Staff Accountant

Veterans Health Administration • Lexington, KY

13d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Staff Accountant is responsible for the detailed and efficient operation and control of day-to-day fiscal activities at a VA Medical Center within the Midsouth Healthcare Network (VISN 9). The position is organizationally aligned within Fiscal Service and requires applying professional accounting concepts and methodologies, along with knowledge of program characteristics and requirements.

The incumbent reviews and processes accounting documents; maintains, analyzes, and reconciles general and subsidiary ledgers; monitors compliance with Financial Indicators; analyzes financial system reports and resolves out-of-balance conditions; and provides professional accounting guidance to technicians, analysts, and clerical personnel. The role also includes audits and risk assessments, monthly reconciliations, analysis of accounting matters, procedure review and improvement, budget support, employee training, and coordination with service chiefs, administrative officers, Treasury, facility leadership, vendors, veterans, and VISN staff.

The position uses computer applications including Excel, PowerPoint, Word, and Teams. The work schedule is Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Ad hoc telework may be authorized; eligibility will be discussed during the interview. This is not a virtual position. The work is primarily sedentary in a professional office setting, with considerable typing and occasional movement to meetings or to gather documents and information. Some light lifting, bending, and stooping may be required.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship is required.
• Must complete the application, questionnaire, and required online assessment.
• Males born after December 31, 1959, must be registered with the Selective Service.
• Must be able to undergo a background/security investigation and complete the online onboarding process.
• Must participate in the seasonal influenza vaccination program as a Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel employee.
• Must serve a one-year probationary period.
• For current federal employees and certain former federal employees, GS-11 time-in-grade requires 52 weeks at GS-9; supporting documentation must be submitted when applicable.
• Must meet the Accountant (GS-0510) individual occupational requirements through a qualifying accounting degree or related degree with 24 semester hours in accounting, qualifying education substitution, or the stated combination of accounting experience, education, training, and qualifying coursework or certification.
• Must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade, or qualify through the stated education substitution or combination of education and experience.
• Specialized experience includes applying accounting principles to programming, budgeting, and financial systems; analyzing and researching accounting issues; maintaining fund accounts; preparing financial statements and reports; monitoring and reconciling accounting reports, ledgers, and data in automated systems; training users on system queries and applications; project management and assignment delegation; coordinating with systems personnel on automated systems; and planning accounting closeouts or reorganizations.
• Must submit transcripts if using education to qualify; foreign education requires a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency.
• Work requires considerable typing, computer use, speaking by phone and in groups, and occasional walking, standing, light lifting, bending, and stooping.

Responsibilities

• Review and process accounting documents as part of daily assignments.
• Maintain, analyze, and reconcile general ledgers and subsidiary ledgers.
• Monitor compliance with Financial Indicators.
• Review, coordinate, and monitor the implementation of policies.
• Monitor FMS reports and identify and correct out-of-balance conditions involving system interfaces and transactions.
• Interpret and adapt agency policies, regulations, precedents, and work directions to specific cases or problems.
• Advise and assist technicians, analysts, and clerical personnel with transactions requiring professional accounting determinations.
• Resolve operating problems by influencing or motivating individuals and groups working toward shared goals.
• Determine appropriate transactions and accounts, make accounting entries, and take corrective action to resolve accounting problems.
• Perform internal audits, vulnerability risk assessments, and other audits assigned to the Fiscal Section.
• Perform detailed monthly accounting reconciliations to ensure compliance with policies and procedures.
• Provide analysis and technical expertise on accounting matters.
• Study and interpret accounting manuals, regulations, and policies and apply them to daily work.
• Track ongoing operations, address problems, and review or improve procedures and systems, including developing accounting methods for unique situations.
• Assist budget staff with out-of-balance issues and the development or forecasting of budget needs and excesses.
• Train new and experienced employees to support efficient and qualified coverage within the section.
• Use time-management skills to prioritize daily tasks and complete them on time.
• Work with service chiefs and administrative officers to identify spending and costing trends.
• Research and communicate with Treasury to resolve out-of-balance issues.
• Coordinate with the supervisor and team to provide coverage for employees who are out of the office.
• Provide customer service to internal and external customers and communicate accounting information effectively to fiscal management, facility leadership, managers, frontline staff, vendors, veterans, and VISN staff.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Federal employees receive access to a comprehensive benefits package for themselves and their families.
• VA may, upon request and approval before appointment, credit job-related non-federal experience or active-duty uniformed military service toward annual leave accrual.

What This Job Offers

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