Accountant (Recent Graduate)

Summary

This position is part of the Hydrocarbons and Geothermal Energy Office (HGEO). The Recent Graduates Program is a one-year developmental program that promotes careers in the Federal Government to recent graduates. Participants will receive training and professional development, complete an Individual Development Plan (IDP), and are assigned a mentor. Recent Graduates who successfully complete Program requirements may be eligible for non-competitive conversion to a term or permanent position.

Duties

The following are the duties of this position at the GS-12. Since you are being selected at a lower grade level, you will have the opportunity to learn to perform all these duties and will receive training to help you grow in this position.
As an Accountant, you will:

• Analyze and reconcile accounting/financial data and information, review and identify errors related to the preparation of financial statements, consolidated financial statements and/or the annual Agency Financial Report ensuring that there are no accounting errors in any of the financial reports or documents.
• Recommend financial and accounting policies, principles and procedures for the organization or program supported, as well as revises existing guidance.
• Develop and monitor accounting systems elements and internal controls, identifying problem areas and developing solutions to improve operating program or overall Department accounting and financial management effectiveness.
• Analyze and reconcile a wide variety of integrated accounts.
• Perform a variety of automated accounting and financial systems assignments that require the solution of accounting problems to support the production of consistent, quality financial information and reports, which includes developing system improvements, and providing solutions to program management problems.

Requirements

Conditions of employment

• Must be a U.S. Citizen, National, or Foreign National who meets both Immigration and Annual Appropriations Laws.
• This employer participates in the e-Verify program.
• Males born after 12/31/1959 must be registered for Selective Service.
• Suitable for Federal employment, as determined by a background investigation.
• A Pathways Recent Graduate Participant Agreement is required.
• Recent Graduates serve a trial period for the entire duration of their excepted service appointment.
• Applicant must provide proof that they have obtained an associate’s, bachelor’s, master’s, professional, doctorate, vocational, technical degree, or a certificate from a qualifying educational institution with the previous 2 years.; OR
• Applicant must provide proof that they have completed a qualifying career or technical education program within the previous 2 years.
• Veterans precluded by a military service obligation have up to 6 years after completion of degree or certificate to apply.

Qualifications

You must meet the eligibility and qualifications within the closing date of this announcement.
To be eligible for the Pathways Recent Graduate program you must be a:

• Recent graduate who has completed, within the previous two years, a qualifying associates, bachelors, masters, professional, doctorate, vocational, technical degree, or certificate from a qualifying educational institution or completed a qualifying career or technical education program that awards a recognized postsecondary credential (such as a Registered Apprenticeship Program or Job Corps).

• Students who within the closing date of this announcement meet the education requirements and will graduate with a qualifying associates, bachelors, masters, professional, doctorate, vocational, technical degree, or certificate from a qualifying educational institution or completed a qualifying career or technical education program. A student may not be appointed to a position until they have graduated.

• Preference eligible veterans who have been precluded from applying due to their military service obligation begin their two-year eligibility period upon release or discharge from active duty. Eligibility for these veterans cannot exceed six years after degree or certificate completion. You MUST submit a copy of the DD214 showing the duration and dates of service that precluded you from applying due to the military service obligation.

For the GS-09: You must have one year of specialized experience at a level of difficulty and responsibility equivalent to the GS-07 grade level in the Federal Service. Specialized experience for this position at the GS-9 includes:

• Assisting in identifying and resolving accounting issues.

OR YOU MAY QUALIFY FOR THE GS-9 BASED ON EDUCATION: 2 years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a master's degree or master's or equivalent graduate degree. Graduate education must provide the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform in the position.
OR YOU MAY QUALIFY FOR THE GS-9 BASED ON COMBINATION: You may qualify on a combination of education and experience, the total percentage of experience at the required grade level compared to the specialized experience requirement, as well as the percentage of completed education compared to the educational requirement must equal at least 100 percent. Only graduate level education in excess of the first 18 semester hours (27 quarter hours) may be combined to be considered for qualifying education.
Education must be obtained from an accredited institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

Education

You MUST submit at least one of the following:

• Copy of your Transcripts or equivalent; or
• Certificate as Certified Public Accountant (CPA); or
• Certified Internal Auditor (CIA)

• Degree: Bachelor in accounting; or a Bachelor 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.")

