Accountant

U.S. Coast Guard•Topeka, KS

3d•Onsite

About The Position

This GS-0510-12 Accountant position is with the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Coast Guard, PPC Financial Accounting and Reporting Branch, in Topeka, Kansas. The Accountant reviews, analyzes, reconciles, and quality-checks accounting documents, military personnel and payroll records, and financial accounts. The role applies professional accounting principles and appropriation law to support accurate financial reporting, system compliance, and successful audits. The Accountant handles complex payroll accounting transactions and adjustments, supports improvements to payroll and financial accounting processes, and applies accounting guidance to ensure accurate reporting and payments to and on behalf of military members. The role also helps design and refine accounting systems, prepares complex financial reports for Coast Guard, DHS, other federal agencies, and audit organizations, and performs peer reviews of accounting staff work papers. The position requires a qualifying accounting education or an accepted combination of education and experience, as well as at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 level. Education cannot substitute for the GS-12 specialized experience requirement. Transcripts must be submitted with the application package. The position requires U.S. citizenship, satisfaction of applicable federal employment conditions, and a successful background investigation; it requires a Public Trust clearance. A one-year probationary period may be required.

Requirements

Meet the basic education requirement through an accounting degree, a related degree with 24 semester hours in accounting, or an accepted combination of accounting experience, education, and training. Up to 6 semester hours of business law may count toward the 24-hour requirement.
Have at least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-11 level in the federal sector; education cannot be substituted for this experience at the GS-12 level.
U.S. citizenship is required.
Be registered for Selective Service or exempt, as applicable.
Meet the time-in-grade requirement by the announcement closing date.
Successfully pass a background investigation and meet the Public Trust requirement.
Submit required transcripts with the application package if qualifying based on education or required coursework.
All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of the announcement.

Responsibilities

Examine, analyze, research, and reconcile complex payroll accounting transactions, adjustments, and related laws and policies to ensure accurate recording and reporting of payroll activities.
Identify and establish payroll and financial accounting process improvements by analyzing current processes, developing improvements, implementing procedures, and monitoring results.
Apply accounting principles, appropriation law, procedures, and regulatory guidance to ensure accurate financial reporting and payments to and on behalf of military members.
Design or refine components of a complex accounting system to address local and changing needs or conditions.
Prepare complex financial reports and information for the U.S. Coast Guard, Department of Homeland Security, other federal agencies, and audit organizations.
Develop clear standard operating procedures and desk guides for payroll and financial accounting.
Perform peer reviews of accounting staff work papers and document review findings, recommendations, and follow-up actions in official correspondence and memorandums.