Staff Accountant

Summary

The position is located at Portland VA Medical Center, Portland Campus, in the Fiscal Service, Accounting section. He/she performs technician level work in direct support of budget, accounting, auditing, fiscal, and/or financial management function.

Duties

• This position involves a multi-grade career ladder. The major duties listed below represent the full performance level of GS-11, however a selection can be made at any of the following grade levels: GS-09 OR GS-11. At the GS-09 grade level, you will progressively acquire the background necessary to perform at the full performance level of GS-11. Promotion is at the discretion of the supervisor and is contingent upon satisfactory performance. The major duties include but are not limited to: Formulates a variety of financial reports; serving as a member of a management team for organizations serviced and recommending the establishment of policies and procedures affecting the accounting system. Advises management on regulatory requirements and changing program operations. Devises accounting structures and procedures to satisfy regulatory or legislative changes. Assists management in applying financial data and recommending alternatives to resolve difficult problems; reconciling cash, accounts receivable. accounts payable, and other general ledger accounts; correcting all differences between the subsidiary ledger balances and the control account balances in the general ledger. Provides accounting information and guidance to program officials; developing a segment of an automated accounting system. Prepares procedural instructions for the development or implementation of automated accounting systems; reviewing. analyzing, and validating domestic and/or foreign business industry financial and statistical data. Uses appropriate costing methodologies to recognize, determine. accumulate and report costs of activities on a regular basis for management information purposes. Prepare cost analysis for various areas in the Medical Center by analyzing buying and selling agreements to ensure the VA recoups all costs. Assists in performing financial audits, analysis, and evaluations of the financial operations and related procedures as part of the Fiscal Service Quality Assurance System, which includes Accounting, Employee Accounts, Agent Cashier, Voucher Audit, General Post Funds, Real Property and Patient Funds. Assists in the preparation, analysis, and submission of a variety of financial statements, reports and audits to local management, VACO management. and other agencies or organizations which includes the Annual Report of Real Property, Annual Report of Depreciation, and other recurring and non-recurring reports and audits. Assist in verifying, analyzing and/or reconciling a very large number of computer generated reports which includes, but not limited to, RCS-JO Trial Balance, RPO 820 Control Point Listing, RPO 821 Operating Ledger Update Listing, RPO 82S Analysis of Reimbursable Earning and Collections, RPO 826 Status of Funds, RPO 827 CALM Monthly Journal, RPO 830 Listing of Cost and FTEE, RPO 83I Listing of Modifications and Deletions, RPO 860 Accounting Reconciliations, RPO 861 Reconciliations of Reimbursable Earnings, RPO 865 Reconciliations of General Ledger Accounts, RPO 885a Obligation by Subaccount, RPO 887 Obligation by Control Point, Cost Center, and Subaccount, and Interoffice General Ledger Accounts. In the absence of the Chief. Accounting, incumbent will coordinate workload activities and provide guidance on technical issues. Preferred Experience: 1 year of Federal Accounting Experience. Promotion Potential: The selectee may be promoted to the full performance level without further competition when all regulatory, qualification, and performance requirements are met. Selection at a lower grade level does not guarantee promotion to the full performance level. Work Schedule: Monday through Friday; 7:30am - 4:00pm (PST). Telework: Not available. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Staff Accountant/PD20241A and PD20240A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized. Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized. Financial Disclosure Report: Not Required. Physical Requirements: The position requires sedentary work with occasional extra physical activity in securing records which have been filed in local storage and travel between the two divisions, and the Willamette National Cemetery.

Requirements

You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job To be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process. In addition to the application and questionnaire, this position requires an online assessment. The online assessment measures critical general competencies required to perform the job. Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959 Physical Requirements: The work required does not inherently include any physical requirements essential for successful job performance that could not otherwise be performed with accommodation or workplace adjustment. A pre-placement physical examination is not required. Subject to background/security investigation Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP) As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider: your performance and conduct; the needs and interests of the agency; whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service. Upon completion of your probationary period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Education

Note: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment. Education requirements: GS-9: Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have successfully completed 2 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a master's degree or master's or equivalent graduate degree in accounting, or a related field such as business administration, finance, or public administration. This education must be obtained in an accredited business, secretarial or technical school, junior college, college or university. (TRANSCRIPTS REQUIRED). OR, Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have a combination of specialized experience and graduate-level education beyond the first year, as described above. GS-11: Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have successfully completed 3 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree in accounting; or a degree in a related field such as business administration, finance, or public administration. This education must be obtained in an accredited business, secretarial or technical school, junior college, college or university. (TRANSCRIPTS REQUIRED). OR, Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have a combination of specialized experience and graduate-level education beyond the second year, as described above. A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education. Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.