Accounting Technician

Summary

The Accounting Technician is located in Fiscal Service under the Accounting Department at The Chillicothe VA Medical Center. The incumbent's primary responsibility is to perform clerical, assistant, or technician level work in support of a budget, accounting, auditing, fiscal and financial management function.

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Overview

• Accepting applications

• Open & closing dates

09/26/2024 to 10/03/2024

• Salary

$51,115 - $66,450 per year

• Pay scale & grade

GS 7

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Location

1 vacancy in the following location:

• Chillicothe, OH 1 vacancy

• Remote job

No

• Telework eligible

Yes-Ad-hoc telework available as determined by the need of the agency.

• Travel Required

Not required

• Relocation expenses reimbursed

No

• Appointment type

Permanent

• Work schedule

Full-time

• Service

Competitive

• Promotion potential

None

• Job family (Series)

• 0525 Accounting Technician

• Supervisory status

No

• Security clearance

Not Required

• Drug test

No

• Position sensitivity and risk

Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk

• Trust determination process

• Credentialing

• Suitability/Fitness

• Financial disclosure

No

• Bargaining unit status

Yes

• Announcement number

CBSR-12557538-24-KC

• Control number

811504000

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This job is open to

• Career transition (CTAP, ICTAP, RPL)

Federal employees who meet the definition of a "surplus" or "displaced" employee.

• Family of overseas employees

Family members of a federal employee or uniformed service member who is or was, working overseas.

• Individuals with disabilities

• Internal to an agency

Current federal employees of this agency.

• Land & base management

Certain current or former term or temporary federal employees of a land or base management agency.

• Military spouses

• Veterans

• Federal employees

• Competitive service

Current or former competitive service federal employees.

• Federal employees

• Excepted service

Current excepted service federal employees.

• Peace Corps & AmeriCorps Vista

Clarification from the agency

Current, permanent employees of the Chillicothe VA Medical Center and affiliated Community Based Outpatient clinics will be given priority consideration.

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Duties

Duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Examines, verifies, and maintains financial accounts and accounting data and classifies accounting transactions including the verification of the accuracy and completeness of the accounting data across multiple appropriations.

• Receives and analyzes various types of documents to determine propriety, validity, budget, expenditure limitation, completeness and correctness of accounting data.

• Reviews and classifies many types of financial transactions involving the operations of the Medical Center including journalizing corrective actions for erroneous conditions.

• Audits or processes obligations, payments, adjustments, travel requests, travel vouchers, cost transfers, purchase card transactions, VRQ's (vendor change requests), accruals, deposits, bills of collection, Personal Funds of Patients (PFOP) postings, offsets, reconciliations, reviews, ad hoc reports, etc.

• Reconciles accounting systems output with input for accountability. Maintains control of receipts, disbursements, and logs. Maintains control of funds obligated and funds expended.

• Analyzes documents for accuracy and authorization, such as the Financial Indicators Report, obligations and payments. Determines proper cost centers, budget object codes (BOC), appropriations and fund control points to be entered into a computerized cost accounting system.

• Documents financial transactions to assure a proper audit trail, including but not limited to proper and complete documentation of follow-up on reconciliations, and back-up documentation for accounts receivable. Assigns transactions that will have the proper accounting effect.

• Researches and resolves complex issues in a paperless system as more and more processes become automated, including, but not limited to vendor issues, missing payments, and rejects.

• Coordinates, reviews, audits and reconciles government travel, convenience check, and purchase card transactions. Maintains PFOP accounts, following all laws and regulations concerning account balances, veterans' benefits, certifications, documentation, etc.

• Incumbent has technical responsibility for the maintenance, auditing, and reconciliation of the general and subsidiary ledger accounts, for the preparation of accurate and timely reports, and for the control of funds. Determines the nature of errors and makes adjustments in the correct appropriation to a variety of interrelated accounts.

• Ensures the timely preparation of reports for VISN, Department of Treasury, VA Headquarters, and local management.

