Accountant, GS-0510

By Human Capital

Definitions:

EXPERIENCE: One year of work experience is twelve months working full-time (at least 35-40 hours per week). Part-time experience can be pro-rated (i.e., a year at 20 hours per week is credited as 6 months of experience). If your position consisted of mixed duties, experience credit is given for the percentage of time that you spent on qualifying duties (i.e., if you held a position for 2 years, full-time, consisting of 25% personnel work and 75% budget work, and then applied for a budget position you could calculate your experience as follows: 2 years = 24 months. 24 months x 75% [percentage of time spent on budget duties] = 18 months of qualifying experience.)

UNDERGRADUATE EDUCATION: A year of undergraduate education is 30 semester hours, 45 quarter hours or the equivalent of college study. This education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university for which high school graduation or the equivalent was a prerequisite.

GRADUATE EDUCATION: In the absence of specific graduate program information, a year of graduate education is 18 semester hours or 27 quarter hours of graduate level college course work, or the number of credit hours the school attended has determined to represent 1 year of full time study. This education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university.

For GS-05:

BASIC EDUCATION REQUIREMENT: Applicants must meet A or B below to satisfy the basic education requirement for Accountant, all grade levels.

*OR*

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 of credit in business law.
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 oneof 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 nonconformance to the requirement of 24 semester hours in accounting, the applicant's education, training, and experience fully meet the specified requirements.

(CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS ON HOW TO COMBINE EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE)

For GS-07:

In addition to the basic education requirement as stated above, applicants must meet one of the following to qualify for the GS-07 level: 1 year of successfully completed graduate level education (18 semester hours, 27 quarter hours or the equivalent) in accounting or other directly related field of study if it provided the knowledge, skills and abilities necessary to do the work of this position.

***OR Superior Academic Achievement based on undergraduate study. (CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION ON SUPERIOR ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT).

**OR one year of appropriate professional experience that is in or related to the duties of this position is qualifying if it is equivalent in level of difficulty and responsibility to at least the GS-5 level in the Federal service, and if it equipped the applicant with the knowledge, skills and abilities to perform successfully the duties of this position.

Examples of GS-5 level experience may include: applying accounting laws, principles, systems, policies, methods, and practices to provide routine technical guidance to managers, employees and/or customers; analyzing and evaluating reports from financial systems; gathering financial data from various sources related to a specific financial issue; and researching accounting policies and laws to resolve common issues.

**OR a combination of successfully completed graduate level education, as described above, and professional experience, as described above. (CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS ON HOW TO COMBINE GRADUATE EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE)

For GS-09:

In addition to the basic education requirement as stated above, applicants must meet one of the following to qualify for the GS-09 level:

Two (2) years of progressively higher-level graduate education (36 semester hours, 54 quarter hours or the equivalent) leading to a master's degree in accounting or other directly related field of study that provided the knowledge, skills and abilities necessary to do the work of this position.

**OR one year of appropriate professional experience in accounting that is equivalent to at least the GS-07 level in the Federal service.

Examples of such experience may include: providing professional accounting services, advice, assistance, and information to an assigned area by applying accounting concepts, principles, and methods to the day-to-day accounting operations and automated accounting systems; tracking, analyzing, and reporting on financial activities; recording and reporting obligations and expenditures of appropriated funds; evaluating the effectiveness of internal accounting controls and systems; preparing accounting and financial reports for use by others; analyzing and reconciling reports to reflect an organization's financial activities and status of funds; designing, developing, examining and interpreting accounting data, statements and reports for management's use; and reviewing and analyzing financial statements and reports for the purpose of maintaining integrity of financial information and monitoring program effectiveness.

**OR a combination of successfully completed progressive graduate level education, as described above, that is beyond the first year of graduate study and professional experience, as described above. (CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS ON HOW TO COMBINE GRADUATE EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE)

For GS-11:

In addition to the basic education requirement as stated above, applicants must meet one of the following to qualify for the GS-11 level: 3 years of progressively higher level graduate education (54 semester hours, 81 quarter hours or the equivalent) leading to a Ph.D. degree in accounting or other directly related field of study if it provided the knowledge, skills and abilities necessary to do the work of this position.

**OR one year of appropriate professional experience in accounting that is equivalent to at least the GS-09 level in the Federal service.

Examples of such experience may include: providing professional accounting services in the interpretation and application of accounting principles, policies, and procedures; analyzing and interpreting, developing, adapting, modifying or integrating accounting data; designing, implementing and assessing internal control processes; providing analyses and reconciliations related to accounting functions involving a large number of transactions across interrelated systems; preparing financial reports; conducting studies of financial management execution activities; enhancing the validity, accuracy, and integrity of accounting processes.

**OR a combination of successfully completed graduate level education, as described, above that is beyond the second year of progressive graduate study and professional experience, as described above. (CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS ON HOW TO COMBINE GRADUATE EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE)

For GS-12:

In addition to the basic education requirement as stated above, applicants must have one year of appropriate professional experience in accounting that is equivalent to at least the GS-11 level in the Federal service.

Examples of such experience may include: providing professional accounting advice to management officials to assure accuracy of transactions and reliability of reporting, billings, collections, claims and remittance systems, ensuring the integrity of these systems, and developing new and revised techniques to improve system efficiency; reviewing and preparing accounts receivable accounting reports; developing, performing, and balancing accounting reconciliations using automated tools to determine and support the accuracy of recording transactions and the reliability of reports that are produced.

For GS-13:

Examples of such experience may include: recommending methods to preclude the over-commitment and/or over obligation of funds; assisting in establishing financial goals and objectives by applying knowledge of principles, concepts, laws, and regulations of financial administration; confirming the accuracy of financial data by analyzing financial transactions, trends, and metrics; making recommendations or adjustments to program specifications in order to assure proper accomplishment of financial goals; and developing financial, accounting and supply policies, procedures, or system requirements.

For GS-14:

Examples of such experience may include: applying a working knowledge of accounting principles, standards and practices to identify, analyze, and resolve increasingly complex accounting/financial management challenges and to complete accounting and financial analyses; resolving complex financial and operational management issues and coordinating solutions among affected programs at various organizational levels; communicating both orally and in writing with a wide variety of customers or stakeholders regarding complex accounting/financial issues.

For GS-15:

Examples of such experience may include: developing management strategies, policies, procedures and practices developed to improve the overall financial management of an organization; planning, developing and coordinating financial management improvements; developing policies, procedures, and processes related to financial operations; leading a team of financial professionals who advise on, administer, or perform professional accounting work; and determine financial management information and operational needs, makes recommendations, and monitors financial systems and programs.

« Return to Qualifications List