Accountant

at  US Department of Justice

Summary
This position is located in the Finance Accounting and Analysis Division, Office of the Chief Financial Officer, Office of Justice Programs. The incumbent performs professional accounting duties, which include analysis of financial reports; recording transaction data for the automated financial management information system; review and reconciliation of accounting data; and compilation/production of audited financial statements.
This job is open to
Career transition (CTAP, ICTAP, RPL)
Federal employees who meet the definition of a “surplus” or “displaced” employee.
Federal employees - Competitive service
Current or former competitive service federal employees.
Individuals with disabilities
Land & base management
Certain current or former term or temporary federal employees of a land or base management agency.
Military spouses
The public
U.S. Citizens, Nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.
Peace Corps & AmeriCorps Vista
Special authorities
Individuals eligible under a special authority not listed above, but defined in the federal hiring regulations.
Veterans
Clarification from the agency
These positions are not remote positions. The duty station is Washington, DC. The selecteeâs will be required to report to the duty station at least 4 days per bi-weekly pay period. U. S. Citizenship required. Applicants will be considered under Delegated Examining and/or Merit Promotion procedures based upon eligibility.
Duties
(The duties described reflect the full performance level of this position)
Administers controls, evaluates, reviews and analyzes financial activity relative to appropriated fund accounts, reconciliation of the general ledger balances to source documents, internal and external reporting, preparation of annual financial statements, and monthly transmission of the trial balance.
Administers and performs diverse fund control activities with many different and unrelated processes affecting a wide-range of agency operations. Analyzes interrelated issues on the impact of significant budgetary or accounting events on multi-appropriated fund accounts, such as allocations, commitment, obligations, cost, and disbursement.
Administers and conducts the day-to-day operation and maintenance of financial accounts which are the basis for the preparation of such key statements as trial balances used to prepare the agency’s audited financial statements.
Plans and executes financial Management Information System (MIS) operations to ensure goals, timetables, milestones, and other criteria related to resource utilization reporting requirements can be achieved. Designs or makes major revisions to a complete accounting system to a complete accounting system for a moderately sized establishment at the direct operating level which has specialized operating program accounting system requirements.
Requirements
Conditions of Employment
U.S. Citizenship required.
Subject to background/suitability investigation/determination.
Submit all required documents and Online Assessment Questionnaire.
Federal payments are required to be made by Direct Deposit.
Requires registration for the Selective Service. Visit www.sss.gov.
Pre-employment drug testing required.
1-year probationary period may be required.
See Other Information for further requirements.
Qualifications

BASIC REQUIREMENTS

A. Applicants must show successful completion of a full four-year course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a bachelor’s or higher degree in accounting; or a degree in a related field such as business administration, finance, or public administration that included or was supplemented by 24 semester/36 quarter hours in accounting. The 24 semester/36 quarter hours may include up to 6 semester/9 quarter hours of credit in business law. (The term “accounting” means “accounting and/or auditing”. Similarly, “accountant” should be interpreted, generally, as “accountant and/or auditor”.)
OR

B. Combination of education and experience-at least four (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/36 quarter hours in accounting or auditing courses of appropriate type and quality. This can include up to 6 semester/9 quarter hours of business law;
• 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/22 quarter hours, but that does not fully satisfy the 24-semester-hour/36-quarter-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 four-year course of study described in paragraph A; and (c) except for literal nonconformance to the requirement of 24 semester/36 quarter hours in accounting, the applicant’s education, training, and experience fully meet the specified requirements.

ADDITIONAL EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS FOR GS-11

In addition to meeting the basic entry qualification requirements, applicants must have had either specialized experience and/or directly related education in the amounts shown below. Education and experience may be combined to meet the total experience requirements.
1. The applicant must have completed three (3) years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree when it provided the applicant with the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of the position.
OR
2. The applicant must have one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to at least GS-9.
Specialized experience is experience which is in or related to the line of work of the position to be filled and which has equipped the applicant with the specific knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position. Specialized experience is defined as: analyzing accounting system/processes and devising solutions to problems; reconciling grant and payment program accruals, general ledger balances, internal and external reporting, preparation of annual financial statements, and transmissions of trial balances; performing quality assurance reviews of grant payments, deposits, accruals, and closeout practices and recommending revisions to portions of the accounting system; preparing instructions for implementing new or revised procedures related to grants; using laws or regulations to validate accounting procedures and recommending revisions affecting grant payment programs, grant accruals, and grant closeout accounting processes.

