Accountant

Summary

This Accountant position is in the Finance service located at the Bedford VA Health Care System. The incumbent is under the direct supervision of the Supervisory Financial Management Specialist. This position is full-time at 40 hours per week.

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Duties

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The purpose of this position is to perform the full range of professional accounting work requiring the application of sound accounting principles, theories, concepts and practices. Duties include but are not limited to:

• Provides assistance, performs review, analysis and evaluation of existing and proposed accountingpractices;
• Implements fiscal law, rules, regulations, policies, automated accounting and non-accounting systems, and procedures pertinent to financial management;
• Works independently on continuing assignments or projects that require application of VA generally accepted principles, practices, and theories of professional accounting;
• Performs special projects and assignments for automated financial systems, daily review of accounting outputs, and maintains oversight of the edit master files;
• Works closely with systems personnel on the design of automated systems to facilitate the processing of accounting data to assure the results attained meet all accounting requirements;
• Performs special reviews and analyses to ensure the integrity of the general control system;
• Prepares special reports and financial statements relating to the financial condition of specified program activities;
• Persuades contacts to accept courses of action and viewpoints on recommended objectives, policies, and regulations.
• Reviews the work of Accounting of other fiscal staff to assure accuracy and conformity to policy and procedures, instructing them when necessary on proper methods and assigns projects to be accomplished;
• Works closely with activities and their designated resource personnel in promoting understanding and effective application of financial management/accounting policies and procedures;
• Monitors the implementation of new and/or supplemental accounting systems and procedures;
• Identifies source of problems, impact on other elements in the accounting systems, accounting adjustments required, and recommends procedural changes;
• Applies corresponding professional accounting knowledge and skills in the application of corrective procedures when necessary;
• Provides technical advice and assistance to budget technicians/analysts in the resolution of problems;
• Assists program managers in developing accounting data structure and participates in the planning, coordination, direction of meetings and telephone conferences;
• Reviews report media, directs and/or prepares and analyzes internal and external statements and reports; and
• Assumes other related duties.

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-Friday;7:30pm-4:00 pm.

Telework: This position may be authorized for telework. Telework eligibility will be discussed during the interview process.

Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Position Description/PD#: Accountant/ PD518-03835 and PD518-03000

Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved Permanent Change of Station (PCS) Not Authorized.

Notifications:

• Veterans' preference does not apply for internal or other current permanent Federal agency employees.
• Current and former Federal employees must submit copies of their most recent non-award SF-50 (notice of Personnel Action). The SF-50 must identify the position, title, series, grade, step, tenure and type of service (competitive or Excepted). In some cases, more than one SF-50 may be required to show a higher grade previously held.
• This position is covered by locality-based comparability pay.
• This position is not a Bargaining Unit position.
• Interchange Agreements with Other Merit System: Employees who occupy medical or medical-related positions and were appointed under 38 U.S.C. 4701(1) or (3) [formerly 38 U.S.C. 4104 (1) and (3)] must be serving in a full-time position without time limit and have served continuously for at least one year in this other merit system to be eligible to convert to the Title 5 System. Some exceptions to this rule may apply if you have previously acquired tenure under a Title 5 appointment.

Requirements

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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: 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 ( 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 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, 07/31/2026.

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-09 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-07. For a GS-11 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-09.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 experience and/or education as described below:

Basic Requirement :

• 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; 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 in accounting, provided that
    
    
    • (a) the applicant has successfully worked at the full-performance level in accounting, auditing, or a related field, e.g.,
    • (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 of obtaining a degree in accounting or in a related field such as business administration, finance, or public administration, and
    • (c) except for literal non-conformance to the requirement of 24 semester hours in accounting, your education, training, and experience fully meet the specified requirements.
• You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below:

GS-09 level:

Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-07 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Conducts daily examination of various accounting transaction listings, cost reports, financial statements, project fund balances, and work orders to ascertain accuracy and completeness of data. Reviews and analyzes programs and procedures related to receiving, validating and recording accounting transactions affecting the asset, liability, expense and revenue accounts of supported activities. Directs the assignment of project and cost codes, accounting classification and file maintenance and provides information for transmitting data to appropriate office. OR,

Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have successfully completed two (2) years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a master's degree OR master's OR equivalent graduate degree. 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 post-high school education as described above to meet total experience requirements at the GS-09 grade level for this position. [For example, an applicant with 6 months of appropriate experience equivalent to GS-7 (50 percent of the experience requirement for GS-9) and 27 semester hours of appropriate graduate education (50 percent of the education requirement for GS-9, in excess of that required for GS-7) would be qualified for a GS-9 position.

GS-11 level:

Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-09 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include but are not limited to identifies all types of accounting errors and variances and provide progressively more detailed analysis of problem causes and recommendations for corrective action; responsible for internal financial auditing and development of required financial reports; reconciles, compiles, verifies and disseminates billing information. OR,

Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have successfully completed three (3) years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree. The degree is in a field that equipped me with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the duties of the position being filled. OR,

Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at the GS-11 level. You must have an combination of specialized experience and education beyond post-high school education as described above to meet total experience requirements at the GS-11 grade level for this position. This may be computed by first determining the total qualifying experience as a percentage of the experience required for the GS-11 grade level; then determining the education as a percentage of the education required for the GS-11 grade level; and then adding the two percentages. The total percentages must equal at least 100 percent to qualify for the GS-11 grade level.

For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at

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: 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:

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

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

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A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

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Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.