accountant Washington, DC
Job description
Duties
As a Staff Accountant, GS-0510-13, your typical work assignments may include:
- Applying knowledge and interpretation of guidance issued by the Department of the Treasury, the General Accounting Office (GAO), Office of Management and Budget (OMB), other standard setting organizations, and Agency regulations and procedures to determine impacts to the agency's accounting operations and systems and assuring compliance with all stated professional standards, rules and regulations.
- Managing responsibility for a variety of activities related to the daily financial operations of the agency's accounting system, such as reviewing, analyzing, compiling, reconciling and reporting the financial data on a monthly, quarterly or annual basis.
- Preparing data for audit requests and taking appropriate action to correct audit deficiencies.
- Resolving significantly complex or controversial accounting issues and providing expert advice and assistance on matters of equal difficulty.
Requirements
Conditions of Employment
- U.S. Citizenship is required.
- Relocation expenses are not authorized.
- Must submit a complete resume and application package online by 11:59 PM EST on the closing date.
- This position is not part of the Bargaining Unit.
- Males born after 12/31/1959 must be registered for Selective Service.
- May be subject to a background investigation prior to appointment.
- A one-year probationary period may be required.
- This is not a virtual (remote) position.
Qualifications
IDEAL CANDIDATE STATEMENT
The ideal candidate for the Staff Accountant possesses a mastery in developing and/or adjusting accounting methods and techniques in response to variations in accounting standards. The candidate demonstrates exceptional communication skills, scrupulous attention to detail, and robust analytical skills. It is preferred that the potential hire is self-motivated and takes the initiative to incorporate innovative techniques to improve overall performance of the office and division.
In order to qualify for this position; you must meet the basic requirements listed below;
- Degree: 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.")
- Combination of education and experience: 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;
b) A certificate as Certified Public Accountant or a Certified Internal Auditor, obtained through written examination; or
c) 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.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
To be qualified for this position, applicants must have one year of specialized experience, equivalent to the GS-12 grade level, which has provided them with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the Staff Accountant GS-510 at the GS-13 grade level.
- Experience applying knowledge of professional accounting principles, practices, procedures, and automated accounting systems.
- Experience applying accounting knowledge to analyze, reconcile, verify, and resolve discrepancies within financial data.
- Experience utilizing Treasury collection, payment, and debt reporting systems.
This experience must be fully supported and articulated in your resume to receive consideration. Please ensure that your resume information is specific, detailed where appropriate, and complete. Please do not cut and paste the position description, specialized experience, or occupational assessment questionnaire from this announcement into your resume, as this will not be considered a demonstration of your qualifications for this position.
Substitution of education in lieu of specialized experience may not be used for this grade level.
For more detailed information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website here.
NOTE: 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, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.
All qualifications and eligibility requirements must be met by the closing date of the announcement.
Education
Education must be accredited by an accredited institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications (particularly positions with a positive education requirement). You MUST provide transcripts or other documentation to support your educational claims. Applicants can verify accreditation here.
All education claimed by applicants will be verified by the appointing agency accordingly. (Note: If you are selected for this position based on education, an official transcript will be required, prior to your first day.) You must meet all applicable qualification requirements. All academic degrees and coursework must be completed at a college or university that has obtained accreditation or re-accreditation status from an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. For a list of schools that meet this criteria, please click here.
Special Instructions for Foreign Education
If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show that the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in accredited U.S. education programs; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university.
For further information regarding Foreign Education, please click here.
Additional information
SUPPLEMENTARY VACANCIES
Supplementary vacancies may be filled in addition to the number stated in this announcement.
EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY
The National Labor Relations Board is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for appointment without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity, and sex orientation), age, disability, genetic information, political affiliations, or any other non-merit factor. Applicants with disabilities who need reasonable accommodations for any part of the application and hiring process should contact the Agency's Selective Placement Coordinator by email here. NLRB offers a wide array of reasonable accommodations and programs for individuals with disabilities. (For additional information for job seekers with disabilities, please click on the following website here.)
REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION (RA) REQUESTS
If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application. Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments.
Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case-by-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments.
You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, if you received the link after the close of the announcement.
To determine if you need a RA, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments here.
PLACEMENT POLICY
The posting of this announcement does not obligate management to fill a vacancy or vacancies by promotion. The position may be filled by reassignment, change to lower grade, transfer, appointment, or reinstatement. Management may use any one or any combination of these methods to fill the position.
Benefits
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Review our benefits
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
How You Will Be Evaluated
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
You will be evaluated based on how well you meet the qualifications listed in this vacancy announcement. Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents), the responses you provide on the application questionnaire, and the result of the online assessments required for this position. You will be assessed on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics):
Accountability, Accounting, Accounting Operations, Arithmetic/Mathematical Reasoning, Attention to Detail, Customer Service, Decision Making, Flexibility, Integrity/Honesty, Interpersonal Skills, Learning, Oral Communication, Principles of Accounting, Problem Solving, Reasoning, Self-Management, Stress Tolerance, and Teamwork
In order to be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process. In addition to the application and application questionnaire, this position requires an online assessment. The online assessment measures critical general competencies required to perform the job.
The assessment includes a cut score based on the minimum level of required proficiency in these critical general competencies. You must meet or exceed the cut score to be considered. You will not be considered for the position if you score below the cut score or fail to complete the assessment.
Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration. Cheating on the online assessment may also result in your removal from consideration.
If you meet the minimum qualifications, you will be placed in one of the following categories:
Best Qualified: Applicants possessing experience that substantially exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position and demonstrate high proficiency in all of the critical competencies, including all Selective Placement Factors (SPF) and appropriate Quality Ranking Factors (QRF) as determined by the job analysis.
Well Qualified: Applicants possessing experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position and demonstrates acceptable proficiency in all of the critical competencies, including all SPFs and appropriate QRFs as determined by the job analysis.
Qualified: Applicants possessing experience that meets the minimum qualifications of the position and demonstrate basic proficiency in most of the critical competencies, including all SPFs and appropriate QRFs as determined by the job analysis. If you are best qualified, you may be referred to the hiring manager for consideration and may be called for an interview.
To preview the assessment questionnaire, please click here:https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12019958
Benefits
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Review our benefits
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
Required Documents
As a new or existing federal employee, you and your family may have access to a range of benefits. Your benefits depend on the type of position you have - whether you're a permanent, part-time, temporary or an intermittent employee. You may be eligible for the following benefits, however, check with your agency to make sure you're eligible under their policies.
To apply for this position, you must submit a complete Application Package which includes:
- Resume. Your resume must describe your job-related experiences and will be used to verify your qualifications. It is important that the information be relevant, detailed where appropriate, and addresses the competencies for this position. Your resume must contain the dates of employment (i.e., month/year to month/year or month/year to present) to include the hours worked per week (i.e. 40 hours full-time per week}. If your resume does not contain this information, your application may be marked as incomplete, and you will not receive consideration for this position. Your resume should not exceed 5 pages.
Other documents (if applicable). For more information, please click on the applicable link:
- Most Recent Annual Performance Appraisal (Current or Former Federal Employees). If performance appraisal is not dated within the last year (2021-2022) or if you are unable to provide a performance appraisal, an explanation why must be provided. Please include a document in your application package explaining why the performance appraisal is not available.
- Notification of Personnel Action (SF-50)(Current or Former Federal Employees). Most recent SF-50 showing your current grade and tenure; (you may be removed from consideration if not submitted). An SF-50 showing highest (permanent) grade ever held, if different from your current grade. (NOTE: Performance Award, Realignment/Reassignment, Name Change and Detail SF-50s will not be accepted as proof of grade and tenure.) If you are applying for a higher grade, please provide an SF-50 or SF-50s which shows the length of time in the current/highest grade (examples of appropriate SF-50s include promotions, With-in Grade/Range Increases, and SF-50s with dates that show proof of you holding the grade for at least a year) to support meeting time in grade requirements. As a current or previous career or career conditional employee in the Competitive Service, you may determine your status by checking block 24 on your SF-50. The block must reflect "1" or "2". Also, block 34 must reflect "1". A copy of your SF-50 must be provided for verification.
