Accountant

Bureau of Prisons / Federal Prison System; Waseca (MN); On-site; USD 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

Bureau of Prisons is seeking candidates for an accounting-focused position to support financial management across programs. The role emphasizes rigorous accounting practices, compliance, and reliable financial reporting to inform operations and public safety decisions.

Applicants should meet the basic requirements for accounting or related fields, and be prepared to demonstrate experience in managing funds, reconciling accounts, and maintaining automated systems.

Qualifications

• Degree in accounting or related field with 24 semester hours in accounting (may include up to 6 hours of business law).
• Combination of education and experience: at least 4 years in accounting or equivalent mix of education and training.
• Possess 24 hours in accounting/auditing or CPA/ CIA or equivalent coursework, with demonstrated professional accounting knowledge.

Responsibilities

• Experience in managing operating programs by supplying accurate financial statements, reports and other information to appropriate sources.
• Experience in ensuring funds are efficiently controlled, obligated, paid and reported.
• Experience updating and maintaining automated accounting system.
• Experience assisting with reconciling and balancing general ledger accounts and making adjustments for prior year appropriations.

Skills

Accounting knowledge

Financial reporting

Education

Accounting degree + 24 accounting hours

Job description

Corrections professionals who foster a humane and secure environment and ensure public safety by preparing individuals for successful reentry into our communities.

To be considered for the position, you must meet the following qualification requirements:

Basic Requirements:

A. 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

B. 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. 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 experience fully meet the specified requirements.

NOTE:

Applicants who meet the basic requirements above are fully qualified for the GL-05 level.

AND

In addition to the above basic requirement:

Education:

GL-07: You must have 1 year of graduate-level education or superior academic achievement.

Graduate education must provide the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of the position.

OR

Experience:

GL-07: You must have at least one year of specialized experience equivalent in difficulty and complexity to the next lower grade level. To be creditable, this experience must have equipped the applicant with the particular qualifications to perform successfully the duties of the position and must typically be in or related to the position to be filled.

Some examples of this qualifying experience are:

• Experience in managing operating programs by supplying
  accurate financial statements, reports and other information of a factual nature to appropriate sources.
• Experience in ensuring funds are efficiently controlled, obligated, paid and reported.
• Experience updating and maintaining automated accounting system.
• Experience assisting with reconciling and balancing general ledger accounts and making adjustments for prior year appropriations.

OR

Combination of Education and Experience:

GL-07: Have a combination of education and experience. This experience must have equipped you with the knowledge, skills, and ability to perform the major duties of this position as described above.

If applicable, credit will be given for paid and unpaid experience. To receive proper credit, you must show the actual time (such as the number of hours worked per week) spent in activities.

**Your eligibility for consideration will be based on your responses to the questions in the application.**