Accountant

Veterans Health Administration; Fargo (ND); On-site; USD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Veterans Health Administration in Fargo, ND seeks an Accountant to support the Health Care System CFO and Accounting Section Supervisor. The role involves applying accounting principles to grants, cost, capital assets, deposits, interoffice, trust funds, and appropriation accounting, with emphasis on accuracy and compliance.

The incumbent will handle financial data analysis, understand VA accounting systems, and provide guidance for the preparation of financial statements for local management.

Responsibilities

• Classify, record, control, report, and analyze financial data to support financial planning and performance evaluation.
• Provide technical accounting guidance and ensure compliance with applicable laws and VA regulations.

Job description

Summary

The incumbent serves as an accountant supporting the Health Care System Chief Financial Officer and Accounting Section Supervisor. Incumbent performs duties consistent with accounting principles, standards and related requirements prescribed by the Controller General of the U.S. Duties include allotments, cost, capital asset, deposit funds, interoffice, revolving, trust funds, and appropriation accounting.

Learn more about this agency

Duties

Help

Major duties and responsibilities include: The incumbent must have a well-established knowledge of principles, theories, techniques, and methodology of accounting and the structure and policies of the VA Accounting System. The incumbent must also have the ability to apply these established principles, techniques, and theories of accounting to the finance operation in a professional manner.

Accounting (50%)

• Classify, record, control, report, and analyze financial data to (1) show the cost of carrying our responsibilities, (2) provide a basis for financial planning, (3) provide date for evaluating performance, (4) show the status of financial condition and results of operations, (5) safeguard public funds and other resources, and (6) assure compliance with applicable laws. In so doing, the incumbent is an important part of the agency's management control system. The incumbent renders technical advice on all phases of accounting matters including the analysis and interpretation of pertinent accounting data. Incumbent provides technical advice on the form and content of financial statements for use by local management consistent with established guidance.
• Conducts analysis of initial or irregular transactions which present accounting procedural problems. The incumbent will develop appropriate methods of accounting for transactions not sufficiently covered by existing procedures consistent with established guidance.

Audits (25%)

• Conduct (1) periodic internal reviews, (2) periodic internal and external audits and other reports, and (3) evaluations and recommendations for the establishment of new controls or the deletion of present controls which may be ineffective.
• Conduct routine reviews of accounting transactions (such as fee and contract payments) which requires the application of generally accepted accounting principles to ensure technical accuracy of accounting records and compliance with VA regulations.

Reconciliations (25%)

• Computation and processing of required end of month adjustments.
• Receives purchase orders, contracts, travel orders and similar documents for obligation against appropriated funds. R
• Extracting data from various systems to include RSD, VISTA and FMS
• Reconciles accounts by comparing account balances with related data to assure agreement; reviewing records and source documents to identify the sources of discrepancies; and determining the entries required to bring the account into balance.

Promotion Potential

The selectee may be promoted to the full performance level without further competition when all regulatory, qualification, and performance requirements are met. Selection at a lower grade level does not guarantee promotion to the full performance level.

Work Schedule

Monday-Friday, 8:00am to 4:30pm

Telework

This position may be authorized for ad-hoc telework at the Supervisors discretion.

Virtual

This is not a virtual position.

Position Description/PD#

Accountant/PD23478A and PD23480A

Relocation/Recruitment Incentives

Not Authorized

Critical Skills Incentive (CSI)

Not Approved

Permanent Change of Station (PCS)

Not Authorized

The VA Midwest Health Care Network 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 with three core elements, 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.

Requirements

Help

Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
• To be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process. In addition to the application and questionnaire, this position requires an online assessment. The online assessment measures critical general competencies required to perform the job.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
• Physical Requirements: The work required does not inherently include any physical requirements essential for successful job performance that could not otherwise be performed with accommodation or workplace adjustment. A pre-placement physical examination is not required.
• 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 (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). 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, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 07/29/2026.

Time-In-Grade Requirement

Applicants who are current Federal employees and have held a GS grade any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement. For a GS-9 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-7, and for a GS-11 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-9. The grade may have been in any occupation, but must have been held in the Federal service. An SF-50 that shows 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. Note: Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to former Federal employees applying for reinstatement.

