Summary This position is located at the Great Lakes Finance Service (GLFS), VISN 12. The purpose of the position is to perform duties involved in preparing, analyzing, interpreting and presenting accounting data. This is a developmental position, leading to the target grade of GS-9. The incumbent performs developmental assignments intended to broaden skills and provide practical experience leading to progressively more complex assignments performed under progressively less supervision. Responsibilities This position is located at the Clement J. Zablocki Veterans Hospital within the VISN 12 Great Lakes Finance Service (GLFS). This position performs professional accounting work requiring the application of sound accounting principles, theories, concepts, and practices. Major Duties: Preparing, analyzing, interpreting, and presenting accounting data. Applies a thorough knowledge of the total accounting system and established accounting principles, techniques, and regulations. Performs a variety of routine, technical, and occasionally more complex accounting assignments. Examines a variety of financial statements for completeness, internal accuracy, accounting classifications and other specific accounting requirements. Assembles information and making comparative analyses. Reconciles financial reports and data on file and finding inconsistencies or errors. Drafts interpretations of accounting requirements as requested. Identify account variances and assists in the proper research and reconciliation of all accounting records. Reviews accounting documents such as travel orders, requisitions, and contracts to determine whether accounts are in accordance with uniform accounting classifications. Develops annual and monthly budgetary schedules for specific cost categories and accounts for the organization. Conducts daily examination of various accounting transaction listings, cost reports, financial statements, project fund balances, and work orders. Develops, prepares, and revises regulations, information papers, etc., for project and revolving fund accounting control and reporting instructions. Develops work sheets and forms necessary to complete assignments. Performs other related duties as assigned. Promotion Potential: 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. Work Schedule: Full-Time; Monday through Friday; 8:00am to 4:30pm Compressed/Flexible: May be authorized Telework: This position may be authorized for ad-hoc telework. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Accountant/PD14051A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: 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. 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, 05/15/2026. 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-07 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-05. For a GS-09 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-07. 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. 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. You may qualify based on your education and/or experience as described below. There are education requirements for this position. Basic Requirements: Education: Successful completion of a bachelor's degree (or higher) in 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. (Transcripts Required) OR, Combination: Applicants may combine education and experience. Applicants must have at least four years of experience in accounting, or equivalent combination of accounting experience, college-level education, and training that provided professional accounting knowledge. Applicants 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. (Transcripts Required) In addition to meeting the Basic Education Requirement listed above, you must also possess the required specialized experience, education, or combination of experience and education as identified below: Grade Requirements: To qualify for this position at the GS-7 level, you must meet one of the following: Specialized Experience: You must have one full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-5 in Federal Service that equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the position to be filled. Specialized experience includes, but is not limited to: Knowledge of VA programs and their governing statutes, regulations, and practices; Knowledge of accounting practices, concepts, principles, and methods; Knowledge of the organization's business practices pertaining to administrative support or business accounting systems for payroll, purchases, maintenance, sales, and services; and Performing accounting assignments using accounting methods and techniques. OR, Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. You must have one year of graduate-level education, OR Superior Academic Achievement (S.A.A). The S.A.A. provision is an educational achievement based on class standing, grade point average, or honor society membership. Such education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of this position. (Transcripts Required) OR, Combination: Applicants may combine education and experience. You must have equivalent combinations of specialized experience and education. Such education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of the position. (Transcripts Required) To qualify for this position at the GS-9 level, you must meet one of the following: Specialized Experience: You must have one full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-7 in Federal Service that equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the position to be filled. Specialized experience includes, but is not limited to: Comprehensive knowledge of accounting practices, policies, and functions including accrual, obligations, and cost methods; Thorough knowledge of the total accounting system and of well-established accounting principles, techniques and regulations; Performing a variety of routine and technical accounting practices including transaction listings, cost reports, financial statements, project fund balances, and work orders; Ability to make decisions regarding complex accounting transactions and reconciling reports and financial data; and Manage the activities of other support personnel and provide direction in solving non-routine transactions. OR, Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. You must have two years of progressively higher-level graduate education, OR a master's degree, OR equivalent graduate degree. Such education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of the position. (Transcripts Required) OR, Combination: Applicants may combine education and experience. You must have equivalent combinations of specialized experience and education beyond one year of graduate-level education. Such education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of the position. (Transcripts Required) 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 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/. 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. Receiving Service Credit for Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. VA may offer newly-appointed Federal employee's credit for their job-related non-federal experience or active duty uniformed military service. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. The Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) and 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 ICTAP and 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/.
