Accountant (Direct Hire) - Langley Research Center

Summary As an Accountant in the Office of Chief Financial Officer at NASA Langley Research Center you will provide accounting duties that require knowledge of cost accounting and accounts payable practices, familiarity with procurement concepts, and application of accounting theories, concepts, principles, and standards. Responsibilities Duties described below are at the highest grade advertised. Duties assigned at lower grade levels will be of more limited scope, performed with less independence and limited complexity; duties will be commensurate with the grade of selected employee. Serve as subject matter expert for cost accounting and accounts payable activities. Utilize Generally Accepted Accounting principles and familiarity with procurement practices to develop recommendations for resolving unique/challenging scenarios. Accurately accrue cost utilizing information provided on contractor cost reports. Capture, report, and provide expert analysis of financial data, prepare NASA financial statement audit samples, and complete ad hoc requests from stakeholders related to cost accounting. Perform analysis, validation, reconciliation, and processing of variety of financial data utilizing SAP and/or Business Warehouse (BW)/Business Objects (BOBJ) financial systems. Perform special assignments or projects to address and resolve process issues or to develop and implement process improvements. Monitor internal controls to identify problem areas, determine actions required, improve operating effectiveness, and ensure and maintain the integrity of financial and accounting information. Foster a culture of engagement, diversity, inclusiveness, excellence and innovation. Champion NASA's commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility to create an environment that promotes a commitment to safety, integrity, and teamwork. Requirements Conditions of Employment Qualifications In addition to the Basic Education Requirement (in the Education section below), to qualify for this position you must meet the requirements below. Specialized experience is experience that has equipped you with the particular ability, skill, and knowledge to successfully perform the duties of this position and is typically in or related to this line of work. To qualify for GS-11, you must have: a) One year of directly related specialized experience equivalent to the GS-09 level: Applying accounting theories, practices, and methods to operational accounting activities; Reviewing financial transactions to ensure data validity and accuracy; Performing research to respond to inquiries on a variety of accounting/financial topics. OR b) Completed all requirements for a doctoral degree (i.e., Ph.D. or equivalent) in an appropriate field OR c) Completed 3 full academic years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or equivalent doctoral degree in an appropriate field OR d) Have an equivalent combination of experience and graduate study as discussed in a), b) and c) above To qualify for GS-12, you must have: a) One year of directly related specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 level: Performing financial accounting duties such as cost accounting or preparation of recurring financial management reports; Reviewing and evaluating financial processes for effectiveness of internal controls or integrity of financial information; Reviewing data in reports or financial systems to identify abnormal trends or weaknesses. To qualify for GS-13, you must have one year of directly related specialized experience equivalent to the GS-12 level: Analyzing, validating, and reconciling a variety of financial or cost accounting data to ensure compliance with accounting principles, regulations, and policies; Reviewing accounting processes or systems to identify inefficiencies/weaknesses and making recommendations for corrective measures or process improvements; Analyzing financial data to identify abnormal trends or weaknesses and presenting findings to management. Your resume must include a clear and detailed narrative description, in your own words, of how you meet the required specialized experience. Experience statements copied from a position description, vacancy announcement or other reference material constitutes plagiarism and may result in disqualification and losing consideration for the job. NASA prohibits the use of artificial intelligence (AI) or AI-assisted tool in drafting application and assessment responses. Please visit https://www.nasa.gov/careers/how-to-apply/#Artificial-Intelligence to review NASA's guidance on the use of AI tools during the application process. Education Basic Education Requirement A. You must have successfully completed a full 4-year course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a bachelor's or higher degree that included a major 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. (The term "accounting" means "accounting and/or auditing"). OR B. Have a combination of education and experience: Have 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. Your background must also include one of the following: 24 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) you have 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 you have 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, your education, training, and experience fully meet the specified requirements. U.S. degrees must have been awarded from colleges or universities that are accredited by recognized accrediting organizations. For a list of schools that meet this criteria, go to http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show that the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs. These education credentials must be deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/. All degrees must have been received in the year of, or any year subsequent to the original date of accreditation. Additional Information Additional selections may be made for similar positions across NASA within the local commuting area(s) of the location(s) identified in this announcement. By applying, you agree to have your application shared with interested selecting official(s) within NASA. CTAP/ICTAP will be cleared for any additional selection from this announcement. This appointment may be extended beyond the initial appointment date, for a period not to exceed a total of six years. Current Federal civilian employees may apply for this position. If selected, a break in service of at least 4 calendar days may be required prior to appointment to this position. If you have special priority selection rights under the Agency Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) or the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP), you must: - Indicate your eligibility when applying for a position. The questionnaire asks you to identify your ICTAP/CTAP eligibility. - Meet the minimum qualifications requirements for the position -Submit proof that you meet the requirements for CTAP/ICTAP as indicated in 'Required Documents.' For additional information about CTAP/ICTAP eligibility, click here - https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/#ictap. Depending on position assignment, position may or may not be in a bargaining unit. To learn more about bargaining units at NASA please click here NASA Unions (Bargaining Units) | NASA.