Accounting Technician

Summary

This position serves as an Accounting Technician in the Fiscal Services (FS). The duties are performed for the CAVHS, a complex 1 A medical system comprised of two main hospital campuses and eight Community-Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs). FS performs professional and technical accounting work and provides advisory financial services. The Accounting Technician provides technical assistance, support, and maintenance of accounting records at this medical system.

Learn more about this agency

Help

Overview

• Accepting applications

• Open & closing dates

04/22/2024 to 05/02/2024

• Salary

$49,025 - $63,733 per year

• Pay scale & grade

GS 7

• Help

Location

1 vacancy in the following location:

• North Little Rock, AR 1 vacancy

• Remote job

No

• Telework eligible

Yes-as determined by the agency policy.

• Travel Required

25% or less

• You may be expected to travel for this position.

• 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

• Announcement number

CBST-12390785-24-JW

• Control number

787879700

Help

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.

• Federal employees

• Competitive service

Current or former competitive service federal employees.

• Federal employees

• Excepted service

Current excepted service federal employees.

• 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

• Peace Corps & AmeriCorps Vista

• Recent graduates

Individuals who have graduated from an accredited educational institute or certificate program within the last 2 years or 6 years for Veterans.

• Veterans

Clarification from the agency

Status Candidates (Current permanent employees of the Department of VA including VA Title 38, Title 38 Hybrid, and Canteen employees serving on excepted appointments; All federal employees serving on a Career/Career-Conditional appointment; Former competitive civil service employees eligible for reinstatement; Veterans eligible under the VEOA, as 30% Disabled Veterans, and under a VRA; Those eligible under the Employment Program for People with Disabilities; Those eligible under CTAP/ICTAP).

Videos

Help

Duties

• Analyzes documents for accuracy and authorization, such as the Financial Indicators Report, obligations and payments.

• Reviews pending items and ensures that follow-up action is taken on all items pending for excessive periods of time.

• Reviews and analyzes reports, classifies errors, takes corrective action to balance reports, verifies corrected copy and determines the source of processing deficiencies and recommends corrective procedures.

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

• Researches and communicates with requestor and service line personnel to answer questions and resolve problems concerning obligations, amendments, adjustments, and payments.

• Communicates both verbally and in writing with all levels of personnel.

• Trains and consults control point users and other customers throughout the Medical Center, providing expert advice and guidance concerning Fiscal and financial policies, procedures, regulations, etc.

• Locates, reviews, and interprets guidance including manuals, directives, handbooks, financial policies, decisions, etc. to ensure compliance with technical guidance (such as BOC and Cost Centers), federal law, and internal controls.

• Interprets guidelines, determine their applicability to situations not specifically covered, and adapt or deviate from procedural instructions as necessary and appropriate.

• Maintains responsibility for transactions involving the disbursement and receipt of funds, and shows attention to detail when applying appropriations, object classes, and fund control points, to ensure proper deposits and credits.

• Receives receipts, deposits, and accounts for collection received.

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

• Determines proper cost centers, budget object codes (BOC), appropriations and fund control points to be entered into a computerized cost accounting system.

• Prepares and evaluate documentation, draw conclusions, perform correct math calculations, and make sound recommendations.

• Compiles and verifies data, frequently developing worksheets to improve the accuracy and completeness of information.

• Uses personal computer software, including but not limited to Microsoft Office applications (Excel, Word, Outlook, etc.), word processing, internet, and communications and knowledge of computer security.

• Works with numerous different unrelated systems, such as Financial Management System (FMS), Integrated Funds Distribution, Control Point Activity, Accounting and Procurement System (IFCAPS) and other automated systems.

Total Rewards Brochure: WMC Total Rewards

• Power Apps

Work Schedule: Monday

• Friday, 8:00 am to 4:30 pm, subject to change based on needs of the facility.

Telework: 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.

Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Position Description/PD#: Accounting Technician/PD04553A

Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized

Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Authorized

Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Help

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, 05/02/2024.

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: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-06 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to:

• Using various accounting, budget, and/or financial system software applications and computer systems;

• using Microsoft Excel;

• using accounting-related terminology and account codes relating to an automated system;

• working with cost centers and fund control points;

• preparing and reviewing financial documents to verify accounting data and necessary entries;

• entering financial (such as Accounting or Budget) transactions into an automated data management system;

• processing and verifying invoices.

• Note: This experience must be supported by your resume to be creditable.

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

• Accounting

• Communications

• Computer Skills

• Problem Solving

• Reading Comprehension

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 Requirements: The work is principally sedentary, in a highly automated environment. It is usually accomplished while seated at a desk or table. Some work may require walking in an office or warehouse setting. Work may also require walking and standing in conjunction with travel to and attendance at meetings and conferences. Incumbent may be required to carry small file boxes into storage, lift a cash box, carry light items or drive a motor vehicle. Typical safety precautions, such as pulling file drawers, dropping equipment, etc., are to be observed. Electrical safety precautions must be observed in working around computers.

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.

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.

Special Employment Consideration: VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply, including those eligible for hiring under 5 CFR 213.3102(u), Schedule A, Appointment of persons with disabilities [i.e., intellectual disabilities, severe physical disabilities, or psychiatric disabilities], and/or Disabled veterans with a compensable service-connected disability of 30% or more. Contact the Agency Contact for information on how to apply under this appointment authority via the Selective Placement Coordinator.

The Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) and Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced Federal/VA competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. To be qualified you must submit appropriate documentation (a copy of the agency notice, your most recent performance rating, and your most recent SF-50 noting current position, grade level, and duty location) and be found well-qualified for this vacancy. To be well-qualified: applicants must possess experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors, and who are proficient in most of the required competencies of the job. Information about ICTAP and CTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website at http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/.

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.

Read more

• Benefits

Help

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.

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.

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.

This position is covered by AFGE bargaining unit. Per the AFGE Master Agreement, the Area of Consideration will be: 1st Area of Consideration - current permanent CENTRAL ARKANSAS VETERANS HEALTHCARE SYSTEM EUGENE J. TOWBIN HEALTHCARE CENTER employees including satellites; 2nd Area of Consideration - current permanent Veterans Healthcare Administration employees; 3rd Area of Consideration - current permanent VA Nationwide employees; 4th Area of Consideration

• All Other Status Applicants.