Accountant

Description:

These positions are located within the Centralized Financial Service of the VHA Mid-Atlantic Health Care Network in Roanoke, Virginia. The purpose of this position is to perform professional accounting work that requires application of accounting theories, concepts, principles, and standards to the financial activities of governmental, quasi-governmental, or private sector organizations.

Requirements:

Basic Requirement: To meet the basic requirement for the 0510 series, you must meet one of the following requirements described below in order to receive consideration for this Accountant position. Due to the positive education requirement transcripts MUST be submitted with your application (official / unofficial). Applications cannot be considered without appropriate transcripts. Also, all supporting documentation MUST be submitted for a determination to be made as to meeting the Basic Requirements.

A. Degree: You must possess a Bachelor's degree or higher in accounting or in a related field such as business administration, finance, or public administration that included or was supplemented by twenty-four (24) semester hours in accounting. The 24 hours may include up to six (6) hours of credit in business law. (The term "accounting" means "accounting and/or auditing." Similarly, "accountant" should be interpreted, generally, as "accountant and/or auditor.") NOTE: If this option is selected, you must submit a copy of your transcript (unofficial or official) with your application. Education cannot be credited without documentation.
OR
B. Combination of education and experience: You must possess at least four (4) years of experience in accounting, or an equivalent combination of accounting experience, college-level education, and training that provided professional accounting knowledge? NOTE: If this option is selected, your resume must support your response in showing your qualifying accounting experience. You must submit a copy of your transcript (unofficial or official) with your application. Education cannot be credited without documentation. Applicant's background must also include one of the following:

1. Twenty-four (24) semester hours in accounting or auditing courses of appropriate type and
quality. This can include up to six (6) hours of business law (transcript required); OR
2. A certificate as Certified Public Accountant or a Certified Internal Auditor, obtained
through written examination (documentation must be submitted at the time of application); OR
3. Completion of the requirements for a bachelor's degree that included substantial course work in accounting or auditing, e.g., fifteen (15) semester hours, but that does not fully satisfy the twenty-four (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. NOTE: At the time of application, you must submit a copy of your transcript and all supporting documentation.
AND

In addition to meeting the basic requirements identified above, you must meet one of the following:

Specialized Experience: You must have at least one (1) full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (GS-5) in the Federal service that has equipped me with the knowledge, skills and abilities necessary to perform the duties of this position. Qualifying experience includes providing professional level skill in analyzing and reconciling a variety of accounts and transactions; formulating a variety of financial reports; preparing procedural instructions to be used in the development or modification of automated accounting systems; resolving differences between the general ledger and subsidiary accounts; entering, modifying, retrieving, and deleting information in an automated accounting system. NOTE: Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must clearly indicate the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment.
OR
Substitution of Education for Experience: Successfully completed one full year of graduate level education. NOTE: At the time of application, you must submit a copy of your transcript and all supporting documentation.
OR
Combination of Education and Experience Equivalent combinations of successfully completed graduate level education and specialized experience may be used to meet total experience requirements. NOTE: At the time of application, you must submit a copy of your transcript and all supporting documentation.
OR
Superior Academic Achievement:At the GS-7 level: (SAA) at the baccalaureate level in the coursework detailed above is fully qualifying. Applicants who wish to apply under this provision must submit proof from their educational institution that they meet one of the criteria listed below. To qualify for SAA, applicants must have completed all the requirements for a bachelor's degree in a curriculum that is qualifying for the position to be filled and meet one of the following: Rank in the upper one-third of your class in the college, university or major subdivision. A grade-point average of "B" (a GPA of 95 or higher out of a possible 4.0) for all completed undergraduate courses, or those completed in the last two years of undergraduate study. A grade point average of "B+" (a GPA of 45 or higher out of a possible 4.0) for all courses in your major field of study, or those courses in your major completed in the last two years of undergraduate study. Membership in a national honor society (other than freshman honor societies) recognized by the Association of College Honor Societies. For a list of recognized honor societies please visit http://www.achsnatl.org/quick_link.asp. For more information regarding SAA please visit http://www.opm.gov/qualifications/SEC-II/s2-e5.asp#e4f. NOTE: At the time of application, you must submit a copy of your transcript and all supporting documentation. You will be rated on the following Competencies as part of the assessment questionnaire for this position:
Accounting Customer Service (Clerical/Technical) Financial Systems Interpersonal Skills Technical Competence

IMPORTANT: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. All experience listed on your resume must include the month and year start/end dates. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

Physical Requirements: The work is mostly sedentary in nature. Some walking, stooping, or bending is required. The employee often carries files, folders or boxes. The work does not require any special physical effort. Work is performed in a normal office setting. The work setting is adequately heated, lighted, and ventilated.

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/.