Supervisory Accountant (Branch Chief).

Responsibilities

• Ensure accurate and timely FSIS financial reports to USDA, OMB, Treasury, and Congress.
• Lead reconciliation of cash, fund balances, general ledger accounts, disbursements, and collections.
• Provide functional and security administration for USDA’s financial management system.
• Manage accounting codes, master files, and feeder system data structures.
• Ensure accurate integration of financial data from FMS and related subsystems.
• Apply complex legislative and administrative guidance to FSIS financial operations.
• Lead development of standardized financial system requirements and documentation.
• Conduct data analysis, develop reports, and provide findings to leadership.
• Provide technical direction, training, performance management, and oversight of daily operations.

Requirements

Conditions of employment:

• 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.
• May be required to successfully complete a probationary or trial period, unless previously served.
• 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.
• Direct Deposit: Per Public Law 104-134, all Federal employees must have federal payments made by direct deposit to their financial institution.
• If newly hired, documentation presented for completing the Department Homeland Security (DHS) Form I-9 will be verified through the DHS "E-VERIFY" system.
• Must successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check.
• False statements or responses on a resume or application can jeopardize employment and may result in disciplinary action, including removal from Federal service.
• If selected, may need to complete a Declaration for Federal Employment (OF-306) prior to appointment to determine suitability for Federal employment and authorize a background investigation.

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.

Specialized Experience

Applicants must have one year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-13 level) that demonstrates:

• Leads the preparation and validation of FSIS financial reports to ensure accuracy and compliance with USDA, OMB, Treasury, and congressional requirements.
• Directs the functional and security administration of USDA's financial management system to maintain system integrity.
• Oversees monitoring of delinquent debt and reimbursable, interagency, and state inspection program agreements to ensure proper financial accountability.
• Manages coordination of A-123 and OIG audit responses to ensure alignment with applicable legislative and administrative financial guidance.
• Provides technical leadership and supervisory oversight to accounting staff to strengthen operational performance.

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:

• 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 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;
  • 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, provided that:
    • 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;
    • 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 above;
    • 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.

Benefits

A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time, or intermittent.