LEAD ACCOUNTING TECHNICIAN

About the role

Defense Finance and Accounting Services (DFAS) mission is to lead the Department of Defense (DoD) in finance and accounting by ensuring the delivery of efficient, exceptional quality pay and financial information.

What you will do

• Serve as a Lead Accounting Technician by identifying, distributing and balancing workload and tasks to team members in accordance with established workflow, and assures timely accomplishment of workload.
• Provide individual and team training in specific tasks and job techniques.
• Provide on-the-job training in accordance with established procedures and practices.
• Answer questions from team members concerning work processes and procedures, policies and directives.
• Lead and personally perform a combination of the following duties: researching and resolving routine and non-routine accounting issues, coordinating with Entitlements, Treasury, and customers.
• Prepare correspondence responding to inquiries of a routine and non-routine nature explaining various aspects of accounting and providing detailed and technical explanations of accounting discrepancies or procedural and reporting requirements.

Education

GS-06 Substitution of Education for Experience: Six months of graduate education may be substituted to meet the specialized experience required when it is directly related to the work of the position being filled.

Equivalent combinations of successfully completed graduate level education and experience may be used to meet total experience requirements when the education is directly related to the position being filled. If you are using education to substitute for the specialized experience and/or a basic requirement, you must submit transcripts at the time you apply.

To be creditable, education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university.

You must report only attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions that are recognized by the U.S. Department of Education (***).

Volunteer Experience: Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual, community, student, social).

Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

You may qualify for consideration if meeting time-in grade, specialized experience, education requirement, 90 days after competitive appointment requirement, and all other qualification requirements within 30 calendar days after the closing date of the announcement, unless otherwise indicated on the announcement.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated based on how well you meet the qualifications listed in this vacancy announcement. Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents), your responses on the application questionnaire, and your responses to all assessments required for this position.

You will be assessed on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics): The USA Hire Assessment includes a cut score based on the minimum level of required proficiency in these critical general competencies.

You must meet or exceed the cut score to be considered.

You will not be considered for the position if you score below the cut score or fail to complete the assessment. Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration. Cheating on an assessment may also result in your removal from consideration.

You can preview the Assessment Questionnaire here:*** Criminal History Inquiries - 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 @ *** (this call center group box will be the intake for complaints and will forward to appropriate POCs).

Documents you must provide

• You must provide a complete Application Package which includes: 1.
• Resume: A two-page maximum resume is required.
• Applicant guidance on the two-page resume requirement may be found at OPM.gov or at USAJ Resource Center.
• Complete initial Eligibility Questionnaire: Your resume must demonstrate the quality of your work as it relates to the experience requirements outlined in the job announcement.
• Other Supporting Documents.
• If you are requesting a reasonable accommodation to the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, submit documentation to support your request, including the Reasonable Accommodation Request Form found here.
• The following supporting documents are ONLY required if applicable to your personal qualifications or status.
• They must be received by the closing date of the announcement.
• Transcripts and/or Certifications: You must submit documentation if you are substituting education for experience.
• For additional information on acceptable documents or to see if you must submit documentation click here Transcripts and Certifications.
• You must also document your education and/or certifications in your resume.
• SF-50: Current and former federal employees, including current and former DFAS employees, must submit their SF-50 (Notification of Personnel Action) reflecting their highest grade held on a permanent basis for at least 52 weeks, tenure, and appointment type.
• Failure to provide this document may result in disqualification.
• Veterans Documentation: Click to review these authorities and documents verifying eligibility for a VEOA, VRA and/or 30% or more disabled veterans hiring authorities.
• Military Spouse Preference (MSP) Eligible: Military Spouse Preference applicants, must be selected and placed at the highest grade level for which they have applied and been determined best qualified up to and including the full performance level.
• You must include a completed copy of the Military Spouse PPP Self-Certification Checklist dated within 30 days along with the documents identified on the checklist to verify your eligibility for Military Spouse Preference.
• To download the checklist, select "Save" or "Save As" instead of "Open." Save the document to your device then open it as a PDF.
• Once the form is opened, select "Enable All Features" and the form will populate so that it can be completed. *** 5.
• Military Reserve (MR) and National Guard (NG) Technicians PPP Eligible: MR and NG technicians PPP applicants must be selected and placed at the full performance level if determined well qualified.
• You must include a completed copy of the Military Reserve and National Guard Technician PPP Self-Certification Checklist to verify your eligibility for Military Reserve and National Guard Technician preference.
• Click here to obtain a copy of the Military Reserve and National Guard Technician PPP Self-Certification Checklist.
• Military Reserve (MR) and National Guard (NG) Technicians Receiving Disability Retirement PPP Eligible: MR and NG technicians receiving disability retirement PPP applicants must be selected and placed at the full performance level if determined well qualified.
• You must include a completed copy of the Military Reserve and National Guard Technician Disability PPP Self-Certification Checklist to verify your eligibility for Military Reserve and National Guard Technician Disability preference.
• Click here to obtain a copy of the Military Reserve and National Guard Technician Disability PPP Self-Certification Checklist.
• Retained Grade PPP Eligible: Retained Grade PPP applicants, must be selected and placed at the full performance level if determined well qualified.
• You must include a completed copy of the Retained Grade PPP Self-Certification Checklist to verify your eligibility for Retained Grade preference.
• Click here to obtain a copy of the Retained Grade PPP Self-Certification Checklist.
• ICTAP Eligibles: A copy of the RIF separation notice and SF-50 if available.
• Other Special Hiring Authorities: Click here to review these authorities and the documentation you are required to submit.
• You may submit a cover letter which will be forwarded to the selecting official with your resume.
• Your cover letter will not be used to verify your qualifications or eligibility.
• WARNING: Failure to submit a complete application package including any required documentation by 11:59 PM (EST) 09/21/2026, or at the time of application for announcements with an extended closing date, may result in an ineligible rating and loss of consideration.
• To verify that your application is complete, log into your USAJOBS account, select Application Status and More Information.
• The Details page will display the status of your application.
• It is the applicant's responsibility to verify that information entered, uploaded, or faxed is received, legible and accurate.
• HR will not modify answers submitted by an applicant.

