Accountant

Summary

As an Accountant within the Fiscal Services at the Bay Pines VA Healthcare System (BPVAHCS),you are responsible for performing a full range of complex accounting duties that require the application of advanced accounting principles, theories, concepts, and practices in support of the Department of Veterans Affairs' financial operations. Bay Pines VA Healthcare System (BPVAHCS), a 1A-level medical center affiliated major outpatient clinic and multiple Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs).

Learn more about this agency

Duties

Help

Accountant duties consist of the following, but are not limited to:

• Performs a full range of professional accounting duties requiring the application of advanced accounting principles, sound judgment, and a comprehensive understanding of VA financial law and policies, and automated financial systems.
• Completes accurate and timely preparation of monthly reconciliations, obligations (2237s and 1358s), capitalization of fixed assets, accruals (monthly), audit responses, reviews of cost strings, journal entries, and financial reporting.
• Maintains oversight of automated accounting systems and master file edits to ensure data integrity and compliance with VA financial requirements.
• Reviews journal vouchers and supporting documentation for accuracy, ensuring proper costing, amounts, purpose, and general ledger impact.
• Ensures all obligations requiring capitalization are reviewed for appropriate Budget Object Codes and coordinates with Logistics and Facility Management to ensure proper recording in the Fixed Asset Subsystem before the last week of the month.
• Ensures timely and accurate completion of monthly accruals, general ledger entries, and reconciliations by the 20th workday of each month, in accordance with VA Financial Policies, FMS Training Guides, and Financial Management Alerts.
• Completes monthly reconciliations of Undelivered Orders/Accrued Service Payables (UDO/ASP), including follow-up with services by the 15th calendar day and documentation of any orders with no activity within 90 days.
• Performs quarterly reviews of 1358 obligations to ensure appropriate funding, documenting results in December, March, June, and August reconciliations. Conducts daily reviews of assigned fund control points using the Status of Allowance, resolving issues such as negative balances or incomplete 1358s within one business day.
• Ensure proper use of appropriated funds; and monitor status of financial activity, general ledgers, to preclude or detect violations of government statues or other funding limitations.
• Provides expert technical guidance to accounting technicians and fiscal staff, reviewing work for accuracy and compliance, assigning projects, and delivering training as needed.
• Serves as a subject matter expert on accounting systems, policies, and procedures, offering consultative support to program managers and administrative personnel.
• Conducts comprehensive reviews and evaluations of accounting practices, systems, and procedures to ensure compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and standards.
• Identifies inefficiencies, systemic issues, and control weaknesses; recommends and implement improvements to enhance accuracy, timeliness, and internal controls.
• Ensures reconciliation of General Post Funds, Agent Cashier SF 1149, Patient Funds, Suspense, Beneficial Travel, and other accounts is completed accurately and signed by all parties by the 20th workday of the month.
• Identifies and corrects discrepancies between VistA accounts receivable and FMS prior to month-end close.
• Prepares and analyzes a variety of internal and external financial reports and statements, such as the Statement of Financial Condition, Analysis of Costs Incurred, and Statement of Selected Support Data.
• Develops and maintains accounting data structures to support program-specific reporting and decision-making needs.
• Prepare detailed analytical reports and presentations of findings and recommendations to management and stakeholders

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 - 4:30pm

Telework: Ad-Hoc Only

Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Position Description/PD#: Accountant/ PD10017A

Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized

Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not Authorized

Requirements

Help

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: A pre-placement physical examination is not required. The work is primarily sedentary and is performed in an office setting. It involves the use of a computer for extended periods, including data entry, analysis, and report preparation. Some walking, standing, bending, and carrying of light items such as files, reports, or office supplies may be required. No special physical demands are associated with the position. The work environment is structured to accommodate normal physical comfort and safety.
• 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, 06/10/2026.

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 by the closing date of this announcement.

For a GS-0510-09 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-0510-07.

For a GS-0510-11 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-0510-09.

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.

Award 50's do not provide sufficient information and will not be accepted for the purpose of verifying time-in-grade.

Examples of appropriate SF-50's include:

• Within grade increases at the highest grade held; or
• Promotions with an effective date more than one year old; or
• SF-50's at the highest grade held with an effective date more than one year old.

This position has an Individual Occupational Requirement (IOR) Basic Requirements: IOR must be satisfied to be further considered for the position.

• 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. (The term "accounting" means "accounting and/or auditing" in this standard. Similarly, "accountant" should be interpreted, generally, as "accountant and/or auditor.")

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:
  1. Twenty-four semester hours in accounting or auditing courses of appropriate type and quality. This can include up to 6 hours of business law;
  2. A certificate as Certified Public Accountant or a Certified Internal Auditor, obtained through written examination;
  3. 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 the IOR above you must also meet the Specialized experience and/or education below.

GS-0510-09

Specialized Experience: Do you possess at least one (1) full year of specialized experience, which equips you with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the Accountant , GS-09 position, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled. To be creditable, this specialized experience must have been equivalent to the GS-07 level in Federal service to qualify at the GS-0510-09 .

Specialized experience include but not limited to:

1. Performing a full range of professional accounting duties.

2. Analyzing ledgers for accuracy and integrity of data.

3. Preparing and analyzes a variety of internal and external financial reports and statements.

4. Reviewing journals vouchers and supporting documentation for accuracy.

5. Verifying validity and accuracy of accounting transactions and data and performing fiscal audits.

Note: Evidence of specialized experience must be supported by detailed documentation of duties performed in positions held on your resume. You must provide work experience information such as hours per week, salary, and starting/ending dates of employment (month and year format) to establish you have one (1) full year of Specialized Experience at or comparable to the required grade level.

OR

GS-0510-09: Substitution of Education for Experience (TRANSCRIPTS REQUIRED): Do you possess 2 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a master's degree or master's or equivalent graduate degree? Such education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work.

OR

GS-09: Combination of Education and Experience (TRANSCRIPTS REQUIRED): Do you possess Equivalent combinations of successfully completed graduate education and specialized experience directly related to the work of the Accountant position, which may be substituted to meet the experience requirements for GS-09 position?

GS-0510-11

Specialized Experience: Do you possess at least one (1) full year of specialized experience, which equips you with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the Accountant, GS-0510-11 position, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled. To be creditable, this specialized experience must have been equivalent to the GS-0510-09 level in Federal service to qualify at the GS-0510-11.

Specialized experience include but not limited to:

1) Reconciling obligations, capitalizations of fixed assets and monthly accruals.

2) Preparing detailed analytical reports and presentations of findings and recommendations to management.

3) Analyzing and direct the recording of transactions in the General Ledger, and Operating Cost Ledger to provide a complete accounting.

4) Reviewing the work of Accounting of other fiscal staff to ensure accuracy and conformity to policies and procedures.

5) Experience with general ledger accounting and the control/subsidiary account relationships and reconciliation techniques

Note : Evidence of specialized experience must be supported by detailed documentation of duties performed in positions held on your resume. You must provide work experience information such as hours per week, salary, and starting/ending dates of employment (month and year format) to establish you have one (1) full year of Specialized Experience at or comparable to the required grade level.

OR

GS-0510-11: Substitution of Education for Experience (TRANSCRIPTS REQUIRED): Do you possess 3 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree? Such education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work.

OR

GS-11: Combination of Education and Experience (TRANSCRIPTS REQUIRED): Do you possess combinations of successfully completed graduate education and specialized experience directly related to the work of the Accountant position, which may be used to meet the experience requirements for GS-11 position?

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

Education

A copy of your unofficial 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.

Help

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.

Review our benefits

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.