Accountant

Description:

This position is located in the Farm Credit System Insurance Corporation (FCSIC), Financial Management Division (FMD), in McLean, Virginia. The incumbent serves as an Accountant and reports directly to the Chief Financial Officer (CFO). FCSIC utilizes a shared service provider to support financial reporting.

Requirements:

Desirable Qualifications: Experience with federal or public-sector financial reporting and audits; experience performing account reconciliations and preparing adjusting entries; experience evaluating internal controls and documenting processes and operating procedures/policies; and experience preparing analytical reports on financial trends, premiums, or investments for management decision-making.

Basic Requirements

1. 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
2. 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 experiencefully meet the specified requirements.

In addition to the above basic requirement:
You may qualify at the VH-37 (GS-11) band leve l, if you fulfill one of the following qualification requirements:1. One year of specialized experience equivalent to the VH-35 (GS-09) band level in the Federal service. Specialized experience is experience that has equipped you with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position. Some examples of qualifying experience are:

• Experience applying generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) or federal accounting standards to record, classify, and reconcile financial transactions.
• Experience assisting with the preparation or review of financial statements or financial reports, such as monthly, quarterly, or annual financial reports, audit packages, or regulatory submissions.
• Experience participating in internal control reviews, audits, or risk assessments over financial processes (e.g., cash, investments, receivables, payables, property, or travel) and helping to resolve findings or implement corrective actions

2. A Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree; or 3 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree; or possession of a LL.M. degree, if related. Graduate level education must demonstrate the competencies necessary to do the work of the position; OR
3. A combination of education and experience as listed above.

In addition to the above basic requirement:
You may qualify at the VH-38 (GS-12) grade level if you have one year of specialized experience equivalent to the VH-37 (GS-11) grade level in the Federal service. Specialized experience is experience that has equipped you with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position. Some examples of qualifying experience are:

• Experience performing or leading complex reconciliations and analyses of financial accounts (such as fund, program, investment, or premium-related accounts), and researching and resolving discrepancies.
• Experience preparing, reviewing, or overseeing the preparation of comprehensive financial reports or financial statements for management or external stakeholders in accordance with GAAP, federal accounting standards, or OMB/Treasury reporting guidance.
• Experience designing, documenting, evaluating, or testing internal controls over financial reporting and operations in accordance with FMFIA, OMB Circular A-123, or similar requirements, including coordinating with auditors and management on internal control deficiencies and corrective action plans.

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 directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

Time-In-Grade Requirements: Current and former Federal employees (including VEOA eligibles) must have served one-year (52 weeks) at the next lower grade in the Federal service to meet time-in-grade restrictions per 5 CFR 300, Subpart F, by the closing date of the announcement.