Cost Accountant

Program Support Center • Washington, DC

4d

About The Position

This Cost Accountant position is with the Department of Health and Human Services, Program Support Center, headquartered in Rockville, Maryland. The role applies generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) and relevant federal standards to support the recording, validation, maintenance, and troubleshooting of financial transactions in agency accounting systems, including Oracle Federal Financials and other enterprise resource planning platforms. It supports cost accounting and system-related activities by assisting senior personnel with data-trend analysis, ledger-output validation, and reconciliation of cost elements. The position also processes financial entries, reviews transactions, supports reconciliations across general and subsidiary ledgers, maintains day-to-day accounting operations, and helps ensure compliance with guidance and procedures from OMB, Treasury, GAO, and HHS. Accounting entries must be properly documented and completed on time.

The announcement describes qualifications at GS-11, GS-12, and GS-13 levels. Candidates must meet the applicable accounting education or experience requirements and the specialized-experience or graduate-education requirements for the grade sought. Federal employment conditions include U.S. citizenship, applicable Selective Service registration or exemption, suitability for federal employment, any applicable time-in-grade requirements, and successful completion of a background investigation. Financial disclosure and a probationary or trial period may be required. Applicants selected may be subject to reasonable-suspicion and post-accident drug testing.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship is required.
• Males born after December 31, 1959, must be registered with Selective Service or exempt.
• Must be suitable for federal employment and meet applicable time-in-grade restrictions by the announcement closing date.
• Appointment is subject to successful completion of a background security investigation and favorable adjudication.
• Must meet all qualification requirements by the closing date.
• Basic accounting qualification: a degree in accounting, or a related degree such as business administration, finance, or public administration that includes or is supplemented by 24 semester hours in accounting (up to 6 hours may be business law); alternatively, at least 4 years of accounting experience or an equivalent combination of accounting experience, college-level education, and training providing professional accounting knowledge, plus one of the stated accounting-coursework, certification, or qualifying education-and-experience alternatives.
• GS-11 specialized experience: one year equivalent to at least GS-09 performing all stated duties, including applying 2 CFR 200 and other federal regulations to reviews and indirect-cost negotiations; analyzing financial information and evaluating financial practices of nonprofit organizations, higher-education institutions, and state and local governments; resolving cost allocation, cost transfer, and potential overbilling issues; participating in negotiations with grantee organizations; and advising management and providing policy interpretation and technical assistance.
• GS-11 education alternative: a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree, or 3 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree in a field demonstrating the knowledge, skills, and abilities needed for the work; a combination of graduate education and experience meeting 100% of the requirement may also qualify.
• GS-12 specialized experience: one year equivalent to at least GS-11 performing all stated duties, including evaluating financial practices; leading negotiations with senior officials; conducting comprehensive virtual or onsite reviews of Facilities and Administrative Rate proposals and Statewide Cost Allocation Plans; resolving complex cost-transfer, cost-allocation, and potential-overbilling issues; and serving as a technical resource and subject matter expert.
• GS-13 specialized experience: one year equivalent to at least GS-12 performing all stated duties, including serving as a senior technical authority; leading university space reviews supporting F&A rate negotiations; directing reviews of Statewide Cost Allocation Plans; leading high-level negotiations with senior grantee officials; and providing authoritative technical guidance to stakeholders, grantees, and junior staff.
• Applicants must document experience clearly and specifically, including exact employment dates and hours worked per week for part-time experience. Foreign education used to qualify must be evaluated as equivalent to U.S. accredited education or receive full credit from an accredited U.S. college or university.
• Federal salary payments must be made by direct deposit.
• A financial disclosure statement may be required, and a probationary or trial period may be required.

Responsibilities

• Apply GAAP and relevant federal standards to assist in recording, validating, maintaining, and troubleshooting financial transactions in agency accounting systems.
• Support cost accounting and system-related activities by assisting senior personnel with data-trend analysis, ledger-output validation, and reconciliation of cost elements.
• Process financial entries, conduct transaction reviews, and assist with reconciliations across general and subsidiary ledgers.
• Maintain the integrity of day-to-day accounting operations and adhere to established guidance and procedures.
• Help ensure compliance with regulatory guidance from OMB, Treasury, GAO, and HHS, and ensure accounting entries are properly documented and timely.

Benefits

• Federal employee benefits package; eligibility depends on the type of position and other factors.
• Incentives may be authorized depending on multiple factors and funding availability; possible incentives include moving expenses, recruitment or relocation incentives, student loan repayment, superior qualifications appointment, and creditable service for annual leave.

What This Job Offers

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