ADDITIONAL EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS FOR GS-12

In addition to meeting the basic entry qualification requirements, applicants must have one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to at least GS-11.
Specialized experience is experience which is in or related to the line of work of the position to be filled and which has equipped the applicant with the specific knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position. Specialized experience is defined as: performing quality assurance reviews of accounting procedures for grant activities such as grant payment, grant deposit, grant accruals ,etc.; examining, interpreting, and recording grant activities and accounts receivables records; determining the need for revisions or new automated and/or manual accounting and grant systems; analyzing grant accounting reports, such as cost reports, fund reports, etc. for preparation of summary statements; analyzing grant payment program, grant accruals, and accounts receivable accounts; reconciling grant accounting data from various systems.
Additional information on the qualification requirements is outlined in the OPM Qualification Standards Handbook of General Schedule Positions and is available at PM’s website: https://www.opm.gov/qualifications/standards/indexes/num-ndx.asp
All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement.
Click here to see the full Qualifications Statement.
Education
See Qualifications
Additional information
Official or Unofficial transcripts may be provided. Official transcripts will be required, if selected.
This position is included in the bargaining unit.
TIME-IN-GRADE REQUIREMENT: Status applicants for promotion must have 52 weeks of service at the next lower grade by the closing date.
Confidential Financial Disclosure may be required.
This vacancy announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.
As the federal agency whose mission is to ensure the fair and impartial administration of justice for all Americans, the Department of Justice is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive work environment. To build and retain a workforce that reflects the diverse experiences and perspectives of the American people, we welcome applicants from the many communities, identities, races, ethnicities, backgrounds, abilities, religions, and cultures of the United States who share our commitment to public service.
This position may be eligible for telework per agency policy.
This position has a duty station of Washington, D.C. The selectee will be required to physically report to the OJP office building at least four days per two-week pay period and may incorporate leave and official travel plans into this reporting requirement. The office director or supervisor may request the selectee’s presence in the office more frequently, as determined by the needs of the office. The selectee will be responsible for covering all commuting-related travel expenses. OJP employees are eligible for one transportation benefit - parking or the Department of Justice (DOJ) transit subsidy.
OJP offers opportunities for flexible work schedules.
Benefits
How You Will Be Evaluated
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
You will be considered under all categories for which you are eligible.
For All U.S. Citizens: Your application will be evaluated and rated under DOJ’s Category Rating and Selection Procedures. Your resume and supporting documentation will be used to determine whether you meet the job qualifications listed on this announcement. If you are basically qualified for this job, your resume and supporting documentation will be compared to your responses on the online assessment questionnaire. If you rate yourself higher than is supported by your application materials, your responses may be adjusted and/or you may be excluded from consideration for this job. Your application will then be placed in one of three categories: Best Qualified, Highly Qualified, or Qualified. Names of all candidates in the best qualified category will be sent to the hiring official for employment consideration. Candidates within the best qualified category who are eligible for veterans preference will receive selection priority over non-veteran preference eligibles.
For Status/Merit Promotion/VEOA candidates: Your resume and supporting documentation will be used to determine whether you meet the job qualifications listed on the announcement. If you are basically qualified for this job, your resume and supporting documentation will be compared to your responses on the online assessment questionnaire. If you rate yourself higher than is supported by your resume and application materials, your responses may be adjusted and/or you may be excluded from consideration for this job. If you are found to be among the top candidates, you will be referred to the selecting official for employment consideration.
For Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP)/Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) applicants: The ICTAP provides eligible displaced Federal competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. The CTAP provides eligible surplus and displaced competitive service employees in the Department of Justice with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies If your agency has notified you in writing that you are a displaced employee eligible for ICTAP consideration, or if your Department of Justice component has notified you in writing that you are a surplus or displaced employee eligible for CTAP consideration, you may receive selection priority if: 1) this vacancy is within your ICTAP/CTAP eligibility; 2) you apply under the instructions in this announcement; and 3) you are found well-qualified for this vacancy. Under merit promotion procedures, to be well qualified, you must satisfy all qualification requirements for the vacant position and score 85 or better on established ranking criteria. Under category rating procedures, you must satisfy all qualification requirements for the vacant position and rate equivalent to the Highly Qualified or better category using established category rating criteria.
Required Documents
REMINDER: ALL DOCUMENTS MUST BE RECEIVED BY MIDNIGHT Eastern Time (Washington, D.C. time) ON THE CLOSING DATE OF THIS ANNOUNCEMENT.

