Accountant at Veterans Health Administration

About the role

This position is located at the Portland VA Medical Center in the Fiscal Service, Accounting section. The incumbent performs technician level work in direct support of budget, accounting, auditing, fiscal, and/or financial management function. This position involves a multi-grade career ladder. The major duties listed below represent the full performance level of GS-11, however a selection can be made at any of the following grade levels: GS-07, GS-09 OR GS-11. At the GS-07 grade level, you will perform assignments of a more limited scope and with less independence. At the GS-09 grade level, you will progressively acquire the background necessary to perform at the full performance level of GS-11. Promotion is at the discretion of the supervisor and is contingent upon satisfactory performance. Major duties include, but are not limited to: Demonstrates comprehensive knowledge of theories, practices, methods, and techniques of accounting, organizational or program practices, policies, and functions sufficient to analyze accounting systems and modify and adapt conventional accounting and analytical techniques to solve a variety of accounting problems. Formulates a variety of financial reports, serving as a member of a management team for organizations serviced and recommending established policies and procedures affecting accounting systems. Advises management on regulatory requirements and changing program operations. Devises accounting structures and procedures to satisfy regulatory or legislative changes. Assists management in applying financial data and recommending alternatives to resolve difficult problems. Reconciling cash, accounts receivable, accounts payable, and other general ledger accounts. Corrects all differences between the subsidiary ledger balances and the control account balances in the general ledger. Provides accounting information and guidance to program officials. Prepares procedural instructions for the development or implementation of automated accounting systems. Uses appropriate costing methodologies to recognize, determine, accumulate, and report costs of activities on a regular basis for management information purposes. Prepares cost analysis for various areas in the medical center by analyzing buying and selling agreements to ensure the VA recoups all costs. Assists in performing financial audits, analysis, evaluations, submissions of a variety of financial statements, and reports. Assists in verifying, analyzing, and/or reconciling a large number of computer generated reports. Performs other related duties as assigned. Promotion Potential: The selectee may be promoted to the full performance level without further competition when all regulatory, qualification, and performance requirements are met. Selection at a lower grade level does not guarantee promotion to the full performance level. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 7:30am - 4:00pm PST Telework: Not Authorized Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Accountant/PD20240A, PD20241A, and PD21539A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized To qualify for this position, applicants must meet time-in-grade requirements and specialized experience within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement, 09/02/2026. 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 within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement. For a GS-07 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-05. For a GS-09 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-07. For a GS-11 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-09. 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. To qualify for this position, applicants must meet the Individual Occupational Requirement (IOR). An IOR is a basic requirement that must be met in order to qualify for the GS 0510 occupational series. Education must be accredited by an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education at the time the degree was obtained. To qualify for this occupational series, applicants must have one of the following 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.") OR, 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; 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) 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. In addition to meeting the IOR, applicants may qualify based on experience and/or education as described below: GS-07: Specialized Experience: You must have 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade, GS-05, in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Applying accounting and auditing concepts and principals sufficient to work independently. Identify accounting problems, inaccurate records and reports, and the lack of inadequate documentary evidence to support financial statements. Utilizing commercial software programs to present financial data and analysis to customers. Develop reports comparing actual results to plans and budgets. Reconciling reports and financial data. Assembling information and making comparative and statistical analyses. Develop cost estimates. OR, Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. Please see Education section; OR, Applicants may qualify based on superior academic achievement: Applicants must be in the upper third of their graduating class; OR have a GPA of 3.0 or higher; OR be a member of an Association of College Honor Societies. Please see Education section; OR, Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify. Please see Education section. GS-09: Specialized Experience: You must have 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade, GS-07, in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Applying accounting and auditing concepts and principals sufficient to recommend adaptations to guidelines and procedures. Identify significant account variances such as inadequate maintenance of fund controls and assists higher level staff in the proper research and reconciliation of all accounting records. Utilizing commercial software programs to present financial data and analysis to customers and provide advice and assistance. Develops and revises regulations for project and revolving fund accounting control and reporting instructions. Prepares and implements supplemental accounting procedures, reports, and modifications to existing procedures. Conducts daily examination of various accounting transactions and performs the necessary research to reconcile account balances. Develop reports comparing actual results to plans and budgets. Assembling information and making comparative and statistical analyses. OR, Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. Please see Education section; OR, Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify. Please see Education section. GS-11: Specialized Experience: You must have 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade, GS-09, in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Applying accounting and auditing concepts and principals sufficient to recommend adaptations to guidelines and procedures and provide assistance. Identify source of problems, impact on other elements, and develops resolutions to problems. Reviews the work of accounting of other staff members to assure accuracy and conformity to policy and procedures. Work closely with systems personnel on the design of automated systems to facilitate the processing of accounting data. Conducts daily examination of various accounting transactions and performs the necessary research to reconcile account balances. Develop reports comparing actual results to plans and budgets. Assembling information and making comparative and statistical analyses. Makes independent decisions regarding unusual and complex transactions. Maintains oversight of the edit master files. OR, Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. Please see Education section; OR, Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify. Please see Education section. You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job To be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process. In addition to the application and questionnaire, this position requires an online assessment. The online assessment measures critical general competencies required to perform the job. Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959 Physical Requirements: The work required does not inherently include any physical requirements essential for successful job performance that could not otherwise be performed with accommodation or workplace adjustment. A pre-placement physical examination is not required. Subject to background/security investigation Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP) As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider: your performance and conduct; the needs and interests of the agency; whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service. Upon completion of your probationary period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.