Basic Requirements - Individual Occupational Requirement (IOR)

• A. Degree in 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 in business lay (The term "accounting" means "accounting &/or auditing" in this standard. Similarly, "accountant" should be interpreted, generally, as "accountant and/or auditor.")
• B. A combination of education & experience with 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: a) 24 semester hours in accounting & or auditing courses of appropriate type and quality. This can include up to 6 hours of business law b) A certificate as Certified Public Accountant or a Certified Internal Auditor, obtained through written examination; or c) 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-hours requirement, provided that 3. Except for literal nonconformance to the requirement of 24 semester hours in accounting, the applicant's education, training, and experience fully meet the specified requirements. 2. 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; and 1. 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;

OR

In addition to the Basic Requirements above, the following must also be met by grade level. You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below:

GS-09 Specialized Experience

• Checking data & comparing reports or transactions to source documents, or authorizations against transactions to ensure their acceptability for further processing
• Drafting simple instructions to describe internal accounting procedures
• Providing systems analysis, advice, & design regarding financial management and accounting systems
• Assisting customers with various construction accounting inquiries
• Taking corrective action on financial system issues or reporting errors
• Identifying, interpreting, and applying auditing standard & accounting principles
• Analyze general ledger accounts to ensure accuracy of reports

Education

Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have 2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a master's degree or Master's or equivalent graduate degree.

Combination

Applicants may also combine education & experience to qualify at this level. Only education beyond the first year of graduate education can be considered.

GS-11 Specialized Experience

• Maintains & controls accounts & accounting transactions in a highly complex finance and accounting system
• Inputs data into a financial management system integrated and automated double entry accrual-based accounting system
• Processes transactions that include verifying the accuracy & completeness of the accounting data, compliance with regulations, determining the accounts & subsidiary accounts affected & determining the entries to be made
• Reviews transactions for timeliness & reasonableness
• Verifies that obligations are set up timely and reports all delinquent obligations
• Working with a large integrated financial system (to include financial accounting, managerial cost accounting, workload/cost analysis, budget, collections analysis, reporting, etc.); distributing funds & analyzing actual expenses
• Assists in training users in accounting systems & electronic invoicing system
• Assists with financial audits, including internal and financial quality assurance audits, as well as prepare documentation for external audits

Education

Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have 3 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree.

Combination

Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. Only graduate education beyond the second year can be considered.

To calculate, first identify the percentage of required education you have earned (when substituting, you cannot use the first 60 semester hours that you earned). Then identify the percentage of required experience you possess. Add the two percentages. The total percentage must equal at least 100 percent to qualify at the GS-09. For example, an applicant who has 9 semester hours of graduate level education (i.e. 50% of graduate education required) and 6 months of creditable specialized experience (i.e. 50% of the required experience) would equal 100% of the required experience for the position A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.

Physical Requirements

The work is primarily sedentary. No special physical effort or ability is required.

Work Environment

Work is performed in an office setting that is adequately lighted, heated, and ventilated.

For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/.

Education

A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.

The individual occupational requirements typically provide at least two methods for applicants to meet the basic requirements of the occupations covered by this Professional and Scientific standard:

• Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a bachelor's or higher degree that included a major field of study or specific course requirements generally as stated in paragraph A in the individual occupational requirements.
• Appropriate combination of education and experience that is typically specified in paragraph B of the individual occupational requirements. The "paragraph B" method generally requires that an applicant possess a core of educational credit, such as described in paragraph A above, plus additional education and/or experience. The method of determining the number of semester hours required to constitute a major field of study is the same as described in paragraph A.

Where specific course requirements are not indicated in paragraph A, the number of semester hours required to constitute a major field of study is the amount specified by the college or university attended. If this number cannot be obtained, 24 semester hours will be considered as equivalent to a major field of study. The nature and quality of the required course work must have been such that it would serve as a prerequisite for more advanced study in the field or subject-matter area. Related course work generally refers to courses that may be accepted as part of the program major.

The quality of the combination of education and experience must be sufficient to demonstrate that the applicant possesses the knowledge, skills, and abilities required to perform work in the occupation, and is comparable to that normally acquired through the successful completion of a full 4-year course of study with a major in the appropriate field. In addition to courses in the major and related fields, a typical college degree would have included courses that involved analysis, writing, critical thinking, research, etc. These courses would have provided an applicant with skills and abilities sufficient to perform progressively more responsible work in the occupation. Therefore, creditable experience should have demonstrated similarly appropriate skills or abilities needed to perform the work of the occupation.

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: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. 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: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

Additional information

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.

Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests

If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application. Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case-by-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, based on your adjudication decision. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments if you received the link after the close of the announcement. To determine if you need a RA, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments.

Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP)

The Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced VA competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. To be qualified you must submit appropriate documentation (a copy of the agency notice, your most recent performance rating, and your most recent SF-50 noting current position, grade level, and duty location) and be found well-qualified for this vacancy. To be well-qualified: applicants must possess experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors, and who are proficient in most of the required competencies of the job. Information about CTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website at http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

Benefits

Help

A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

Review our benefits

Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.