Accountant

Veterans Health Administration • Castle Point, NY

2d • Hybrid

About The Position

This developmental position is in the Finance (Fiscal) Service at the VA Hudson Valley Healthcare Center in Montrose, New York. It is part of a career ladder to the full-performance Accountant level, GS-510-11.

The Accountant works with systems personnel to design automated systems for processing accounting data and ensure they meet accounting requirements. The role reviews Accounting Technician work, plans and performs reviews and studies of finance and accounting functions, verifies reports against source records, reconciles accounts, and investigates compliance with applicable laws and regulations. It applies professional accounting knowledge and relevant guidelines to identify problems in fund control, records, reports, and reconciliations.

The Accountant reviews, prepares, and analyzes internal and external reports; makes decisions on unusual and complex transactions; advises on accounting and management problems; and evaluates accounting methods and procedures, recommending improvements. The position also helps develop accounting forms and data-collection procedures, prepares operating changes when needed, and may research and certify fund availability.

The work schedule is Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Compressed or flexible scheduling is not authorized. Telework is ad hoc; the position is not virtual. Relocation, recruitment, and permanent change-of-station incentives are not authorized.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship is required.
• Meet the applicable basic accounting qualification requirement through an accounting or related degree with the specified accounting coursework, or through the stated combination of accounting experience, education, training, coursework, or professional certification.
• For GS-09 qualification, have one year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-07, qualifying graduate education, or an eligible combination of experience and education.
• For GS-11 qualification, have one year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-09, qualifying doctoral-level graduate education, or an eligible combination of experience and education.
• Current or former Federal employees subject to time-in-grade rules must meet the applicable requirement by the announcement closing date and submit supporting SF-50 documentation.
• Submit transcripts if using education to qualify; foreign education must be accompanied by the required foreign-equivalency documentation.
• Complete the application, questionnaire, and required online assessment.
• Meet applicable pre-employment conditions, including background/security investigation, onboarding, identification requirements, and the VA seasonal influenza vaccination program.
• Serve a one-year probationary period or two-year trial period, as applicable.

Nice To Haves

• Knowledge of generally accepted accounting principles.
• Professional knowledge and skill in applying accounting and auditing concepts, principles, and methods to work independently when conventional procedures and practices apply.

Responsibilities

• Work with systems personnel to design automated systems for processing accounting data and ensure the systems meet accounting requirements.
• Review Accounting Technician work for accuracy and compliance with policies and procedures; provide instruction and assign projects as needed.
• Plan, coordinate, and conduct comprehensive reviews, special studies, and selective internal examinations of finance and accounting functions.
• Verify reports against source documents and records, reconcile accounts, and investigate whether transactions comply with applicable laws and regulations.
• Use accounting principles, practices, automated systems, and applicable guidelines to identify accounting problems, including inadequate fund control, inaccurate records or reports, and unsupported regulatory reconciliations.
• Review report media and prepare or analyze internal and external statements and reports, including statements of financial condition, selected data, cost analyses, and selected support data.
• Make day-to-day decisions regarding unusual and complex accounting transactions and consult on management problems and possible solutions.
• Evaluate general accounting methods and procedures and recommend changes or improvements.
• Assist in designing, developing, and installing accounting forms and adapting them to special activities and conditions.
• Advise operating officials on data submission and help develop procedures for collecting data.
• Prepare operating changes when revisions are required.
• Research and certify the availability of funds when required.

Benefits

• Federal employee benefits package, with eligibility depending on position type and other factors.
• Annual leave accrual may be credited for qualifying job-related non-federal experience or active-duty uniformed military service, subject to prior request and approval.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level