• Responsible for working with numerous different unrelated systems, such as Financial Management System (FMS), Integrated Funds Distribution, Control Point Activity, Accounting and Procurement System (IFCAPS), Veterans Information Systems Technology Architecture (VISTA), On-Line Certification System (OLCS), Federal Records System (FRS), Fed Traveler, Accounts Receivable, Microsoft Outlook, Excel and Office and Internet Explorer.

• Performs audits as required by Fiscal Service regulations, including quarterly audits of Agent Cashier, Employee Accounts, Patient Funds, Voucher Audit and General Post Funds.

• Completes all Agent Cashier functions in accordance with applicable Treasury Department rules, VA Regulations and VA Handbook 4010 in specific.

• Monitors and makes input to current vendor file so that vendors may be paid promptly under the FMS system.

Work Schedule: Monday through Friday, 8:00 am until 4:30 pm

Telework: Ad-hoc telework available as determined by the need of the agency. VA supports the use of telework as a way to help attract and retain talented individuals in public service, increase worker productivity, and better prepare the agency to operate during emergencies. This position may be authorized for telework. Telework eligibility will be discussed during the interview process.

Position Description/PD#: Accounting Technician/PD92134-0

Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized

Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not authorized

Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized

Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

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Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job

• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959

• You may be required to serve a probationary period

• Subject to background/security investigation

• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process

• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP)

• Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 10/03/2024.

Time-In-Grade Requirement: Applicants who are current Federal employees and have held a GS grade any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement. For a GS-07 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-06. The grade may have been in any occupation, but must have been held in the Federal service. An SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials. If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate you possess one-year time-in-grade, as required by the announcement. In this instance, you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one-year time-in-grade. Note: Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to former Federal employees applying for reinstatement as well as current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment.

You may qualify based on your experience as described below:

• Specialized Experience: To qualify for the GS-7 grade level, you must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level. Specialized experience is experience that has equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSA's) to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the position to be filled. Examples of specialized experience include, but is not limited to the following: audits account balances for accuracy and processes necessary correcting and adjusting entries; evaluates documentation, draws conclusions and makes sound recommendations; reviews and certifies account reconciliations, audits, and regular reviews to ensure integrity of accounting data; makes suggestions to management regarding more efficient work methods; analyzes documents for accuracy and authorization; and consistently communicates and treats customers in a courteous, tactful, and respectful manner.

You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position:

• Accounting Operations

• Audit Reporting

• Financial Systems

• Principles of Accounting

• Developing Others

• Interpersonal Effectiveness

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; religions; 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.

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.

Physical Demands: The work is mainly sedentary; however, there is some walking, bending, lifting and carrying of light objects.

Work Environment: Work is performed in a normal office setting.

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/.

Education

There is no educational substitution at this grade level.

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/.

Additional information

Receiving Service Credit or Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed.

This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

Pursuant to VHA Directive 1193.01, VHA health care personnel (HCP) are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 subject to such accommodations as required by law (i.e., medical, religious or pregnancy). VHA HCPs do not include remote workers who only infrequently enter VHA locations. If selected, you will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination before your start date. The agency will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request a legally required accommodation from this requirement using the reasonable accommodation process.

If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.

Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.

VA Healthcare System Serving Ohio, Indiana and Michigan (VISN 10) advocates for a Whole Health System of care in each of the Medical Centers. This is an approach to healthcare that empowers and equips people to take charge of their health and well-being and live their lives to the fullest. As an employee operating in a Whole Health System of care, you will operate in a model with three core elements, seeking to create a personalized health plan for each Veteran. This is done in the context of healing relationships and healing environments and a connection back to the Veteran's community. This aligns with the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Mission Statement to Honor America's Veterans by providing exceptional health care that improves their health and well-being."

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• Benefits

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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 window

Learn more about federal benefits.

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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.

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE.

Narrative responses are not required at this time. If you are referred for consideration, you may be asked to submit additional job related information, which may include, but not limited to; responses to the knowledge, skills and abilities; completion of a work sample, and/or contact for an interview. Your resume and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating or consideration for employment.

The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position.

For more information on the "Who may apply" eligibility requirements, please refer to the OHRM Status Candidates and Other Candidate Definitions document.

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.

It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.

Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.