Accountant
What you'd do
DIRECT HIRE AUTHORITY: This position is being filled using Direct-Hire Authority (5 CFR 337.205) for this occupation.The VA Northeast Ohio Healthcare System is recruiting for an Accountant. The Accountant will function within Fiscal Service. The position has primary responsibility for establishing and maintaining a complex integrated system of financial system and services which contributes to the effective management control over the facility operations.
Major duties
The Accounting position duties include, but are not limited to: Performs professional accounting duties involving the analysis, verification, and maintenance of financial accounts and accounting data across multiple appropriations in accordance with federal and Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) financial policies. Reconciles general ledger and subsidiary accounts, and financial systems to ensure accuracy, completeness, and integrity of financial data. Maintains complete audit trails and ensures proper documentation for all financial transactions, reconciliations, and supporting records. Identifies discrepancies, researches root causes, and performs corrective accounting adjustments across interrelated accounts and appropriations. Researches, interprets, and applies Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), federal regulations, and VA financial policies to resolve complex and non-routine accounting issues. Responds to internal and external audit requests by providing documentation, analysis, and corrective action support. Trains staff on accounting processes, financial systems, and applicable policies and procedure. Coordinates with management to identify performance issues, audit deficiencies, and process improvement opportunities. Prepares financial reports, briefings, and spreadsheets used by management to make key financial decisions. Utilizes different automated systems in preparation of financial reports/schedules. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday; 7:00am - 3:30pm Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Accountant/PD91505A and PD80601A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
What you need to qualify
In order to qualify for this position, you must meet the following requirements within 30 calendar days of the closing date listed on the announcement: 08/10/2026. This position has an Individual Occupational Requirements (IOR). In order to meet the IOR, you must meet the following: Basic Requirements: Education: To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have successful completion of a full 4-year course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a bachelor's degree in 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."). Transcripts Required OR, Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have an combination of specialized experience and education beyond 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; or 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. In addition to the IOR above, you must also meet the requirements below: GS-9:Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-07 grade level in the Federal service that equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of an Accountant at the GS-9 level. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Assisting with monitoring accounting systems; knowledge of financial policies; knowledge of professional concepts and methodologies in accounting; assisting with providing guidance to accounting technicians in the resolution of moderate problems; assisting with preparing reports, automated system changes, and/or standard operation procedures related to financial management. OR, Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level, you must have successfully completed a master's or equivalent graduate degree related to the work of the position, or 2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree or an LL.B. or J.D., if related to the work of this position. OR, Combination of Experience and Education: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at both grade levels. To calculate, first identify the percentage of required education you have earned (when substituting, you cannot use the first 60 semester hours that you earned). Then identify the percentage of required experience you possess. Add the two percentages. The total percentage must equal at least 100 percent to qualify. (Only graduate level education will me considered.) GS-11:Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-09 grade level in the Federal service that equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of an Accountant at GS-11 grade level. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Monitoring accounting systems; covering operations and expenses for such items as payroll, travel, transportation, supplies, rents, services, inventory, or commercial accounts; participating in decision-making sessions and advising a number of program managers on regulatory requirements, financial policies, the interpretation of data, and program improvements through analysis of program operations, monthly reports, and special systems edits. OR, Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level, you must have 3 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree. (TRANSCRIPT MUST BE PROVIDED),OR, Combination of Experience and Education: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at both grade levels. To calculate, first identify the percentage of required education you have earned (when substituting, you cannot use the first 60 semester hours that you earned). Then identify the percentage of required experience you possess. Add the two percentages. The total percentage must equal at least 100 percent to qualify. (The applicant's first 2 years of graduate study are not qualifying for GS-11) GS-12:Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 level in the Federal service. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: implementing, monitoring, or maintaining internal control systems to ensure protection against fraud, waste, and mismanagement; consulting or advising others on financial matters; determining compliance with accounting and auditing requirements; serving as a primary point of contact for a specific subject area; explaining or providing guidance on laws, regulations, policies, standards, or procedures to management, personnel, or clients; using of prescribed formulas, schedules, tables, or procedures to calculate or check values or numbers; notifying individuals or offices in writing of decisions, problems, or further actions needed; initiating and maintaining contacts with individuals outside the organization; coordinating of the activities of individuals inside or outside of the organization; responding to requests or resolving complaints from customers; keeping abreast of latest technology, information, research, etc., to maintain knowledge in field of expertise (for example, reads trade journals, participates in professional/technical associations). For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/.
Before you apply
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