Accountant

About the role

Are you a graduating student or a recent grad? Join our Pathways Recent Graduate Program! This one-year program offers professional and technical training, mentoring and developmental opportunities.

We are currently filling 2 vacancies, but additional vacancies may be filled as needed.

What you will do

• This position is in the Office of the Chief Financial Officer, which provides policy leadership in strategic planning, budgeting and financial management to GSA.
• As an Accountant, you will: Review financial and/or management reports and assist in interpreting trends, spotting abnormal fluctuations and determining and/or recording required adjustments.
• Evaluate reports and data to determine that the effect of transactions are being properly charged to the appropriate user.
• Participate in ensuring that the day-to-day operations of the system or segments thereof are carried out in accordance with accounting principles, policies, and objectives of the accounting system.
• Analyze transactions in terms of their effect on assets, liabilities, and equity of the particular program and direct the correction of errors.
• Serve as a point of contact or reference in the handling of routine problems, either providing solutions derived from the direct application of well-established principles and practices or referring the problem to the supervisor.

Requirements

• 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 or Non­Career SES employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the HR Office.
• Failure to disclose this information could result in disciplinary action including removal from Federal Service.
• Register with the Selective Service, if you are a male born after 12/31/1959.
• Serve a one-year trial period, if required.
• Undergo and pass a background investigation (Tier 2 investigation level).
• Have your identity and work status eligibility verified if you are not a GSA employee.
• We will use the Department of Homeland Security's e-Verify system for this.
• Any discrepancies must be resolved as a condition of continued employment.
• Signed participant agreement is required for employment under this Program.

Education

Note: If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: ***

How you will be evaluated

We will use a method called Category Rating to assess your application.

Here's how it will work: You will be scored on the questions you answer during the application process, which will measure your possession of the following competencies: Interpersonal Skills Problem Solving Attention-to-Detail Self-Management Oral Communication Writing Technology Orientation Customer Service Interpersonal Skills Teamwork Your answers to the questions will be used to place you in one of the following categories and standard score ranges: Best Qualified = Candidates scoring between 95 - 100 Well Qualified = Candidates scoring between 85 - 94 Qualified = Candidates scoring between 70 - 84 We will verify your answers to the questions in your resume.

If your resume doesn't support your answers, we may lower your score, which could place you in a lower category. Within each category, veterans will receive selection priority over non-veterans.

Additional hurdle assessments, such as narrative responses or other assessments, may be administered to applicants who meet the requirements of the first hurdle, e.g., the minimum qualification requirements. If additional assessments are used, you will be provided with further instructions. You may preview questions for this vacancy.

Documents you must provide

• ALL required documents must be submitted before the closing date.
• Review the following list to determine what you need to submit.
• Resume: Must not exceed two pages.
• Refer to the Qualifications section for resume requirements.
• If you are claiming veterans preference: (a)DD-214 that shows your type of discharge, character of service and the dates of your active duty service.
• (b) If you are claiming 10-point preference or derived preference (spouse, widow/widower, or parent of a deceased or disabled veteran), you must submit documentation that establishes your entitlement in addition to the DD-214: VA disability rating letter or other official documentation (refer to SF-15 for complete list).
• SF-15, Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference Note: If sufficient documentation is provided to establish 10-point preference, preference may be granted based on the supporting documentation even if the SF-15 is not submitted.
• If selected, a completed SF-15 will be required prior to appointment.
• IF YOU ARE: Active duty military: Certification on a letterhead from your military branch that includes your rank, character of service (must be under honorable conditions) & military service dates including discharge/release date (must be no later than 120 days after the date the certification is submitted).
• Current or former political appointee: Submit SF-50 Currently pursuing a graduate degree, but you are claiming Recent Graduate eligibility based on a previous degree, you must also include those transcripts.
• College transcripts: Your transcripts must show a, b, and c: (a) Proof of recent graduate status (within past 2 years or on track to graduate by DATE; or within past 6 years if you were prevented from applying due to your military service) (b) Name of your college or university (c) Date your degree was awarded Certificate: If you received a certificate from a registered apprenticeship programs, (i.e., Job Corps, Climate Corps, AmeriCorps, and Peace Corps) or industry-recognized credential only when awarded from a qualifying career or technical education program.
• Your certificate must show a, b, and c: (a) Proof of recent graduate status (within past 2 years or on track to finish by DATE; or within past 6 years if you were prevented from applying due to your military service) (b) Name of qualifying career or technical education program (c) Date program was completed If you completed your education outside of the U.S., see Foreign Education information for guidance on what we can accept.
• If selected, an official transcript will be required prior to appointment.
• Superior Academic Achievement: Submit transcripts as described above.
• If you qualify based on your class rank or honor society membership, submit documentation of it.

Benefits

You will have access to many benefits including: Health insurance (choose from a wide range of plans) Life insurance coverage with several options Sick leave and vacation time, including 11 paid holidays per year Thrift Savings Plan (similar to a 401(k) plan) Flexible work schedules Transit and child care subsidies Flexible spending accounts Long-term care insurance Training and development

What to expect next

After the closing date/deadline: ELIGIBILITY/QUALIFICATIONS: Your application will be reviewed for all requirements. REFERRAL TO MANAGEMENT: If you meet all the requirements, you may be referred to management for review and a possible interview.

SELECTION/TENTATIVE JOB OFFER: If you are selected, you will receive a tentative offer and start the suitability and/or security background investigation process.

FINAL JOB OFFER: Once our security office determines you can come on board, you will be given a final offer, which is typically 40 days after the announcement closes FINAL COMMUNICATION: Once the position is filled, we will notify you of your status.

You may also check your application status by logging into USAJOBS and clicking “Track this Application” on the Applicant Dashboard. Thank you for your interest in working for the U.S. General Services Administration!

Additional information

Candidates will not be hired based on their race, sex, color, religion, or national origin. Applicants are encouraged to make their resume searchable in their USAJOBS.gov profile. This will allow Federal hiring specialists and hiring managers across agencies to find their resume as part of agency recruitment campaigns or staffing searches.

This position is ineligible for the bargaining unit. If you apply to this position and are selected, we will not ask about your criminal history before you receive a conditional job offer. If you believe you were asked about your criminal history improperly, contact the agency or visit GSA's webpage.

If you are selected at a grade lower than the full performance level, you may be promoted up to that grade level without having to re-apply or compete against other applicants. Relocation-related expenses may be approved on a case-by-case basis.

Additional vacancies may be filled through this announcement in this or other GSA organizations within the same commuting area as needed; through other means; or not at all.