Summary This position is located in the Office of Financial Policy and Compliance, Office of the Associate Administrator for Budget and Programs/Chief Financial Officer (CFO), Maritime Administration (MARAD). This position supports the Director by providing guidance on improving the MARAD’s accounting and financial management processes. Responsibilities The Accountant: Analyzes current business practices/processes, identifying areas for improvement, and recommending changes to enhance efficiency and effectives. Assists with financial policy development and supporting the agency’s internal control and compliance programs. Provides analysis and advice regarding accounting programs and financial systems. Performs analyses of financial reporting and conducts various studies and compliance assessments, leads business process improvement and organizational development initiatives. Leads the development of financial policy. Undertakes a range of special projects and/or management studies or analysis as assigned within the Office of Financial Policy and Compliance. The ideal candidate is a professional responsible to provide the CFO and agency and Departmental officials with respect to MARAD accounting, financial reporting, budget execution, funds control, and financial operations. Requirements Conditions of Employment You must be a U.S. Citizen and eligible for consideration. Direct Hire Authority will also be used to fill this position. Required documents must be submitted by the closing date. Submit application and resume online by 11:59 PM EST on the closing date. CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT: SELECTIVE SERVICE: Males born after 12/31/1959 must be registered for the Selective Service. GOVERNMENT TRAVEL CARD: This position involves travel. A government contractor-issued travel card will be issued and must be retained for official business only. TELEWORK ELIGIBILITY: This position may be eligible for occasional and/or regularly scheduled telework. The number of telework days approved will be determined by your immediate supervisor or manager following the agency’s telework policy and guidance. If participating in the telework program, you will be required to sign a telework agreement detailing agency telework policy requirements, working conditions, and expectations for the position. PCS/RELOCATION/RECRUITMENT: Permanent Change of Station (PCS), Relocation, and Recruitment Incentive authorization varies by position/selection. PROBATIONARY PERIOD: You must complete a one-year probationary period (unless already completed). TIME-IN-GRADE: Federal applicants must have served 52 weeks at the next lower grade in the competitive or excepted service in the executive branch to satisfy time-in-grade restrictions contained in 5 CFR 300, Subpart F. DEU REQUIREMENTS: Applicants selected under delegated examining procedures may be required to successfully complete a one-year probationary period (unless already completed). Qualifications To meet the minimum qualifications for this position, you must meet the education and specialized experience requirements. To qualify for the Grade 14, you must have at least one year of experience equal or equivalent to the GS-13, it must include: Experience with theory, concepts, principles, and practices of accounting and financial management to conduct assignments involving interfaces and inter-relationships between and among programs, systems, functions, policies, and various issues. Experience with program management policies, concepts, practices, and principles sufficient to analyze and develop recommendations for improvement in operating and administrative support program goals, objectives, and performance. Experience with operating and administrative support programs and interrelationships among such programs sufficient to perform financial management analysis and identify cross-programmatic issues. KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES (KSAs): Your qualifications will be evaluated on the basis of your level of knowledge, skills, abilities and/or competencies in the following areas: Accounting Operations-Knowledge of general ledger accounting and the control/subsidiary account relationships and reconciliation techniques, including accounts receivable, accounts payable, and disbursing officer's accountability. Problem Solving - Ability to: identify problems; determine accuracy and relevance of information in support of analysis and problem solving; use sound judgment to generate and evaluate alternatives and make recommendations. Information Management - Experience identifying a need for and knowing where or how to gather information relevant to a particular requirement; familiar with processes for organizing and maintaining information or information management systems. Planning and Evaluating - Experience organizing work, setting priorities, and determining resource requirements; determining short- or long-term goals and strategies to meet priorities or resource requirements; coordinating with other organizations or parts of the organization to accomplish goals; monitoring progress and evaluating outcomes. For all types of consideration, 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. For additional information about applying to Federal positions, please click on the following link: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-policies/#url=e4 All applicants must meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement. Education 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: 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. Additional Information Nonforeign Area Cost-of-Living Allowances: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/pay-systems/nonforeign-areas/#url=COLA-Rates Lead duties may be assigned based on position/selection. The Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs Act prohibits the Department of Transportation and its Operating Administrations from requesting an applicant's criminal history record before that individual receives a conditional offer of employment. In accordance with 5 U.S. Code § 9202(c) and 5 C.F.R § 920.201 certain positions are exempt from the provisions of the Fair Chance to Compete Act. Applicants who believe they have been subjected to a violation of the Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs Act, may submit a written complaint to the Department of Transportation by email at, FairChanceAct@dot.gov. To learn more, please visit our page at: The Fair Chance to Compete Act | US Department of Transportation This announcement may be used to fill additional positions if similar vacancies occur within 90 days of the issue date of the referral certificate. Qualified CTAP/ICTAP candidates receive priority and will be referred to the hiring manager.