Summary This position is located in the USDA, Office of the Chief Financial Officer, ACFO, Financial Policy and Planning, Budget Division. The purpose of the position is to interpret accounting and financial policies, regulations, and guidance to ensure that adequate guidance exists to meet requirements, and adhere to regulatory accounting and financial compliance. Responsibilities Establishes and maintains liaison with operating and management officials to determine their needs for fiscal procedures and financial reports. Identifies problem areas and communicates adoptable corrective actions to maintain the integrity of financial information. Assesses and reports financial vulnerabilities and threats by identifying risks and recommending effective measures to minimize such risks. Performs analyses and develops strategic approaches on matters related to monitoring and tracking financial activities. Advises OCFO and Departmental stakeholders regarding technical and operational aspects of procedures and effecting solutions regarding policies and procedures related to assigned areas. Requirements Conditions of Employment Qualifications Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement including specialized experience and/or education, as defined below. Basic Requirements: This position has a positive education requirement. Applicants MUST meet one of the educational requirements below for the 0510 occupational series. Transcripts are required at the time of application. 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 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 applicants 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 non-conformance to the requirement of 24 semester hours in accounting, the applicants education, training, and experience fully meet the specified requirements. In addition to the basic requirements above, applicants must meet the specialized experience below. Specialized Experience: GS-11: At least one of specialized experience, equivalent to the (G S-09 level) in the Federal service or equivalent responsibility in the private sector/pay systems that has equipped you with the particular competencies to successfully perform as an Accountant, GS-0510-11. Examples of such experience include: Applies accounting and financial instructions for assigned areas covering basic charts of accounts, procedures and controls; provides technical and operational guidance and solutions regarding accounting policies and procedures related to assigned areas; applies financial requirements to assigned areas by integrating regulations, legislation, policies, procedural handbooks, and reports to every day operations; and performs accounting and analysis functions for assigned areas. GS-12: One year of specialized experience, equivalent to the (G S-11 level) in the Federal service or equivalent responsibility in the private sector/pay systems that has equipped you with the particular competencies to successfully perform as an Accountant, GS-0510-12. Examples of such experience include: Interprets and applies accounting and financial instructions for assigned areas covering basic charts of accounts, procedures and controls; advises stakeholders regarding technical and operational aspects of procedures and effecting solutions regarding policies and procedures related to assigned areas; performs accounting and analysis functions for assigned area of focus; and interprets policy, coordinates and plans accounting services, management of resources, and forecasting accounting trends and activities. GS-13: At least one year of specialized experience, equivalent to the (G S-12 level) in the Federal service or equivalent responsibility in the private sector/pay systems that has equipped you with the particular competencies to successfully perform as an Accountant, GS-0510-13. Examples of such experience include; Reviews regulations, legislation, policies, procedural handbooks, and reports to determine the need for, and effect of, changes on assigned financial requirements; performs accounting and analysis functions for assigned areas; Participates in government-wide efforts to improve financial management processes and systems, and assists in the development of related policies, goals, and objectives; and resolves the mid to complex day-to-day operating problems involving policies, procedures and fiscal and accounting matters. 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 and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Education You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below: GS-11: 3 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree. GS-12 & GS-13: Education may not be substituted for specialized experience at these grade levels. Combining Education and Experience: Combinations of successfully completed post-high school education and experience may be used to meet total qualification requirements for the grade levels specified in the table, and may be computed by first determining the applicants total qualifying experience as a percentage of the experience required for the grade level; then determining the applicant's education as a percentage of the education required for the grade level; and then adding the two percentages. The total percentages must equal at least 100 percent to qualify an applicant for that grade level. Only graduate education in excess of the amount required for the next lower grade level may be used to qualify applicants for positions at the GS-11 level. Foreign Education: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show that the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. Additional Information Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP), Reemployment Priority List (RPL), or Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP): Visit the OPM website for information on how to apply as a CTAP, RPL, or ICTAP eligible. To exercise selection priority for this vacancy, CTAP/RPL/ICTAP candidates must meet the basic eligibility requirements and all selective factors. CTAP/ICTAP candidates must be rated and determined to be well qualified (or above) based on an evaluation of the competencies listed in the How You Will Be Evaluated section. When assessed through a score-based category rating method, CTAP/ICTAP applicants must receive a rating of at least 85 out of a possible 100. Farm Service Agency (FSA) County Employees: Permanent County employees without prior Federal tenure who are selected for a Civil Service position under Public Law 105-277 will be given a career-conditional appointment and must serve a 1-year probationary period. Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act (LMWFA) provides current or former temporary or term employees of federal land management agencies opportunity to compete for permanent competitive service positions. Individuals must have more than 24 months of service without a break between appointments of two or more years. Service must be in the competitive service and have been at a successful level of performance or better. Refer to PUBLIC LAW 114-47-AUG. 7, 2015 for more information. This position may be eligible to telework up to four days per week, based upon the duties of the position. This position may also be eligible for flexible work arrangements as determined by agency policy and any applicable collective bargaining agreements. This position is not included in the bargaining unit.