Summary This position is organizationally assigned to the Centralized Accounting Office (CAO) (VISN 20) within the Veterans Health Administration (VHA). The incumbent assists the CAO Chief and/or Deputy Chief Accounting Officers in conducting audits in the areas of finance, acquisition, logistics, payroll, capital asset management and quality control of the medical centers associated with CAO or medical centers within VISN 20 as assigned. Responsibilities The primary purpose of this position is to improve the business practices in finance, acquisition, logistics, payroll, capital asset management. The incumbent is responsible for assignments including financial integrity program, and components, fiscal compliance, and functional reviews. The incumbent will ensure finance, acquisition, logistics, payroll, capital asset management policies promulgated by VHA, and the VA Office of Management and the Office of Government Ethics are consistently implemented, conduct internal audits (e.g., purchase cards, agent cashier, cost accounting, conflict of interest, quarterly 1733 audits, etc.). This person would be a vital member of CAO audit team and would ensure that reports are reviewed to assure appropriate actions are taken to follow VA Policy and Procedures. In addition, the individual will participate in providing consultative services to facilities and facilitate performance improvement. Performs a variety of duties to carry out, administer, or advise the Chief and/or Deputy Chief Accounting Officers on facility financial work concerned with assuring the quality of work transactions, business processes, and delivery of services needed to carry out federal government programs and functions. Leads auditors within CAO and as necessary other VISN 20 station auditors in training and daily work as necessary. Provides training on daily work tasks, such as deposits, Compensated Work Therapy (CWT) payroll, and education payment review. Provides recommendations for how to improve the performance of the CAO auditors. Ensures auditing deadlines and any projects assigned to the group are tracked to completion to ensure that all deadlines are achieved. Reviews the 1733 Summary of Reviews quarterly audits. Participates in the development and establishment of corrective action plans for both internal and external audit findings. Performs financial audits by examining accounts and financial records for the purpose of certifying or attesting that the financial statements fairly represent the financial position of the organization. Ensures finance, acquisition, logistics, payroll, capital asset management and other policies governing VHA and VA, and the Office of Government Ethics are consistently implemented. Provides consultative services to facilities and facilitates performance improvement. Provides recommendations to improve productivity, cost-effectiveness, and quality of work processes. Uses prudence and professional judgment in interpreting policies. Approves deposits from the Agent Cashier(s) as needed. Reviews submitted documentation for bill of collections (BOC), ensures that appropriate costing is used, and then approves the BOC. Researches and responds to policy questions as presented, to ensure that procedures follow policy. May perform other duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Monday to Friday with shifts available from 7:00 AM to 3:30 PM, from 7:30 AM to 4:00 PM, or from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM PST. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Lead Auditor/PD104410 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized. Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not approved. Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized. Requirements Conditions of Employment You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job To be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process. In addition to the application and questionnaire, this position requires an online assessment. The online assessment measures critical general competencies required to perform the job. Physical Requirements: The work required does not inherently include any physical requirements essential for successful job performance that could not otherwise be performed with accommodation or workplace adjustment. A pre-placement physical examination is not required. Subject to background/security investigation Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP) As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider: your performance and conduct; the needs and interests of the agency; whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service. Upon completion of your probationary period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest. Qualifications To qualify for this position, applicants must meet Time-In-Grade and Specialized Experience requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement, 04/10/2026. 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 within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement. For a GS-12 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-11. 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. Individual Occupational Requirement (IOR) - Basic Requirement To qualify for this position, applicants must meet the Individual Occupational Requirement (IOR) - Basic Requirement. An IOR is a basic requirement that must be met in order to qualify for the GS 0510 occupational series. Education must be accredited by an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education at the time the degree was obtained. To qualify for this occupational series, applicants must have one of the following listed below: 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. 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 Individual Occupational Requirement requirements, applicants must meet the following experience requirement: You may qualify based on your experience as described below: Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade (GS-11) in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Performing financial audits by examining accounts and financial records; reviewing and evaluating areas in need of improvement and providing the appropriate tools for improvement; determining audit procedures required to attain audit objectives in view of the level of system reliability; developing and applying a wide range of auditing techniques and methodologies to develop audit guidelines; and resolving problems and providing guidance to others on auditing standards and procedures. NOTE: 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. Preferred Experience: Leadership Skills: Demonstrated ability to lead and manage teams effectively in various projects and operational activities. Proficiency in VA Systems: Extensive knowledge and hands-on experience with key VA systems, including the Financial Management System (FMS), Integrated Funds Distribution, Control Point Activity, Accounting and Procurement (IFCAP/VISTA), Online Treasury Collections (OTC.net), Enterprise Output Solutions (EOS) reports, and G-Invoicing. Audit Expertise: Successfully completed all the 1733 audits independently, showcasing a thorough understanding of audit processes and attention to detail. In-depth Knowledge of VA Financial Policies and Procedures: Well-versed with the VA Financial Policies and Procedures, ensuring compliance and accurate financial management. 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. 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. Additional Information Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act. Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application. Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case-by-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, based on your adjudication decision. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments if you received the link after the close of the announcement. To determine if you need a RA, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. The Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced VA competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. To be qualified you must submit appropriate documentation (a copy of the agency notice, your most recent performance rating, and your most recent SF-50 noting current position, grade level, and duty location) and be found well-qualified for this vacancy. To be well-qualified: applicants must possess experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors, and who are proficient in most of the required competencies of the job. Information about CTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website at http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/.
