Supervisory Accountant

U.S. Customs and Border Protection; Indianapolis (IN); On-site; USD 105,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is seeking a highly qualified accounting professional for an executive-level position in Indianapolis, IN.

The role emphasizes senior-level technical accounting guidance, financial management oversight, and strong knowledge of federal regulations. Qualified applicants will have substantial experience in accounting, auditing, and internal controls, plus the required education and credentials.

Qualifications

• Specialized experience in accounting, financial reporting, audits, and internal controls.
• Experience applying federal accounting laws, regulations, and standards.
• Developing or improving accounting policies, procedures, or system changes.
• Ability to assess controls, respond to audit findings, and direct corrective actions.

Responsibilities

• Provide senior-level technical accounting guidance and financial management oversight.
• Interpret and apply accounting laws, regulations, standards, and guidance.
• Develop or improve accounting policies, procedures, or system-related changes.
• Assess internal controls and support financial statement audits and corrective actions.
• Advise senior leadership and engage with internal and external stakeholders.

Skills

Senior accounting guidance

Financial management oversight

Regulatory accounting knowledge

Internal controls assessment

Stakeholder communication

Education

Accounting degree + 24 semester hours

CPA or CIA certificate

Job description

Organizational Location: This position is with the Department of Homeland Security, within U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Finance, Financial Operations Directorate, Accounting Division, Indianapolis, IN.

Additional selections may be made for other organizational divisions and/or units within the duty location(s) listed above. Experience: You qualify for the GS-15 grade level if you possess 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level, performing duties such as:

• Providing senior-level technical accounting guidance and financial management oversight for organization-wide accounting, financial reporting, audit, and internal control programs.
• Interpreting and applying Federal accounting laws, regulations, standards, and guidance.
• Developing, implementing, or improving accounting policies, procedures, processes, financial management guidance, or system-related changes.
• Assessing internal controls, supporting financial statement audits, responding to audit findings, and directing corrective actions for deficiencies.
• Advising senior leadership, representing the organization with internal and external stakeholders, and supervising subordinate supervisors or professional accounting staff.

NOTE: Your resume must explicitly indicate how you meet this requirement, otherwise you will be found ineligible. Please see the "Required Documents" section below for additional resume requirements.

In addition to possessing the required specialized experience for this position, this series requires that applicants meet a positive education requirement. You meet the positive education requirement if you possess the following:

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.")

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:

• Twenty-four semester hours in accounting or auditing courses of appropriate type and quality. This can include up to 6 hours of business law;
• A certificate as Certified Public Accountant or a Certified Internal Auditor, obtained through written examination; or
• 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.

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.

You must:

• Meet all qualification requirements, including education if applicable to this position, subject to verification at any stage of the application process; and
• Meet all applicable Time in Grade requirements (current federal employees must have served 52 weeks at the next lower grade or equivalent grade band in the federal service) by 10/21/2026.

The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must authorize employment offers made to current or former political appointees. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES or Presidential Appointee employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the Human Resources Office.

Background Investigation:

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is a federal law enforcement agency that requires all applicants to undergo a thorough background investigation prior to employment in order to promote the agency's core values of vigilance, service to country, and integrity. During the screening and/or background investigation process, you will be asked questions regarding any felony criminal convictions or current felony charges, the use of illegal drugs (e.g., marijuana, cocaine, heroin, LSD, methamphetamines, ecstasy), and the use of non-prescribed controlled substances including any experimentation, possession, sale, receipt, manufacture, cultivation, production, transfer, shipping, trafficking, or distribution of controlled substances. For additional information on the preemployment process, review the following link: Applicant Resources | CBP Careers

Residency:

There is a residency requirement for all applicants not currently employed by CBP. Individuals are required to have physically resided in the United States or its protectorates (as declared under international law) for at least three of the last five years. If you do not meet the residency requirement and you have been physically located in a foreign location for more than two of the last five years, you may request an exception to determine if you are eligible for a residency waiver by meeting one or more of the following conditions:

• Working for the U.S. Government as a federal civilian or as a member of the military
• A dependent who was authorized to accompany a federal civilian or member of the military who was working for the U.S. government
• Participation in a study abroad program sponsored by a U.S. affiliated college or university
• Working as a contractor, intern, consultant or volunteer supporting the U.S. government

Probationary Period:

All employees new to the federal government must serve a one year probationary period during the first year of his/her initial permanent federal appointment to determine fitness for continued employment. Current and former federal employees may be required to serve or complete a probationary period.

Agency Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) or the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP) Eligibles:

If you have never worked for the federal government, you are not CTAP/ICTAP eligible. View information about CTAP/ICTAP eligibility on OPM's Career Transition Resources website. To be considered well qualified under CTAP/ICTAP, you must be rated at a minimum score of 85 for this position. In addition, you must submit the supporting documents listed under the Required Documents section of this announcement.