ADDITIONAL REQUIRED DOCUMENTS (FEDERAL EMPLOYEES):

1. SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action (for current and former federal employees; see below for more information), and
2. Performance Appraisal (for current federal employees) Note: if not provided, will be required at time of interview.
   Note: Incomplete applications will not be considered. Your application is incomplete if you do not submit required documents.
   Veterans Preference
   In order to verify your veteran preference entitlement, please submit a copy of the Member Copy 4 of your DD-214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty); official statement of service from your command if you are currently on active duty that certifies you are expected to be discharged or released from active duty service within 120 days after the certification is submitted; or other official documentation (e.g., documentation of receipt of a campaign badge or expeditionary medal) that shows your military service was performed under honorable conditions.
   If you are a disabled veteran, a Purple Heart recipient, or widow/widower of a veteran, the spouse of a disabled veteran or the natural parent of a disabled or deceased veteran, you must submit a Standard Form (SF) 15, Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference, and the other required documentation identified on the reverse side of the SF-15 to support your preference claim.
   Although veteran preference points are not assigned under the category rating procedures described under How You Will Be Evaluated, veterans’ preference eligibles are listed ahead of non-veterans within each category for which qualified. In addition, qualified veterans with a compensable service-connected disability of 10% or more are placed at the top of the highest quality category (i.e., Best Qualified).
   Veterans Employment Opportunity Act
   To be eligible for a Veteran Employment Opportunities Act (VEOA) appointment, a veteran must be honorably separated and either a preference eligible or have substantially completed three (3) or more years of continuous active military service. If applying for a Merit Promotion announcement and wish to be considered under the VEOA, you must submit a copy of the Member Copy 4 of your DD-214, in addition to any other required documents listed on this announcement.
   Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP)/Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP)
   If you are claiming CTAP/ICTAP eligibility, you must submit proof by the closing date of the announcement that you meet the requirements of 5 CFR 330.605(u) for CTAP and 5 CFR 330.704 for ICTAP or you will not receive priority consideration. The proof includes a copy of the Agency notice, your most recent performance rating, and your most recent SF-50 Notification of Personnel Action for Competitive Appointment.
   Non-competitive Eligibility
   You can apply for a non-competitive appointment if you meet the basic eligibility requirements and you are eligible for special appointment such as those authorized for the severely disabled; veterans with service-connected disabilities of 30% or more; returning volunteers from the Peace Corps or Vista, Veterans’ Recruitment Appointment, etc. Appropriate documentation to support your claim must be included in your application, along with the type of special appointment you are seeking.
   Current/Former Federal Employees

If you are a current for former Federal employee in a permanent, competitive service position, you must submit document to confirm your status or reinstatement eligibility.

• Submit an SF-50 (Notification of Personnel Action) or other official agency documentation that shows your current (or most recent) grade and competitive service status. (The position occupied block on the SF-50 should show a 1 and tenure block should show a 1 or 2.)
• Submit your most recent Performance Appraisal (dated within the last 18 months) or a separate statement explaining why you are unable to submit your appraisal.

If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
How to Apply
Applications for this position are being processed through an on-line applicant assessment system that has been specifically configured for Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs applicants. Even if you have already developed a resume in USAJOBS, you will need to access this on-line system to complete the application process. To obtain information about this position and TO APPLY, please click on https://www.avuecentral.com/casting/aiportal/control/toVacancy?referenceCode=TNQCH.
If you are unable to apply online, please contact Avue Digital Services for alternate application procedures Monday - Friday from 8:00AM to 5:00PM PST at (253) 573-1877 or email at joeavue@avuetech.com
Agency contact information
Kathleen Smtth
Email
Kathleen.Smith@usdoj.gov
Address
Office of the Chief Financial Officer,
810 7th Street
Washington, Dist of Columbia 20531
US
Next steps
Once your completed application is certified and received you will receive an acknowledgement email that your submission was successful. After a review of your complete application is made you will be notified of your status and/or referral to the hiring official. If further evaluation or interviews are required you will be contacted. After making a tentative job offer, we will conduct a suitability/security background investigation. We expect to make a final job offer within 80 days after the closing date of the announcement

Please refer the Job description for details