Staff Accountant

Job description
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Requirements

Conditions of Employment
• You must be a US Citizen or US National.
• Males born after 12/31/1959 must be Selective Service registered or exempt.
• Subject to satisfactory adjudication of background investigation and/or fingerprint check.
• Successful completion of one-year probationary period, unless previously served.
• Direct Deposit: Per Public Law 104-134 all Federal employees are required to have federal payments made by direct deposit to their financial institution.
• Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit E-Verify at https://www.e-verify.gov/.

Qualifications

Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement including specialized experience and/or education, as defined below.

For the GS-12: Applicants must have 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-11 or its nonfederal equivalent that demonstrates: Experience in the accounting field of accounting theories, concepts, principles, and practices to conduct a variety of assignments related to accounting and financial transactions. Experience in performing attestation engagements (compliance reviews/audits). Experience conducting studies and analyses to determine if the borrower's and/or grantee's accounting objectives are being achieved in accordance with Generally Accepted Government Audit Standards. Experience reviewing audited financial statements for compliance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles. Experience revising current accounting systems to comply with the issuance of new accounting principles. Experience implementing changes to internal control systems to improve the business operations, financial conditions, or compliance with audit findings. Experience interpreting the findings of an audit and measure the potential impact on the entity's operations. Experience in providing advice and assistance to the Agency's staff offices, external awardees, and to CPAs, concerning the interpretation and application of accounting principles and auditing standards. Experience with researching emerging accounting and audit standards and develop, evaluate, and review position papers on the standards. Experience drafting audit findings and recommendations based on accounting practices or regulatory guidelines. Experience making formal presentations to internal and external organizations, professional societies, and executive management personnel. Performs compliance reviews on external awardees' accounting systems. Experience in advising Certified Public Accountants (CPAs) with respect to agency audit requirements. Reviews CPA audit reports and reviews work papers to determine the degree of borrower and grantee compliance with generally accepted accounting principles, practices and procedures; ensures compliance with the Agency's auditing requirements.

For the GS-13: Applicants must have 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-12 or its nonfederal equivalent that demonstrates:

Experience in the accounting field of accounting theories, concepts, principles, and practices to conduct a variety of assignments related to accounting and financial transactions. Experience conducting attestation engagements (reviews/audits) as an audit manager (auditor in charge) in accordance with Generally Accepted Government Audit Standards. Experience reviewing audited financial statements for compliance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles. Experience implementing changes to internal control systems to improve the business operations, financial conditions, or compliance with audit findings. Experience in drafting and reviewing proposed audit procedures and accounting guidance. Experience researching emerging accounting and audit standards and develop, evaluate, review, and defend position papers on the standards. Experience creating audit findings and recommendations based on technical accounting practices or regulatory guidelines. Experience in providing training to various program areas on reviewing CPA audit reports, financial statements, and other financial reports used to evaluate RD borrowers' and grantees' ability to repay their loans or carry out program objectives. Experience developing and recommending proposed accounting policies, procedures, and standards relating to borrowers' and grantees' accounting systems and reviewing audit reports prepared by internal and external accountants to determine compliance with acceptable accounting principles, practices, and procedures. Independently performs compliance reviews on external awardees' accounting systems. Experience in advising CPAs and financial and program managers on complex accounting problems and providing solutions to internal control and reporting problems. Experience in analyzing financial information to identify problem areas and to advise managers and other accountants.

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 and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

Education

A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education

In addition to the specialized experience, applicants must meet the Basic Requirements as outlined below.

Applicants must provide documentation (such as a transcript, CPA certificate, etc.) to show they meet the Basic Requirements, either Alternative A or Alternative B for this position. Failure to provide documentation may result in loss of consideration for this position.

Alternative A: 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

Alternative B: 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;
• 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.

Additional information

Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP), Reemployment Priority List (RPL), or Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP): Visit the OPM website for information on how to apply as a CTAP, RPL, or ICTAP eligible. To exercise selection priority for this vacancy, CTAP/RPL/ICTAP candidates must meet the basic eligibility requirements and all selective factors. CTAP/ICTAP candidates must be rated and determined to be well qualified (or above) based on an evaluation of the competencies listed in the How You Will Be Evaluated section. When assessed through a score-based category rating method, CTAP/ICTAP applicants must receive a rating of at least 85 out of a possible 100.

If you are selected for a position with further promotion potential, you will be placed under a career development plan, and may be non-competitively promoted if you successfully complete the requirements and if recommended by management. However, promotion is neither implied nor guaranteed.

Washington State is a Bargaining Unit position under AFGE Local 3499 Bargaining Unit 1981 and is therefore eligible for labor organization representation.

Colorado State is a Bargaining Unit position under AFGE Local 3499 Bargaining Unit 1937 and is therefore eligible for labor organization representation.

Oregon State is a Bargaining Unit position under AFGE Local 3499 Bargaining Unit 1964 and is therefore eligible for labor organization representation.

This position may be eligible to telework up to four days per week, based upon the duties of the position. This position may also be eligible for flexible work arrangements as determined by agency policy and any applicable collective bargaining agreements.

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• Help 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.

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.

United States
Washington
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