This vacancy is for a GS-0510-12, Systems Accountant located in the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Coast Guard, FINCEN ACCOUNTING SYSTEMS DIVISION. Duty location will be determined upon selection. Promotion Potential: If selection is made below the full performance level, the incumbent may be promoted up to the target grade without further competition. Promotion to the full performance level is not guaranteed and is dependent on successful performance at the lower grade level(s).
Basic Requirements: This position has a positive Education Requirement in addition to at least one year of Specialized Experience or substitution of education for experience or combination (if applicable) in order to be found minimally qualified. Transcripts must be submitted with your application package. You MUST meet the following requirements: EDUCATION: 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; 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. AND To qualify at the GS-12 grade level, applicants must have at least one (1) full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-11 grade level in the federal sector. Specialized experience is experience that has equipped you with the particular ability, skill, and knowledge to successfully perform the duties of this position and is typically in or related to this line of work. Specialized experience must include the following: Professional knowledge of, and skill applying accounting theories, concepts, principles, and standards sufficient to design and develop accounting and financial information systems, operate, maintain, improve, and evaluate established systems, including the development of operating policies, procedures and standards CG-wide; address the adequacy of system design, the adequacy of current data in providing financial information, or ways to use the system to satisfy new information requirements; and may work with internal control operations to address the efficiency and economy with which funds are obligated, transferred, controlled, and reported. Mastery of applicable complex and controversial problems in the areas of financial systems management, internal controls, statistical sampling, financial accounting, financial reporting, financial systems development, and compliance with external laws and regulations. Specialized experience is experience that has equipped you with the particular ability, skill, and knowledge to successfully perform the duties of this position and is typically in or related to this line of work. NOTE: Education cannot be substituted for experience at this grade level. National Service Experience (i.e., volunteer experience): 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. 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.
You will serve as a Systems Accountant, whose primary purpose is to serve as a technical and functional advisor and subject matter expert on the development and maintenance of all financial management and accounting systems and functions within the branch/section. Being a Coast Guard civilian makes you a valuable member of the Coast Guard team. Typical work assignments include: Evaluating federal accounting posting logic to ensure compliance with Treasury mandates and prepares accurate financial reconciliations and financial adjustments. Providing testing support for supported financial systems for change requests, report development and data queries using sequel query language. Transferring and processes financial and accounting information to and from financial systems and databases and assures the interoperability of the systems and the integrity of systems' data in support of internal and external customers. Evaluating complex financial management systems and processes on a continuing basis and analyzes problems that are technically difficult in nature, reconciles complex user problems and provides resolution/ recommendations