Staff Accountant

Summary

This non-supervisory position is located in the Headquarters (HQ), Defense Commissary Agency (DeCA), Office of the Deputy Director/Chief Operating Officer (COO), Resource Management Directorate, Accounting Division.
This position provides subject matter expert staff accounting experience within the Resource Management Accounting Directorate.

Duties

As an Accountant (Staff), you will be responsible for the following duties:

• Apply accounting policies and analytical skills to assess business operations, identify root-cause issues, and improve financial processes.
• Review, update, and develop operating procedures and agency-level policy that guide accounting activities.
• Ensure internal controls are established and functioning to reduce financial and operational risk.
• Prepare, analyze, and submit required financial reports within established timelines, ensuring accuracy and compliance.
• Identify gaps across end-to-end financial processes and work with cross-functional teams to resolve issues and strengthen business operations.

Requirements

Conditions of employment

• Be a U.S. citizen or national.
• Meet minimum age requirement. See Additional Information.
• Males born after 12-31-1959 must be registered with or exempt from Selective Service.
• May be subject to successful verification of identity and employment eligibility through E-Verify. Learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, at https://www.e-verify.gov/.
• May be subject to a suitability or fitness determination, as required. New federal employees will be fingerprinted.
• Be able to obtain and maintain clearance eligibility based on the appropriate background investigation.
• May be subject to a probationary/trial period.
• Direct deposit of pay is required.
• Meet the physical requirements listed in the Qualifications section.
• DoD Financial Management Certification Program Level 3 (DFMCP3) is a requirement of this position
• The incumbent must either possess or achieve this certification within two years of entrance into this position in accordance with the NDAA FY 2012, Public Law 112-81

Qualifications

Basic Requirements
A. 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
B. 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, 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.
In addition to the above basic requirement, you must also meet the below.
To qualify for the Accountant (Staff) position, your resume and supporting documentation must support that you have one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to at least GS-12. Experience can be under other Federal service pay systems, private sector, or military.
A. Creditable specialized experience includes:
GS-13

• Interpreting federal financial laws and standards to guide organizational financial practices.
• Resolving complex financial discrepancies and developing long-term corrective solutions.
• Leading teams through financial reviews, system changes, or audit activities.
• Analyzing large financial data sets to identify risks or systemic issues for leadership decisions.

• Accounting Analysis
• Concepts, Policies and Principles of Accounting
• Financial Reporting

Education

ARE YOU USING YOUR EDUCATION TO QUALIFY? You MUST provide transcripts and/or other documentation to support your educational claims.
Transcripts. REQUIRED when using education to meet qualifications or when education is required.
Foreign education may be qualifying if a private organization specializing in interpreting foreign education programs has deemed the foreign education equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program or a U.S. accredited college or university has given full credit for the foreign courses.
Unofficial transcripts from U.S. Department of Education accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions listing your name, the name of the school, the date and degree awarded, and the list of classes and credits earned are acceptable for the application process. If selected, official transcripts are required before a firm job offer is made. A photocopy of your degree/diploma is not acceptable.
When relying on foreign education, submit transcripts and a copy of the equivalency evaluation results letter with a course-by-course listing. Documents must be in English or include an English translation. The hiring employer for this position does not evaluate degrees from foreign colleges or universities.

Additional information

Executive Order 12564 requires a federal workplace to be free of illegal drugs and prohibits the use of illegal drugs both on and off duty by federal employees. As a reminder, marijuana is still classified as an illegal drug by the Federal government and is prohibited for use by Federal employees even if such use is legal in the state where the Federal employee resides and/or works. The Defense Commissary Agency is a Drug-Free Federal Workplace where the use of illegal drugs will not be tolerated and may result in penalties up to and including removal from Federal service.

• The display of a salary range on this announcement does not suggest or convey an entitlement to a higher rate of pay. Upon first appointment to a civilian position in the Federal government, you are entitled only to the lowest step (Step 1) of the grade for which selected.
• The minimum age requirement is generally 18 years. Employing those under 18 may be possible under certain circumstances. If under 18 years of age, ensure you provide documentation showing how you are eligible.
• Applicants with financial difficulty are not automatically removed from consideration.
• Selectees are required to complete an online onboarding process.
• Retired military service members cannot be appointed to a Department of Defense (DoD) civilian position within 180 days of their retirement date. 5 United States Code 3326.

• Not selecting an eligibility.
• Submitting an incomplete application package may result in your not being considered for this position. Your resume must reflect that you are either Part-Time with the number of hours listed, Full Time, or 40 hours per week as your work schedule. If you fail to provide this information in your resume, your resume will be considered as incomplete.
• Submitting encrypted documents or uploading Adobe portfolio documents.
• Submitting any document that contains a photo or image of you.
• Including social media links, inappropriate material or content, classified or government sensitive information, or personal information such as age, gender, race, religion, or social security number on your resume.
• Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials.
• Deliberately attempting to falsify your application information, such as copying portions of this announcement into your resume.

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.

Review our benefits

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.