Lead Accountant

About the role

The United States Capitol Police (USCP) safeguards the Congress, Members of Congress, employees, visitors, and Congressional buildings and grounds from crime, disruption, and terrorism. We protect and secure Congress so it can fulfill its constitutional and legislative responsibilities in a safe, secure and open environment.

What you will do

• This position is located in the Accounting Division, Office of Financial Management (OFM), Office of the Chief Administrative Officer, United States Capitol Police (USCP).
• OFM consists of the staff from the immediate office of the Director, Accounting, Budget, Accounts Payable & Travel Reimbursement, and Financial Systems Divisions.
• OFM plans and directs the financial activities of USCP, to include budget development and execution, and all activities related to financial management and accounting.
• The purpose of this position is to serve as the lead accountant responsible for sustaining compliance with financial management laws and regulations that apply to USCP.
• The incumbent develops and maintains an integrated accounting and financial management system for USCP that includes financial reporting and internal controls, which complies with applicable accounting principles, standards, and internal control standards.
• Provides for complete, reliable, consistent, and timely information prepared on a uniform basis that is responsive to the financial information needs of the Department and provides for the integration of accounting and budgeting information.
• Serves as a technical expert, providing technical guidance regarding the recording and control of obligations, accounts payable, cost accruals, and disbursements.
• Independently identifies and implements changes and improvements to internal controls within the Accounting Division and other USCP entities.
• Provides financial guidance to OFM staff and other USCP organizational units to ensure accurate classification and timely recording of transactions entered directly into the accounting system or systems that are interfaced with the accounting system.
• Ensures that data maintained in subsidiary ledgers is reconciled with accounting system data on a timely basis.
• Serves as a Payment Certifying Officer.
• Provides final review and certification of USCP payments in Treasury's Secure Payment System (SPS).
• Reviews payment for accuracy and compliance with all legal, regulatory, fiscal appropriations law, and agency policies prior to disbursement by the U.S. Treasury.
• Provides guidance to other payment certifiers, providing authoritative information regarding payment issues or certification questions.

Requirements

• You must be a U.S. citizen.
• Successful completion of a background investigation is required.
• Must complete a one-year probationary period.
• Telework eligible according to agency policy.

Education

This position has a positive education requirement. At the time of application, you must submit a copy of your academic transcripts or a list of college courses with credit hours, dates completed and grades received to verify education. If this information is not provided, your education may not be appropriately evaluated, and you may lose consideration for this position.

A. Degree: accounting and/or auditing; 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 / auditing. The 24 hours may include up to 6 hours of credit in business law.

OR B. Combination of education and experience: at least 4 years of experience in accounting / auditing, or an equivalent combination of accounting / auditing experience, college-level education and training that provided professional accounting / auditing knowledge. The applicant's background must also include one of the following: 1.

Twenty-four-semesters’ hours in accounting or auditing courses of appropriate type and quality. This can include up to 6 semester hours of business law; or 2. A certificate as Certified Public Accountant or a Certified Government Financial Manager that was 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, provided that (a) the applicant 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 have determined that the applicant has demonstrated a good knowledge of accounting / auditing and of related and underlying fields that equals in breadth, depth, currency and level of advancement which is normally associated with successful completion of the 4-year course of study described above; (c) except for literal nonconformance to the requirement of 24 semester hours in accounting / auditing, the applicant’s education, training and experience fully meet the specified requirements.

How you will be evaluated

Evaluation Factors: Please address all Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs) within the narrative responses so that your experience can be evaluated properly. We will review your resume, assessment questionnaire, and supporting documentation to determine if you meet the minimum requirements for this job.

If you meet the minimum requirements for this job, we will evaluate your application materials to assess the quality, depth, and complexity of your qualifications, accomplishments, experience, and education as they relate to the requirements listed in this vacancy announcement.

Failure to successfully pass a full field background investigation and all segments of the pre-employment evaluation process will result in disqualification from further consideration under this vacancy announcement.

Documents you must provide

• The following documents are required and must be received by the closing date of this announcement: 1.
• Your resume: Page limit is two (2) pages and should include a description of related job duties as well as dates of employment (mm/yr).
• Margins cannot be smaller than .5 all around and the font no smaller than 11-point.
• Other supporting documents: - College transcript(s),

What to expect next

After a review of your application materials is made, you will be notified of your eligibility status. If you are referred to the hiring official, you will receive further notification. If further evaluation or interviews are required, you will be contacted.

Please note that if you are not selected for this position, the USCP may not be able to provide specific feedback or disclose the reasons for your disqualification, due to confidentiality and legal considerations related to the hiring process.

Additional information

Additional Conditions of Employment with the USCP: As per the Congressional Accountability Act (CAA) and the Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs Act of 2019, criminal history information will only be collected following a qualifications review and after a tentative offer of employment has been made.

A criminal history does not automatically exclude an applicant from employment with the USCP. Criminal History Check -- Must successfully pass a comprehensive criminal history check of the past 10 years if offered employment. A criminal history check will be performed on applicants who accept an offer of employment.

Credit Check -- Must successfully pass a credit check.

Applicants must not be in default or delinquent on any Federal guaranteed student loans.

Applicants must demonstrate a competent financial history.

Financial delinquency including collection accounts, liens, repossessions, or garnishments may be a basis for disqualification. Selective Service Registration -- Male applicants must provide verification of registration with the Selective Service System or must verify exemption from the Selective Service System registration because of age or military status.

Female applicants are exempt from Selective Service System registration. *** Fingerprint Check -- Applicants' fingerprints will be submitted to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) for a check of their criminal history record. Background Investigation -- Must successfully complete all components of the USCP full field background investigation.

There are few automatic grounds for rejection in the USCP background investigation process. Issues of misconduct, such as illegal drug use, arrests, or convictions, may not be automatically disqualifying.

However, deliberate misstatements, omissions, or intentionally withholding required information at any phase of the hiring process will result in a candidate's disqualification regardless of the nature or reason for the misstatement or omission. The primary reason candidates fail a background investigation is due to deliberately withholding or omitting material facts.

Providing false and/or misleading information may be grounds for removal from the application and selection process.