SUPERVISORY ACCOUNTANT

This position is located within Rural Development Finance Office, Office of Accounting and Finance, Cash Reporting Division, the System Automation Branch. Rural Development helps rural areas to develop and grow by offering Federal assistance that improves quality of life.

Major duties

• Directs the development and implementation of new accounting systems to meet the needs and requirements of the mission area program requirements due to prevailing laws, regulations and standards.
• Performs the full range of supervisory responsibilities assigning work, setting and adjusting priorities as needed, and perform a full array of humans resources and administrative duties.
• Develop policies, methods and procedures related to loan and grant accounting functions to effectively and efficiently meet the goals and objectives to support overall mission.
• Serves as a key advisor in areas of direct and guaranteed loan and grant accounting, debt management and collection, credit reform and financial reporting.
• Participates in decision-making sessions with management officials, and advises managers on regulatory requirements, financial policies, the interpretation of data, and the importance of accounting data to support Disbursement operations.
• Manage, plans and directs the overall works by providing interpretive guidance to staff and functional representatives regarding disbursements and Treasury reporting functions. Sets and Adjust priorities.
• Coordinates solutions for accounting system issues to ensure system adequacy, reviewing internal controls and validating accounting data.

Qualifications

Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement including time-in-grade restrictions, specialized experience and/or education, as defined below. . Time in Grade: Current federal employees applying for a promotion opportunity must meet the time in grade requirement of 52 weeks of service at the next lower grade level in the normal line of progression for the position being filled. For the GS-14 level: Applicants must possess one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level; or its non-Federal equivalent that demonstrates: Experience leading complex accounting operations within a federal financial management environment, including responsibility for disbursements, cash reporting, systems reconciliations, internal controls, and audit readiness. Provide guidance and direction in accounting theories, concepts, principles, and practices to conduct a variety of assignments related to accounting and financial transactions.Experience in interpreting complex financial and accounting data and providing appropriate analysis for management's use in decision-making. Experience in developing guidance, memoranda, and instructions, which cover the full spectrum of accounting. Experience in managing, validating, authorizing and reconciling accounting for core financial information systems that support accounting systems, internal ledgers, budgeting, procurement, disbursement and statistical reporting ensuring financial activity is accurately captured and reported. Experience in financial management, fiscal and accounting theories, concepts, principles, and procedures, and generally accepted accounting principles and standards. Experience which reflects the ability to directly and indirectly supervise subordinate employees; assign, direct, and review their work; plan and carry out training and development; solve problems related to the work supervised. 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

Basic Requirements: Applicants must provide documentation (such as a transcript, CPA certificate, etc.) to show they meet the Basic Requirements, either Alternative A or Alternative B for this position. Failure to provide documentation may result in loss of consideration for this position. Alternative 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 semester hours may include up to 6 hours of credit in business law. OR Alternative B: A 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). Under Alternative B, the applicant's background must also include one of the following: (1) 24 semester hours in accounting or auditing courses of appropriate type and quality (including up to 6 semester hours of business law); (2) A certificate as a Certified Public Accountant or 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 (at least 15 semester hours) provided that (a) the applicant has successfully worked at the full performance level in accounting, auditing, or a related field; (b) a panel of at least two higher level professional accountants has determined that the applicant has demonstrated a good knowledge of accounting and related fields that is equivalent to a four-year course of study leading to a degree as describe in Alternative A; and (c) except for literal non-conformance to the requirement of 24 semester hours in accounting, the applicant's education, training, and experience fully meet the specified requirements.

Requirements

You must be a US Citizen or US National. Males born after 12/31/1959 must be Selective Service registered or exempt. Subject to satisfactory adjudication of background investigation and/or fingerprint check. Direct Deposit - Per Public Law 104-134 all Federal employees are required to have federal payments made by direct deposit to their financial institution. Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit https://www.e-verify.gov/. Subject to one year supervisory/managerial probationary period unless prior service is creditable. New USDA supervisors must successfully complete all components of the required training program before the end of their probationary period. As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary 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. 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 depending on your appointment type, unless previous federal service is creditable. During this time your employment will be evaluated, and 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 or trial period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.