Summary The Financial Accounts Technician position is located within the Finance Section of the VA Central Iowa Health Care System. This position supports all aspects of finance to Veterans Health Administration employees within the Health Care Systems. Responsibilities Duties will include, but may not be limited to the following: Accounting Technical Support: 40% Responsible for vendor inquiries regarding status of payments. Research payment history, pending or completing obligation documents, and ordering records or receiving reports. Initiates miscellaneous tax form (1099) for vendor adjustments and handles vendor inquiries regarding the 1099's. Records collections from deposit/collection vouchers (SF215) and maintains a file of SF215 deposit tickets to reconcile with Federal Reserve Bank deposits each month. Analyzes vouchers, invoices, claims, and other requests or payment for goods and services. Reviews for accuracy, adequacy of the documentation, compliance with regulations, and the justification of the action. Examines the full range of requests for payment having a wide variety of complicating conditions. Carefully analyzes each voucher or invoice to determine propriety of payment to include required certifications by authorized officials, compliance with contract provisions, price agreements, and/or other directives. Review the appropriation to be charged and that expenditures made as specifically authorized. Coordinates and resolves discrepancies and/or problems. Responsible for all necessary action such as suspension of payment letter, handles the response from the vendor, necessary documentation for transmitting doubtful claims or reclaims as appropriate. Reviews, edits, and consolidates annual budget estimates. Edits narrative justifications and projected funding needs and helps ensure that data in requests are formally and accurately documented in forms, schedules, and reports. Identifies and analyzes trends in the receipt, obligation, or expenditure of funds to help ensure that objectives of the annual financial plan are being met on a timely basis and that funds are available and being properly and effectively used to support program objectives. Official Travel 20% Plans and carries the successive steps to complete Official Travel duties. Provides cost estimates, formulates the most convenient and economical travel arrangements, prepares itinerary, purchases airline tickets and issues travel authorizations. Ensures proper appropriation, cost center, budget object code, and budget fiscal year are recorded. Advises customers on conditions and requirements under which allowances are payable and provides information on ways to avoid excess cost or misuse of government funds. Budget Analysis: 30% Conducts analysis to develop required data and information reporting purposes and drafts brief factual administrative reports. Prepare documents needed to process budget estimates. Drafts reports that detail the purposes for which funds were obligated and expended. Performs analysis of budget requests, and compiles data to be used for forecasting obligations. Analyzes documents from administrative and clinical departments for proper authorization and adherence to regulations; proper fund control point (FCP), cost center, budget object class (BOC), and appropriation. Performs other duties as assigned: 10% Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 7:00am - 3:30pm, Flexible Schedule Position Description/PD#: Financial Accounts Technician/PD23561A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized The VA Midwest Health Care Network advocates for a Whole Health System of care in each of the Medical Centers. This is an approach to healthcare that empowers and equips people to take charge of their health and well-being and live their lives to the fullest. As an employee operating in a Whole Health System of care, you will operate in a model with three core elements, seeking to create a personalized health plan for each Veteran. This is done in the @context of healing relationships and healing environments and a connection back to the Veteran's community. This aligns with the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Mission Statement to Honor America's Veterans by providing exceptional health care that improves their health and well-being. 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. Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959 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 all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 05/13/2026. 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 by the closing date of this announcement. For a GS-06 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. 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. 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-05 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically includes: familiarity with applying a broad knowledge of accounting, budget, or other financial management regulations, practices, procedures, and policies related to specific financial management functions; working with numerous government financial systems and on and off the shelf computer applications, (i.e. Financial Management System (FMS), Accounting and Procurement System(IFCAPS), VA Time and Attendance System (VATAS), etc.); conducting reviews for accuracy, adequacy of documentation, compliance with regulations, and justifications for actions taken. 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 Physical Demands: The work may require some physical effort, such as standing, walking, bending, or sitting. There are no special physical demands. Work Environment: The employee works in an office setting involving everyday risks or discomforts. Normal safety precautions are required. 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/.
