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Accountant

Full Time
$49,960 – $96,116 Per Year
Closing on Jan 24, 2025

Location:
New York, Rome
Requires Relocation:
No
Start Date:
10/01/2025
End Date:
24/01/2025
Offering Type:
Permanent
Hiring Paths:
Internal to an agency - appears on USAJOBS
Service Type:
Competitive
Travel Percentage:
25% or less

About Defense Finance and Accounting Service

DFAS’ (Defense Finance and Accounting Service) mission is to lead the DoD (Department of Defense) in finance and accounting by ensuring the delivery of efficient, exceptional quality pay and financial information. We take pride in serving the men and women who defend America. DFAS is seeking goal-oriented people who like a challenge and care about serving our country. We offer rewarding careers in finance, accounting, information systems, contracting services, human resources, clerical work and many other areas.

Job summary

Who may apply: Current, permanent DFAS employees in the competitive service, eligible DoD PPP Military Spouse preference applicants and current DFAS VRA employees. This announcement will be used to fill positions with an entry grade of GS-7, GS-9, or GS-11. Target grade of GS-11. The minimum salary for grade GS-7 - $49,960, the maximum - $64,952. The minimum salary for grade GS-9 - $61,111, the maximum salary - $79,443. The minimum salary for grade GS-11 - $73,939, the maximum salary - $96,116.

Major duties

Provides professional accounting advice and assistance in the application and compliance of generally accepted accounting principles, policies, and procedures. Review, analyze, and modify operating programs, practices, and procedures related to receiving, validating, recording, reporting accounting transactions affecting the asset, liability, revenue, expense, and budgetary accounts of supported orgs. Applies knowledge and understanding of automated data processing systems as they apply to accounting systems and "feeder" systems and the ability to deal effectively and logically in solving program/system issues. Assists in establishing and monitoring internal controls to identify problem areas, determine actions required to improve operating program effectiveness, and ensure and maintain the integrity of financial and accounting information. Performs special audits, studies, reports and/or, analysis to evaluate the status of the financial health and/or position of accounting operations based on balanced scorecard measurements or indicators. Serves as a staff expert regarding the operational accounting functions and the application of generally accepted accounting principles, policies, and procedures. For vacancies filled at less than the full performance level of the position, duties will be developmental in nature.

Qualification

This position has a positive education requirement. To qualify for this position you must meet one of the basic requirements described below: (1) Completion of all requirements for a bachelor's degree in accounting from an accredited college or university; 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. OR (2) Candidates may also qualify through a combination of education and experience: at least 4 years of accounting experience or an equivalent combination of accounting experience, college-level education, and training that provided professional accounting knowledge AND 24 semester hours in accounting/auditing courses, which may include up to 6 hours of business law, OR a certificate as a Certified Public Accountant or Certified Internal Auditor. You may need to send proof of education or of certification to be considered for this position. Click here for more information on who must submit documentation at the time of application and what documentation is acceptable: Transcripts and Certifications. In addition to meeting the basic requirement, qualified applicants must possess one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade (GS-05 if applying for a GS-07; GS-07 if applying for a GS-09; GS-09 if applying for a GS-11) in the Federal service, which demonstrates the ability to perform the duties of the position. Specialized experience at the GS-07 grade level is defined as: applying accounting laws, principles, systems, policies, methods, and practices to provide routine technical guidance to managers, employees and/or customers; evaluating reports from financial systems; gathering financial data from various sources; and researching accounting policies and laws to resolve common issues. Specialized experience at the GS-09 grade level is defined as: providing professional accounting services, advice, assistance, and information to an assigned area by applying accounting concepts, principles, and methods to the day-to-day accounting operations and automated accounting systems. Specialized experience at the GS-11 grade level is defined as: providing professional accounting services in the interpretation and application of accounting principles, policies, and procedures; designing, implementing and assessing internal control processes; conducting studies of financial management execution activities; enhancing the validity, accuracy, and integrity of accounting processes. Time-in-Grade: Current or former federal employees who have held a GS position in the preceding 52 weeks, must meet the time in grade requirement. To be considered for the GS-7, applicants must have served 52 weeks as a GS-5 or higher in the Federal service. To be considered for the GS-9, applicants must have served 52 weeks as a GS-7 or higher in the Federal service. To be considered for the GS-11, applicants must have served 52 weeks as a GS-9 or higher in the Federal service. This position is developmental and selections may be made at the GS-07, GS-09, or GS-11 entry grade levels. Once eligibility and qualification requirements are met, selectees will be eligible for promotion at management discretion without further competition. You may qualify for consideration if meeting time-in grade, specialized experience, education requirement, 90 days after competitive appointment requirement, and all other qualification requirements within 30 calendar days after the closing date of the announcement, unless otherwise indicated on the announcement.

Education

Equivalent combinations of successfully completed higher-level graduate level education and experience may be used to meet total experience requirements. If you are using education to substitute for the specialized experience, you must submit transcripts at the time you apply. To be creditable, education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university recognized by the U.S. Department of Education (http://www2.ed.gov/admins/finaid/accred/index.html). GS-07 Substitution of Education for Experience: One full year of graduate level education or a bachelor's degree with Superior Academic Achievement may be substituted to meet the specialized experience requirement. Superior Academic Achievement: S.A.A. is based on (1) class standing, (2) grade-point average, or (3) honor society membership. GS-9 Substitution of Education for Experience: Two full years of progressively higher level graduate education, Master's or equivalent graduate degree, may be substituted to meet the specialized experience requirement. GS-11 Substitution of Education for Experience: Three full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree may be substituted to meet the specialized experience requirement.

Evaluations

All information included in the resume and Occupational Questionnaire is subject to review and verification. HR will review your resume and supporting documentation to ensure you meet the minimum qualification requirements. Applicants meeting the minimum requirements will be further evaluated based upon information you provided in the Occupational Questionnaire. If a determination is made that the work experience described in your submitted resume does not support your responses to the self-assessment questionnaire, your score may be reduced, and you may lose consideration for this position. If you are already a DFAS employee, you may be subject to disciplinary action, up to and including removal from Federal service, if you are found to have exaggerated, embellished, inflated, mischaracterized, or falsified your resume or qualifications. The Assessment Questionnaire takes approximately 15 minutes to complete and collects information on your education, training and experience related to the following critical competencies: Accounting Analysis Concepts, Policies, and Principles of Accounting Customer Service Decision Support Problem Solving You can preview the Assessment Questionnaire here: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12660636 DFAS recognizes the value of competencies gained through formal education and professional certifications. To ensure that consistent credit is given for these credentials in the selection process, DFAS has developed standard selection criteria to be used when filling positions in professional and administrative series. Selections for professional and administrative positions will be based on four categories of selection criteria: Experience, Other, Education, and Certifications.