• 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:
  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;
  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 (not including business law), 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.

What constitutes a valid certificate program: The Pathways Programs regulation (see 5 CFR 362.102) defines certificate program as post-secondary education at either:

• A qualifying educational institution (trade or vocational school, 2-year or 4-year college or university, or graduate or professional school) equivalent to at least one academic year of full-time study that is part of an accredited college-level, technical, trade, vocational, or business school curriculum.; OR
• A qualifying career or technical education program of at least one year that awards a recognized postsecondary credential.

What types of programs would meet the eligibility criteria for a qualifying career or technical education program?

Three types of programs meet these criteria:

• Federally administered educational programs that provide rigorous academic content, technical skill proficiency, and a recognized postsecondary credential to prepare the individual for further education and/or a career in a current or emerging profession.;
• Registered Apprenticeship Programs; and
• Federally administered local, state, national, or international volunteer service programs.

What is a Federally administered career or technical education program?

A Federally administered career or technical education program is subject to programmatic oversight by a federal agency that includes:

• The nature and scope of work to be performed by participants,
• The type(s) and scope of training to be provided to participants,
• The types of skills participants will acquire or develop during the program (e.g., teaching, environmental, business, scientific, public health/health care, languages),
• The level and extent of mentoring participants will receive, and
• The metrics for successful completion of the program.

Programmatic oversight may be reflected in partnership or cooperative agreements.

Additional information

• We may select from this announcement or any other source to fill one or more vacancies.
• This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional similar vacancies across DOE.
• For general information on government-wide Telework polices visit: www.opm.gov/telework/
• EEO Policy: www.energy.gov/justice/eeo-complaint-process
• Employees or applicants may request Reasonable Accommodation (RA) for assistance, when applying or competing for a job or performing a job due to their medical condition or to exercise their religious beliefs. If you need reasonable accommodation in the application or selection process, please contact the Staffing Specialist listed on this vacancy announcement.
• Reasonable Accommodation Policy: https://www.energy.gov/hc/articles/reasonable-accommodation-and-personal-assistance-service-procedure
• Veterans Information: https://help.usajobs.gov/working-in-government/unique-hiring-paths/veterans
• Selective Service Registration: http://www.sss.gov/
• Relocation expenses/incentives will not be available.
• Recruitment incentives will not be available.
• Student Loan Repayment will not be available.
• Advance in Hire (Superior Qualifications) may be available.
• Creditable Service may be available.
• Positions may be covered by a bargaining unit. Bargaining unit will vary by departmental element, grade, and/or location.
• This position is Exempt from the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).
• Salary will be determined based on the duty location after selection.
• Telework availability will be based upon the mission requirements and supervisory determination.
• Management has the prerogative to select at any grade level.
• The Fair Chance Act prohibits specific inquiries concerning an applicant's criminal or credit background unless the hiring agency has made a conditional offer of employment to the applicant. An applicant may submit a complaint to the agency within 30 calendar days of the date of alleged noncompliance by completing the Fair Chance Act Intake Form and submitting it to the Administrative Investigations Program at AdministrativeInvestigations@hq.doe.gov.

• Be a US Citizen or National
• Be recommended for conversion by your manager or supervisor.
• Complete all training and development requirements within the 1-year appointment period.
• Successful completion of 1 year of continuous service.
• Demonstrate successful job performance of at least a "Fully Successful" or equivalent on performance appraisal.
• Meet the Office of Personnel Management's qualification standards for the position to which the Recent Graduate will be converted (which may include a positive education requirement). Accounting Series 0510
• A Recent Graduate may be converted to the highest General Schedule (GS) grade level qualified for at time of conversion.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

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Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.