-Transcripts. An unofficial copy of your transcripts is sufficient for this application package. The unofficial transcripts must be verifiable; contain the name of the institution, applicant's name, list of completed courses (with grades), semester hours, and GPA. If the position has a positive education requirement (i.e. LLB or JD), as indicated under the "Education" section, the unofficial transcripts must show type of degree and degree date received (conferred). In lieu of unofficial transcripts, a verification of enrollment letter is also sufficient; however, all required information listed above for the unofficial transcript must be included in the verification letter, including type of degree and degree date received (conferred) if applicable. If selected, an official copy of the transcripts is required and must be received before employment.
- For Disability Schedule A. Disability Letter
- For Veterans. DD-214 (member copy-4)- For Disabled Veterans. DD-214, SF-15 and VA letter dated 1991 or later (indicating % disability)
- For Certain Military Spouses. Copy of service member's PCS order authorizing the spouse to accompany the service member AND Proof of marriage to the service member; OR Proof the service member was released or discharged from active duty due to a service-connected disability AND documentation of the service member's 100% disability AND proof of marriage to the service member; OR Proof the service member's death while on active duty AND proof of marriage to the service member.
- Family Member Preference (Derived Preference)- Reinstatement
- Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) or Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP). If requesting consideration under the Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) or Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP), you must meet the well qualified standards for this vacancy (meeting the minimum requirements for the position and scoring at least an 85) and provide all of the following documents:
- your most recent performance appraisal; AND
- the proof of eligibility letter from the Agency; AND
- your most current SF-50, displaying current series and grade.
All materials must be received by 07/19/2023 to be considered for this announcement.How to Apply
Please read the entire announcement and all the instructions before you begin an application. To apply for this position, you must complete the initial online application, to include the initial online assessment and submission of the required documentation specified in the Required Documents section.
The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on 07/19/2023 to receive consideration.
The application process is as follows:To update your application, including supporting documentation, at any time during the announcement open period, return to your USAJOBS account. There you will find a record of your application, the application status, and an option to Edit my application. This option will no longer be available once the announcement has closed.- To begin the application process, click the Apply Online button.
- Answer the questions presented in the application and attach all necessary supporting documentation.
- Click the Submit Application button prior to 11:59PM (ET) on the announcement closing date.
- After submitting an online application, you will be notified whether or not you are required to take additional online assessments through the USA Hire Competency Based Assessment system. This message will be delivered to you via email notification. The email may be routed to your "Spam" or "Junk" folder.
- If you are asked to take the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be presented with a unique URL to access the USA Hire system. Access to USA Hire is granted through your USAJOBS login credentials. Be sure to review all instructions prior to beginning your USA Hire Assessments. Click here for Computer System Requirements.
- Note, set aside at least 3 hours to take these assessments; however, most applicants complete the assessments in less time. If you need to stop the assessments and continue at a later time, you can re-use the URL sent to you via email and also found in your USAJOBS account under the "Track my application" link for the corresponding application.
To verify the status of your application both during and after the announcement open period, log into your USAJOBS account. On the Home page, scroll down and locate your job application. Once the job has been located, click the "Track this application" link on the right under the application date. The page will refresh to display the Agency's Application Information page where you can scroll down and review any notifications the agency has sent you. The Application Status will appear along with the date your application was last updated. For information on what each Application Status means, visit: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/how-to/application/status/.Agency contact information
National Labor Relations Board
Address
OFFICE OF THE CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
1015 Half St SE
Washington, DC 20570-0038
USNext steps
Based on your application and your responses to the application questionnaire, you may be presented with instructions on how to access the USA Hire system to complete the online assessments.
The online assessments must be completed within 48 hours following the close of this announcement.
You will have the opportunity to request a testing accommodation for the assessment, should you have a disability covered under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
Your assessment results will be kept on record for one year and used toward future positions for which you might apply that require the same assessments.