What to expect next

The resume you submit will be used to assess your qualifications for the job and to identify the best-qualified applicants to be referred to the hiring manager for further consideration and possible interviews. We will notify you of the outcome after each of these steps is completed.

After making a tentative job offer, we will conduct a suitability/security background investigation.

Additional information

Moving expenses will not be paid. Telework availability is limited and will only be provided on a rare case-by-case basis during situations where Agency Leadership has determined that telework serves a compelling DoD need. We may use this announcement to make a temporary promotion.

For some positions, the temporary promotion may be made permanent without further competition. Selections are subject to restrictions resulting from the DoD Program for Stability of Civilian Employment. As a condition of employment, you may be required to serve a 1-year probationary period during which we'll evaluate whether your continued employment advances the public interest.

The evaluation will consider: your performance and conduct; the needs and interests of the agency; whether your continued employment advances agency or governmental goals; and whether your continued employment advances the efficiency of the Federal service.

At the end of the probationary period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification that your continued employment advances the public interest.? We may use this announcement to fill additional vacancies within 120 days of the closing date. This position is Exempt from the Fair Labor Standards Act.

Travel requirement is Seldom. This position is not covered by a bargaining unit. Pay for first time hires to the Federal Government will typically be set at step 1 salary range for their respective grade level.

Retired Civil Service Employee: Employment of retired Federal employees receiving an annuity is subject to the requirements of the Department of Defense (DoD) policy guidance. (See DoD Instruction 1400.25, Volume 300, here. The Security Designation will vary and dependent upon position and may require a secret clearance or higher.

Employment in this position requires a background investigation which may delay starting date. If you are selected and cannot obtain a favorable security determination within a reasonable period of time due to disclosed/undisclosed background issues, the employment offer may be withdrawn.

Individuals selected are required to obtain/maintain a favorable security determination to occupy a sensitive position within the agency as a condition of employment.

Failure to maintain eligibility to occupy a sensitive position may result in termination.

For more information see the security section of Understanding Vacancy Announcements. Criminal History Inquiries- For some positions, criminal history inquiries may not take place before you receive a conditional job offer.

Please see Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs Act of 2019 (dfas.mil) for more information on The Fair Chance to Compete Act, exceptions, and DFAS contact information. This position requires you to obtain and maintain a Level 1 Certification under the DoD Financial Management (FM) Certification Program as a condition of employment.

If you are selected, you will have to obtain this certification within two (2) years of your entry on duty in the position unless you are already in a position that requires a Level 1 Certification in which case you must complete the certification within the original 2-year period.

Failure to become certified within the required time-frame may be grounds for removal from the position and/or from Federal service.

Information about the DoD FM Certification Program is available at: ***