Accountant
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Altoona, PA, United States
Summary
This position is located in the Fiscal Service of the James E. Van Zandt VA Medical Center in Altoona, PA, and reports to the Chief Fiscal Officer. The position is fully responsible for the installation, operation, and augmentation of the accounting system for the Medical Center.
Qualifications
To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date, 04/24/2026.
Basic Requirements
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.
"Accountant" should be interpreted generally as "accountant and/or auditor." OR a 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; 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 coursework in accounting or auditing (e.g., 15 semester hours) but that does not fully satisfy the 24‑semester‑hour requirement, provided that the applicant has successfully worked at the full‑performance level in accounting, auditing, or a related field.
A panel of at least two higher‑level professional accountants or auditors has determined that the applicant has demonstrated good knowledge of accounting and related underlying fields equal to a 4‑year course of study described in paragraph A.
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 by the closing date.
For a GS‑11 position you must have served 52 weeks at GS‑9. The grade may have been in any occupation but must have been held in 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, you must provide an additional SF‑50 that demonstrates one‑year time‑in‑grade.
Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade, GS‑9, in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization.
Examples of specialized experience: Establishing and maintaining a double‑entry accounting system, ensuring accuracy of all accounting data and reports, reconciling general and subsidiary accounts, writing reports, briefing materials, and memos, or 3 years of progressively higher‑level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or equivalent doctoral degree.
Duties
The incumbent is fully responsible for operating a complex automated double‑entry accounting system.
Establishing and maintaining the double‑entry accounting system, including asset, liability, expense, income, budgetary, and capital accounts.
Maintaining the accounting system, analyzing accounting data, and making suggestions and recommendations to management regarding changing program policies and operations when data discloses unfavorable trends.
Ensuring the accuracy of all accounting reports and advising the Fiscal Officer of any omissions or misstatements of obligations that could result in violations of the Anti‑Deficiency Act.
Conducting frequent procedural reviews to assure compliance with current regulations and promote efficient operations.
Examining and applying internal controls; modifying, supplementing, or installing other accounting procedures to adapt the system to special circumstances encountered.
Providing current accounting information needed for cost analysis, cost comparison, and trends to determine adequacy of funding.
Conducting internal reviews of the accounting section in accordance with accepted accounting standards and VA regulations.
Maintaining general ledger accounts of numerous appropriated funds for administrative functions.
Managing general post and personal funds of the patients accounting system.
Planning, directing, reviewing, and evaluating work performed by the accounting section of fiscal service.
Serving as the lead person within the accounting section and overseeing two accounting technicians.
Other duties as required.
Work Schedule: 8:00 am – 4:30 pm, Monday – Friday. Telework: This position may be authorized for ad‑hoc telework. Position Description/PD#: Accountant / PD012730. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized.
Important link: For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management’s website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/.
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This position is located in the Fiscal Service of the James E. Van Zandt VA Medical Center in Altoona, PA, and reports to the Chief Fiscal Officer. The position is fully responsible for the installation, operation, and augmentation of the accounting system for the Medical Center.
Qualifications
To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date, 04/24/2026.
Basic Requirements
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.
"Accountant" should be interpreted generally as "accountant and/or auditor." OR a 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; 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 coursework in accounting or auditing (e.g., 15 semester hours) but that does not fully satisfy the 24‑semester‑hour requirement, provided that the applicant has successfully worked at the full‑performance level in accounting, auditing, or a related field.
A panel of at least two higher‑level professional accountants or auditors has determined that the applicant has demonstrated good knowledge of accounting and related underlying fields equal to a 4‑year course of study described in paragraph A.
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 by the closing date.
For a GS‑11 position you must have served 52 weeks at GS‑9. The grade may have been in any occupation but must have been held in 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, you must provide an additional SF‑50 that demonstrates one‑year time‑in‑grade.
Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade, GS‑9, in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization.
Examples of specialized experience: Establishing and maintaining a double‑entry accounting system, ensuring accuracy of all accounting data and reports, reconciling general and subsidiary accounts, writing reports, briefing materials, and memos, or 3 years of progressively higher‑level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or equivalent doctoral degree.
Duties
The incumbent is fully responsible for operating a complex automated double‑entry accounting system.
Establishing and maintaining the double‑entry accounting system, including asset, liability, expense, income, budgetary, and capital accounts.
Maintaining the accounting system, analyzing accounting data, and making suggestions and recommendations to management regarding changing program policies and operations when data discloses unfavorable trends.
Ensuring the accuracy of all accounting reports and advising the Fiscal Officer of any omissions or misstatements of obligations that could result in violations of the Anti‑Deficiency Act.
Conducting frequent procedural reviews to assure compliance with current regulations and promote efficient operations.
Examining and applying internal controls; modifying, supplementing, or installing other accounting procedures to adapt the system to special circumstances encountered.
Providing current accounting information needed for cost analysis, cost comparison, and trends to determine adequacy of funding.
Conducting internal reviews of the accounting section in accordance with accepted accounting standards and VA regulations.
Maintaining general ledger accounts of numerous appropriated funds for administrative functions.
Managing general post and personal funds of the patients accounting system.
Planning, directing, reviewing, and evaluating work performed by the accounting section of fiscal service.
Serving as the lead person within the accounting section and overseeing two accounting technicians.
Other duties as required.
Work Schedule: 8:00 am – 4:30 pm, Monday – Friday. Telework: This position may be authorized for ad‑hoc telework. Position Description/PD#: Accountant / PD012730. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized.
Important link: For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management’s website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/.
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