To be considered for the position, you must meet all qualifications, including meeting or exceeding the cut score on the required assessments.
Once all application and all required assessments are complete, your application will be reviewed for Minimum Qualification determinations, then placed into one of three categories: Best Qualified, Well Qualified, and Qualified. Applicants that meet the Best Qualified category may be referred to the Selecting Official for further consideration.
If further evaluation or interviews are required, you will be contacted. Applicants will receive notification when a final selection has been made.Fair and Transparent
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
- Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Policy
- Reasonable accommodation policy
- Financial suitability
- Selective Service
- New employee probationary period
- Signature and false statements
- Privacy Act
- Social security number request
Required Documents
- Resume. Your resume must describe your job-related experiences and will be used to verify your qualifications. It is important that the information be relevant, detailed where appropriate, and addresses the competencies for this position. Your resume must contain the dates of employment (i.e., month/year to month/year or month/year to present) to include the hours worked per week (i.e. 40 hours full-time per week}. If your resume does not contain this information, your application may be marked as incomplete, and you will not receive consideration for this position. Your resume should not exceed 5 pages.
Other documents (if applicable). For more information, please click on the applicable link:
- Most Recent Annual Performance Appraisal (Current or Former Federal Employees). If performance appraisal is not dated within the last year (2021-2022) or if you are unable to provide a performance appraisal, an explanation why must be provided. Please include a document in your application package explaining why the performance appraisal is not available.
- Notification of Personnel Action (SF-50)(Current or Former Federal Employees). Most recent SF-50 showing your current grade and tenure; (you may be removed from consideration if not submitted). An SF-50 showing highest (permanent) grade ever held, if different from your current grade. (NOTE: Performance Award, Realignment/Reassignment, Name Change and Detail SF-50s will not be accepted as proof of grade and tenure.) If you are applying for a higher grade, please provide an SF-50 or SF-50s which shows the length of time in the current/highest grade (examples of appropriate SF-50s include promotions, With-in Grade/Range Increases, and SF-50s with dates that show proof of you holding the grade for at least a year) to support meeting time in grade requirements. As a current or previous career or career conditional employee in the Competitive Service, you may determine your status by checking block 24 on your SF-50. The block must reflect "1" or "2". Also, block 34 must reflect "1". A copy of your SF-50 must be provided for verification.
-Transcripts. An unofficial copy of your transcripts is sufficient for this application package. The unofficial transcripts must be verifiable; contain the name of the institution, applicant's name, list of completed courses (with grades), semester hours, and GPA. If the position has a positive education requirement (i.e. LLB or JD), as indicated under the "Education" section, the unofficial transcripts must show type of degree and degree date received (conferred). In lieu of unofficial transcripts, a verification of enrollment letter is also sufficient; however, all required information listed above for the unofficial transcript must be included in the verification letter, including type of degree and degree date received (conferred) if applicable. If selected, an official copy of the transcripts is required and must be received before employment.
- For Disability Schedule A. Disability Letter
- For Veterans. DD-214 (member copy-4)
- For Disabled Veterans. DD-214, SF-15 and VA letter dated 1991 or later (indicating % disability)
- For Certain Military Spouses. Copy of service member's PCS order authorizing the spouse to accompany the service member AND Proof of marriage to the service member; OR Proof the service member was released or discharged from active duty due to a service-connected disability AND documentation of the service member's 100% disability AND proof of marriage to the service member; OR Proof the service member's death while on active duty AND proof of marriage to the service member.
- Family Member Preference (Derived Preference)
- Reinstatement
- Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) or Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP). If requesting consideration under the Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) or Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP), you must meet the well qualified standards for this vacancy (meeting the minimum requirements for the position and scoring at least an 85) and provide all of the following documents:
- your most recent performance appraisal; AND
- the proof of eligibility letter from the Agency; AND
- your most current SF-50, displaying current series and grade.
All materials must be received by 07/19/2023 to be considered for this announcement.
This job is open to
The public
U.S. Citizens, Nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.
Clarification from the agency
All US Citizens will be considered under this Notice of Vacancy.
