Accountant (Staff)

Summary This position is located in the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Office of the Chief Financial Officer (OCFO), Financial Management & System Division (FM&S). The primary purpose of this position is to serve as a staff accountant in the Financial Policy, Governance and Oversight Branch, performing technical accounting policy, audit support, financial reporting, and internal control assignments that affect DHS financial management operations. Non-BU: This is a non-bargaining unit position. Duties As a Accountant (Staff), GS-0510-13, your typical work assignments may include the following: Develop, implement and coordinate accounting policy and audit related activities impacting Department of Homeland Security (DHS) operations. Provide technical assistance and direct support to headquarters and Component staff on the application of accounting policy, financial reporting requirements, internal control standards, and audit-related management initiatives to meet mission requirements. Provide analytical support through evaluating the content of new or modified legislation for projected impact on DHS programs to prepare review documents, impact statements and recommendations for management consideration. Recommend modification of financial policies, issuances, procedures and directives after reviewing new or proposed legislation, executive orders, Office of Management and Budget (OMB) circulars and DHS policy decisions affecting Department-wide financial management operations. Represents DHS at meetings as directed by the supervisor and develops productive working relationships with components and external organizations to support accounting policy, audit coordination, and financial management objectives. All DHS-HQ announcements have a 5 business day open period due to the number of applications received. This announcement will be open for 5 business days OR until the first 100 applications have been received, whichever happens first. View common definitions of terms found in this announcement: Common Definitions. Qualifications Basic Requirement for Accounting: Degree: Possess a 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 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."). (Must provide transcripts) 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 of the following: (Must provide transcript and/or other document): (1) 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 (2) A certificate as Certified Public Accountant or a Certified Internal Auditor, obtained through written examination; OR (3) 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. Specialized Experience: You qualify for the GS-13 grade level if you possess one year of specialized experience, equivalent to the GS-12 grade level in the Federal government, performing duties such as: 1) Supporting supports planning, organizing, and developing financial policies and procedures around technical accounting issues arising from within Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and from external authoritative bodies; 2) Analyzing and reviewing DHS processes, procedures, audit findings, corrective actions, financial reporting practices, and program operations that affect accounting policy and financial management; 3) Providing advice and guidance to management in areas such as risk management, internal controls, audit reedition, and transaction analysis, including the interpretation of audit and accounting standards and regulations in their application to DHS operations; and 4) Preparing prepare written reports and deliver oral briefings with conclusions, alternatives, and recommendations on accounting, audit, financial reporting, and internal control matters. Substitution of education in lieu of specialized experience may not be used for this grade level. All qualifications and eligibility requirements must be met by the closing date of the announcement. Time-in-grade: Current General Schedule (GS) federal employees, and those that have served in GS positions within the last 52 weeks, must have served 52 weeks at the next lower grade, or a combination of the next lower grade level and an equivalent band in the federal service by the closing of this announcement. Note: Current or former Federal employees MUST submit a copy of their SF-50 Form which shows competitive service appointment ("position occupied" block 34 on the SF-50 should show a "1"), tenure group (block 24 should show a 1 or 2), grade, and salary. If you are applying for a higher grade, please provide the SF-50 Form which shows the length of time you have been in your current/highest grade (examples of appropriate SF-50s include promotions, With-in Grade/Range Increases, and SF-50s dated a year apart within the same grade/job). If you have promotion potential in your current position, please provide proof. Employees applying with an interchange agreement must provide proof of their permanent appointment.

If You Do Not Submit All of the Required

DOCUMENTATION,

You Will Not Receive Consideration as a Status Candidate.

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. Current or Former Political Appointees: The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must authorize employment offers made to current or former political appointees. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES or Presidential Appointee employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the Human Resources Office. Education 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; applicant's resumes and supporting documentation should only reflect education received from schools accredited by such institutions. Applicants can verify accreditation at the following Website: If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency (a U.