Accountant

About the role

West Palm Beach VA Medical Center is looking for Accountant. The Accountant serves within Fiscal Service supporting the West Palm Beach VA Healthcare System (WPBVAHCS), with responsibility for complex financial management, accounting operations, internal controls, reporting, and stewardship of federal resources across the health care system and its outpatient-care network.

What you will do

• Accountant performs professional accounting work supporting VA programs by preparing, reviewing, and reconciling general ledger and related subsidiary activity.
• Analyzes accounting data, researches discrepancies, and determines root causes (e.g., timing differences, miscoding, missing documentation, or interface/processing issues) to support accurate financial reporting and data integrity.
• Prepares and maintains reconciliation schedules and working papers; identifies abnormal balances and out-of-balance conditions; and recommends corrective actions (e.g., recoding, adjustments/journal vouchers, suspense/clearing resolution) consistent with governing standards and established VA/VHA procedures.
• Participates in process improvement and quality assurance reviews by identifying control weaknesses, recommending improvements to accounting procedures, and coordinating with appropriate system support personnel and stakeholders to resolve transaction and data issues.
• Prepares written instructions, desk guides, or SOP updates for assigned processes, and provides technical input to supervisors/lead staff and business partners regarding proper documentation and accounting treatment.
• Additional Duties Include But Not Limited To: Prepare, review, and reconcile general ledger and subsidiary accounts in accordance with USSGL/Treasury guidance (including applicable Treasury Financial Manual requirements), FASAB SFFAS, OMB Circular A-136, and VA/VHA financial policy, as implemented through VA and VHA/FSC standard operating procedures (SOPs), close checklists, job aids, and local desk guides.
• Perform month-, quarter-, and year-end close activities; compile trial balances and working papers; and investigate and resolve abnormal balances, prior-period adjustments, and dearing/suspense accounts.
• Applies professional judgment to select the most appropriate governing guidance and method depending on the transaction, timing, system/interface conditions, and reporting requirement.
• Determining whether discrepancies are attributable to miscoding, timing differences, missing/insufficient supporting documentation, feeder-system/interface errors, or out-of-balance conditions; assessing the scope and potential materiality of identified issues; and selecting corrective actions.
• Coordinates with Fiscal, Supply Chain, and program offices to resolve data integrity issues across VA financial/procurement systems.
• Recommends decisions and corrective actions to the supervisor/lead accountant, finance leadership, and affected stakeholders.
• Recommendations include the corrective approach, required documentation, and any needed control or process changes to prevent recurrence.
• Documents reconciliation outcomes, root-cause analysis, and corrective actions, and prepares clear written guidance/instructions for staff and stakeholders.
• Designs, refines, and implements data validation checks and reconciliation tools to improve accuracy, timeliness, and compliance.
• Documents facts and impacts, identifies applicable requirements across USSGL/TFM/SFFAS/OMB and VA/VHA policy, develops compliant options with a recommended course of action, and elevates novel/high-risk matters through supervisory channels and, when appropriate, to the responsible policy authority for definitive interpretation.
• Analyzes current and/or required accounting procedures to design new or improved processes.
• Participate in process improvement and quality assurance reviews to streamline close processes and reduce reconciliation backlogs; identifies control weaknesses, recommend updates to local procedures, and coordinates with appropriate system support personnel to address transaction flow, edit checks, and data integrity concerns.
• Drafts SOPs and quick-reference guides.
• Validates current processes with respect to regulatory requirements.
• Recommends revisions affecting local accounting process based on specific objectives and approaches.
• Performs quality assurance review of existing and proposed accounting processes to provide assurances as to financial integrity and conformance to Federal laws and agency regulations and practices, Refines assigned phases or sub-processes of complex accounting procedures to improve accuracy, timelines, and compliance.
• Performs reviews of existing and proposed accounting processes for financial integrity and conformances to Federal laws and agency regulations and practices.
• Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 8:00am- 4:30pm.
• Telework: Telework May be Eligible within VISN 2 Catchment area for highly qualified staff.
• Still reporting to an office.
• VISN?2 covers Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Virginia.
• Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
• Position Description/PD#: Accountant/PD03142A and PD03141A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized.
• Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved.
• Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized.

Requirements

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959 Subject to background/security investigation Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process.
• Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (***).
• Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP) As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest.
• In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider: your performance and conduct; the needs and interests of the agency; whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.
• Upon completion of your probationary period or trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Education

A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education. Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: ***

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

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC.

WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE.

Narrative responses are not required at this time. If you are referred for consideration, you may be asked to submit additional job related information, which may include, but not limited to; responses to the knowledge, skills and abilities; completion of a work sample, and/or contact for an interview. Your resume and/or supporting documentation will be verified.

Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating or consideration for employment.

The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position.

