

OR Successful completion of 3 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree in accounting, or a related field of study.

OR Successful completion of an appropriate combination of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-09 grade level and graduate level education (beyond what is required for a master's degree, i.e., more than 36 semester hours leading to a Ph.D.).