Summary The incumbent serves as the Financial Reporting Accountant; Provides professional advice on complex financial and accounting matters for FNS, Administrative and Program Offices, Financial Management Divisions, and Department of Agriculture and Treasury concerning matters of financial input, reconciliation, accounting controls, and financial reporting responsibilities. Provides technical assistance to subordinates for resolution of unusual or complex problems. Responsibilities Serves as the technical expert and provides professional advice on complex financial and accounting matters to budget Division, allowance holders, Office of Finance, and Department of Treasury. Provides advice concerning matters of financial input, reconciliation, accounting controls and financial reporting responsibilities for FNS programs. Performs analysis of the accounting operations supporting the Automated Program Accounting System. Identifies problem areas or deficiencies and develops systems recommending corrective actions to promote more efficient operations. Coordinates and monitors the resolution of accounting problems with the stakeholders by implementing improvements to the Program Accounting Systems to incorporate recommendations on new laws, applications, or guidance from external sources. Attends decision making meetings with managers and supervisors and furnishes accurate data related to the financial status of funds reviews. Recommends use of accounting data to assist managers in their management processes. Develops and maintains Branch procedures for preparing multiple types of accounting entries. Requirements Conditions of Employment Qualifications Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement including time-in-grade restrictions, specialized experience and/or education, as defined below. TIME IN GRADE: Under competitive merit promotion procedures, any individual who is currently holding, or who has held within the previous 52 weeks, a General Schedule position under non-temporary appointment in the competitive or excepted service, must meet "time-in-grade" requirements (have served 52 weeks at the next lower grade of the grade for which you are applying). You must include an SF-50 (you may need to submit more than one) that supports meeting this requirement with your application package. SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: To qualify for the GS-13 level, your resume must clearly demonstrate that you have one full year of specialized experience comparable in difficulty and responsibility to at least the GS-12 level in the federal service. Example of qualifying experience include the following types of tasks performed on a regular and recurring basis: Monitoring and reconciling accounts receivable and collections activities to subsidiary ledgers and to general ledgers.; Analyzing problems and issues involving accounts receivable and/or accounts payable using accepted financial and accounting methods; Applying federal accounting standards, OMB and Treasury guidelines, laws, regulations, and financial management principles to execute financial reporting and management activities; AND Researching, analyzing, and processing detailed and/or summary level financial information (e.g., trial balance data) to ensure completeness and accuracy of financial statements and other reports. BASIC EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS: Successful completion of a degree in accounting or in a related field such as business administration, finance, or public administration that included or was supplemented by 24 semester hours in accounting and/or auditing. The 24 hours may include up to 6 hours of credit business law. OR Successful completion of at least 4 years of experience in accounting or an equivalent combination of accounting experience, college- education, and training that provided professional accounting knowledge. My combination of education and experience includes one of the following: 24 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) You have successfully worked at the full-performance level in accounting, auditing, or 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 a demonstration and 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, education, training, and my experience fully meet the specified requirements. Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Education See the Qualifications section for education that may be qualifying for the specific grade level. Additional Information Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP), Reemployment Priority List (RPL), or Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP): Visit the OPM website for information on how to apply as a CTAP, RPL, or ICTAP eligible. To exercise selection priority for this vacancy, CTAP/RPL/ICTAP candidates must meet the basic eligibility requirements and all selective factors. CTAP/ICTAP candidates must be rated and determined to be well qualified (or above) based on an evaluation of the competencies listed in the How You Will Be Evaluated section. When assessed through a score-based category rating method, CTAP/ICTAP applicants must receive a rating of at least 85 out of a possible 100. Veterans who are preference eligible or who have been separated from the armed forces under honorable conditions after three years or more of continuous active service are eligible for consideration under the Veteran's Employment Opportunity Act (VEOA). For more information on applying under special hiring authorities such as the Veteran's Recruitment Act (VRA), 30 percent disabled veterans, certain military spouses, Schedule A Disabled, etc., explore the different Hiring Paths on the USAJOBS website. Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act (LMWFA) provides current or former temporary or term employees of federal land management agencies opportunity to compete for permanent competitive service positions. Individuals must have more than 24 months of service without a break between appointments of two or more years. Service must be in the competitive service and have been at a successful level of performance or better. Refer to PUBLIC LAW 114-47-AUG. 7, 2015 for more information. USDA is offering a variety of strategic workplace flexibilities which allow us to recruit and retain the best talent that reflects the diversity of our country, improve employee morale, and make USDA an employer of choice. In support of this commitment, telework-eligible positions may be eligible to telework up to eight days a pay period, based upon the duties of specific positions. This position may also be eligible for flexible work arrangements as determined by Departmental policy and any applicable collective bargaining agreements. This position is included in a bargaining unit represented by one of the following: AFGE Local 2735, NTEU Chapter 226, 227, 237, 240, 255, 265 or 268.