For more information on the "Who may apply" eligibility requirements, please refer to the OHRM Status Candidates and Other Candidate Definitions document. Placement Policy: The posting of this announcement does not obligate management to fill a vacancy or vacancies by promotion.

The position may be filled by reassignment, change to lower grade, transfer, appointment, or reinstatement. Management may use any one or any combination of these methods to fill the position. It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.

Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.

Documents you must provide

• Resume Transcript The following documents are accepted, and may be required if applicable to your eligibility and/or qualifications for this position.
• Please make sure you have included other documents required for your application, such as a copy of your transcript (if using education to qualify), SF-50's (current/former Federal employees), documentation to support Veterans Preference claims, or ICTAP/CTAP documentation (for displaced Federal employees).
• You will not be contacted for additional information.
• Cover Letter DD-214/ Statement of Service Disability Letter (VA) Other (1) PCS Orders Professional Certification Proof of Marriage Status Resume Separation Notice (RIF) SF-15 SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action Transcript SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action (if applicable for Time in Grade and/or Eligibility): Most recent SF-50 if you are a current or former Federal employee An SF-50 showing 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, it may not clearly demonstrate you possess one-year time-in-grade, as required by the announcement.
• In this instance, you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one-year time-in-grade Award 50's do not provide sufficient information and will not be accepted for the purpose of verifying time-in-grade.
• Examples of appropriate SF-50's include: Within grade increases at the highest grade held; or Promotions with an effective date more than one year old; or SF-50's at the highest grade held with an effective date more than one year old.
• Veterans' Preference: When applying for Federal Jobs, eligible Veterans should claim preference for 5pt (TP), 10pt (CP/CPS/XP), or for Sole Survivor Preference (SSP) in the questionnaire.
• You must provide a legible copy of your DD214(s) which shows dates and character of service (honorable, general, etc.).
• If you are currently serving on active duty and expect to be released or discharged within 120 days you must submit documentation related to your active duty service which reflects the dates of service, character of service (honorable, general, etc.), and dates of impending separation.
• Additionally, disabled veterans and others eligible for 10-point preference (such as widows or mothers of eligible Veterans) must also submit an SF-15 "Application for 10 Point Veteran Preference" with required proof as stated on the form.
• Documentation is required to award preference.
• For more information on Veterans' Preference, please visit Feds Hire Vets - Veterans - Job Seekers - Veterans' Preference.

What to expect next

Once your online application is submitted you will receive a confirmation notification by email. After we receive application packages (including all required documents) and the vacancy announcement closes, we will review applications to ensure qualification and eligibility requirements are met.

If initial application submission is updated and resubmitted with a new resume, only the most current resume will be reviewed for consideration. After the review is complete, a referral certificate(s) is issued and applicants will be notified of their status by email. Referred applicants will be notified as such and may be contacted directly by the hiring office for an interview.

All referred applicants receive a final notification once a selection decision has been made. You may check the status of your application at any time by logging into your USA Jobs account and clicking on Applications. Information regarding your application status can be found in the USAJobs Help Center.

NOTE:Participation in the seasonal influenza program is a condition of employment and a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). It is a requirement that all HCP to receive annual seasonal influenza vaccination or obtain an exemption for medical or religious reasons.

Wearing a face mask is required when an exemption to the influenza vaccination has been granted. HCP in violation of this directive may face disciplinary action up to and including removal from federal service. HCP are individuals who, during the influenza season, work in VHA locations or who come into contact with VA patients or other HCP as part of their duties.

VHA locations include, but are not limited to, VA hospitals and associated clinics, community living centers (CLCs), community-based outpatient clinics (CBOCs), domiciliary units, Vet centers and VA-leased medical facilities.

HCP include all VA licensed and unlicensed, clinical and administrative, remote and onsite, paid and without compensation, full- and part-time employees, intermittent employees, fee basis employees, VA contractors, researchers, volunteers and health professions trainees (HPTs) who are expected to perform any or all of their work at these facilities.

HPTs may be paid or unpaid and include residents, interns, fellows and students. HCP also includes VHA personnel providing home-based care to Veterans and drivers and other personnel whose duties put them in contact with patients outside VA medical facilities.

Additional information

Receiving Service Credit for Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience.

This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement. Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer.

For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act. Whole Health Statement: The VA Sunshine Healthcare Network (VISN 8) advocates for a Whole Health System of care in each of the Medical Centers.

This is an approach to healthcare that empowers and equips people to take charge of their health and well-being and live their lives to the fullest. As an employee operating in a Whole Health System of care, you will operate in a model that is based in a partnership across time, seeking to create a personalized health plan for each Veteran.

This is done in the context of healing relationships and healing environments and a connection back to the Veteran's community. This aligns with the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Mission Statement to Honor America's Veterans by providing exceptional health care that improves their health and well-being.