Summary This developmental position composes a career ladder structure to the Full Performance Level of Accounting Technician, GS-0525-06. The position is located in the Finance Office, Accounting Section, at the VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System. The work of this position is the same as the full performance level position, but is performed under close supervision and guidance. Advancement to the full performance will be approved only after it has been determined that the incumbent has met requirements. Responsibilities MAJOR DUTIES: GS-5 The incumbent will serve in a developmental capacity at the GS-05 level. Key functions will be similar to those described at the full performance level of the target position. However, during the developmental assignment, full performance range and level of selected functions will not be completely delegated to the employee until proper orientation and training have been completed and the incumbent has demonstrated the knowledge, skills and abilities necessary to accomplish the work at the full performance level. Factor Level 2 - Supervisory Controls: The Supervisor will provide instructions and/or training in the performance of assigned duties, particularly for those duties that are new, unfamiliar, and relatively complex. Work will be reviewed during and after completion to evaluate the adequacy of methods, procedures, and results; ability to apply skills and knowledge to routine and non-routine assignment; and adherence to basic policy and instructions. As satisfactory progress is made in those aspects of the work for which the incumbent receives guidance and training, supervisory controls will be lessened in line with the incumbents proven knowledge, skills, and abilities. Factor Level 4- Complexity: The incumbent will begin with simple, routine day-to-day tasks. Tasks will increase in complexity with training and satisfactory progress until the full performance level has been reached **Incumbent functions as the Agent Cashier or the Alternate Agent Cashier and as the Accountable Officer during the required two-week transfer of accountability. Disburses cash payments to patients, employees and other individuals. The documents supporting each disbursement must be examined to assure that all legal and administrative requirements have been met for such disbursement. Performs collection activity that includes receiving, receipting, and depositing of funds to a local bank depository. A determination of the proper appropriation to credit these funds must be made prior to deposit. Determines the acceptability of payment documents and cash items aided by knowledge of Treasury Department and VA Regulations. NOTE: Satisfactory completion of statutory requirements and contingent upon the recommendation of the Supervisor, the incumbent may be promoted to the GS-0525 06 grade level. MAJOR DUTIES: GS-6 Any or all of the following duties may be performed at any time: Accounting Support 55% The incumbent performs clerical, assistant, or technician level work in support of a budget, accounting, auditing, fiscal and financial management function. Performs budget administration support, financial systems support, cash processing, and accounting technician work. Duties include such things as: - Examines, verifies, and maintains financial accounts and accounting data and classifies accounting transactions including the verification of the accuracy and completeness of the accounting data across multiple appropriations. - Receives and analyzes various @types of documents to determine propriety, validity, budget, expenditure limitation, completeness and correctness of accounting data. Verifies which appropriation and general ledger accounts a document and subsequent accounting transactions will affect; establishes routines for input of these transactions. Assigns transactions that will have the proper accounting effect. - Incumbent audits or processes obligations, payments, adjustments, travel requests, travel vouchers, cost transfers, purchase card transactions, VRQ's (vendor change requests), accruals, deposits, bills of collection, Personal Funds of Patients (PFOP) postings, offsets, reconciliations, reviews, ad hoc reports, etc. - Assists with reviews of outstanding undelivered orders and accounts payable to determine appropriate follow up action. Correspondence is prepared to respective services. - Cost transfers include, but are not limited to, EW's (a @type of cost transfer) for correcting erroneous costing on purchase orders and three-part ET's (a @type of cost transfer). - Reconciles accounting systems output with input for accountability. Maintains control of receipts, disbursements, and logs. Maintains control of funds obligated and funds expended. Full PD: Available upon request. Preferred Experience: Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable, Cash Handling, Accounting Systems, General Accounting Knowledge and Customer Service. 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: Monday - Friday 8:00am to 4:30pm Telework: AD-H0C Per Agency guidelines. Position Description/PD#: Accounting Technician/PD93173-A and PD93174-A 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 identification 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 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, 07/16/2026. 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-5 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-4 level. For a GS-6 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-5 level. 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's 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 experience / education as described below: GRADE DETERMINATION GS-5 Level Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-4 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience: would typically include, but are not limited to: The incumbent performs clerical, assistant, or technician level work in support of a budget, accounting, auditing, fiscal and financial management function. Performs budget administration support, financial systems support, cash processing, and accounting technician work. OR, Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have 4 years above high school OR, Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have an combination of specialized experience and education beyond High School. GRADE DETERMINATION GS-6 Level Specialized Experience: You must have one year (at GS-5) of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-6 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience: Examines, verifies, and maintains financial accounts and accounting data and classifies accounting transactions including the verification of the accuracy and completeness of the accounting data across multiple appropriations. - Receives and analyzes various @types of documents to determine propriety, validity, budget, expenditure limitation, completeness and correctness of accounting data. Verifies which appropriation and general ledger accounts a document and subsequent accounting transactions will affect; establishes routines for input of these transactions. Assigns transactions that will have the proper accounting effect. - Incumbent audits or processes obligations, payments, adjustments, travel requests, travel vouchers, cost transfers, purchase card transactions, VRQ's (vendor change requests), accruals, deposits, bills of collection, Personal Funds of Patients (PFOP) postings, offsets, reconciliations, reviews, ad hoc reports, etc. Note: Transcripts must be submitted with application. Education cannot be credited without documentation Interchange Agreement: Applicants must be eligible under the VA Interchange Agreement, having served continuously for at least one year in the other merit system under this interchange agreement. For more information regarding the VA Interchange Agreement please visit: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/hiring-authorities/competitive-hiring/. 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 Note: Transcripts must be submitted with application. Education cannot be credited without documentation 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/.
