Summary This position is located in the Office of the Chief Financial Officer (OCFO), Accounting Division, Financial Reporting and Analysis Branch. The incumbent is responsible for the Architect of the Capitol’s (AOC) accounting and financial reporting, analyzing the accounting accuracy of all financial data that is generated from the AOC accounting system and providing accountability of all funds as well as assets and liabilities. Responsibilities MAJOR DUTIES include: Senior Accountant responsibilities (20%) The Senior Accountant works under the direct supervision of the Financial Reporting and Analysis Section Chief, Accounting Branch and supports the section chief by providing guidance and direction to the junior and operational accountants that are tasked with general ledger account analyses, reconciliations, trial balance data integrity, accounting for AOC’s financial activities to include leases, Property Plant and Equipment (PPE), required Treasury reporting, strategic plan initiatives and financial audit support. Serves as Senior Project Accountant for major AOC construction projects and programs as necessary. Reviews all project related cost data. Advises, leads and/or administers professional accounting work that requires application of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), theories, concepts and standards to AOC’s financial activities. Operational Accounting and Analysis, Accounting Consultation (25%) Provides advice to financial and program managers and other accountants on unusual and difficult accounting systems and/or operations problems and identifying opportunities for improvements to business processes and internal controls. As an accounting expert, analyzes and reconciles general ledger accounts and accounting data to assess accounting data integrity. Leads research and resolution of unusual and complex accounting or systems processing issues, identifying opportunities for business process improvements; not only within OCFO, but also AOC-wide, as applicable. Responsible for the primary preparation and review of financial reports that reflect the status of AOC’s funds; and interacting with appropriate personnel within the AOC jurisdictions to achieve these goals. Financial Management and External Reporting (25%) Provides expert support for maintaining efficient financial management processes and reporting AOC’s financial activities to external stakeholders. Such duties include but are not limited to: performs ongoing analysis to ensure that financial data is compliant with governing procedures and those transactions are accurately classified and presented in the financial reports. Provides primary support for the preparation of the agency's audited financial statements including fluctuation analyses. Financial Audit Support (10%) Works with external auditors on financial audits and reviews. Responds in a timely manner to audit requests and provides requested documentation in a professional manner. Works collaboratively with auditors and colleagues to clarify and resolve audit issues. Accounting Transaction Processing (15%) Processes the most complex accounting adjustments to general ledger accounts in the financial system to ensure that accounts reflect proper balances. Prepares and updates accounting entries to reflect AOC business activities such as billing and collections, acquisition and disposal of property, accruals and other relevant accounting transactions. Prepares and posts non-recurring adjustments as needed to correct and reflect accurate general ledger account balances, as needed. Develops, evaluates and recommends options and implements approved changes to improve accounting processes to satisfy regulatory requirements, maintains adequate internal controls, and capture useful, reliable and meaningful financial information. Special projects lead (5%) The Senior Accountant serves as the technical and functional lead for special projects related to various accounting and financial reporting matters that arise from accounting and financial management bodies mandate, internal requests and/or other requests. Requirements Conditions of Employment Your resume and question responses must demonstrate the job-related KSAs. You must be able to pass a drug test. You must meet the specialized experience and education requirements. “To be employed by the Architect of the Capitol in a paid position, an individual must meet one of the categories below: A citizen of the United States; A person who is lawfully admitted for permanent residence and is seeking citizenship as outlined in 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3)(B); A person who is admitted as a refugee under 8 U.S.C. 1157 or is granted asylum under 8 U.S.C. 1158 and has filed a declaration of intention to become a lawful permanent resident and then a citizen when eligible; A person who owes allegiance to the United States (nationals of American Samoa, Swains Island, and the Northern Mariana Islands, and nationals who meet other requirements described in 8 U.S.C. 1408); or A person who is currently an officer or employee of the Government of the United States.” Qualifications SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: In addition to meeting the Education Requirements, all applicants must possess one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-12 grade level. Duties may include specialized experience in any combination of the following activities: GS-13 LEVEL: Specialized experience includes: (1) Knowledge of accounting standards and practical application to the production of audited federal financial statements and related financial reports; (2) knowledge of budgeting and GTAS requirements; (3) preparing, analyzing, and interpreting accounting data; (4) high-level proficiency with large-scale core financial systems, systems interfaces, and financial reporting tools, including skill in operation of accounting systems, reviewing output, correcting errors, executing custom and standard queries and reports; and (5) the ability to communicate financial issues and use accounting information to recommend potential solutions to management. SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: In addition to meeting the Education Requirements, all applicants must possess one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-13 grade level. Duties may include specialized experience in any combination of the following activities: GS-14 Level: Specialized experience includes: (1) Knowledge of accounting standards and practical application to the production of audited federal financial statements and related financial reports; (2) knowledge of budgeting and GTAS requirements; (3) preparing, analyzing, and interpreting accounting data; (4) high-level proficiency with large-scale core financial systems, systems interfaces, and financial reporting tools, including skill in operation of accounting systems, reviewing output, correcting errors, executing custom and standard queries and reports; and (5) the ability to communicate financial issues and use accounting information to recommend potential solutions to management; and (6) the ability to lead and ability. Education REQUIRED EDUCATION Applicant's must have a bachelor's 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. (The term "accounting" means "accounting and/or auditing" and should be interpreted, generally, as "accountant and/or auditor.") OR A combination of education and experience of 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. Also include 24 semester hours in accounting or auditing courses, 6 of which can be in business law; a certificate as Certified Public Accountant or a Certified Internal Auditor through written exam; degree with substantial course work in accounting or auditing. Additional Information Welcome Veterans. The Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) gives veterans' preference rights in the legislative branch to certain veterans as applied by the Congressional Accountability Act. Veterans' preference is applied on this vacancy announcement. If you are a veteran and have been separated under honorable conditions, you must submit a copy of your DD-214 or other proof of eligibility; SF-15, if applicable; and Department of Veterans Affairs documentation of disability, if applicable. For more information, please visit http://www.opm.gov/veterans/html/vetguide.asp#6. If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, you must certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System. If you are exempt from registration under Selective Service Law, you must provide appropriate proof of exemption. Please visit the Selective Service System website for more information. DRUG TESTING: The Architect of the Capitol (AOC) is a Drug Free Workplace. As part of the AOC’s suitability assessment, a candidate tentatively selected for a position who is not currently an AOC employee is required to submit to screening for illegal drug use. Satisfactory completion of a drug test is a condition of employment with the Agency. A candidate must test negative prior to being eligible for appointment into a position. We will schedule, provide and cover the cost for the drug test. The selectee(s) under the vacancy announcement for this position is subject to a criminal record check by the U.S. Capitol Police and satisfactory adjudication to be eligible for employment at the Architect of the Capitol. The Architect of the Capitol is an E-VERIFY Participant. E-VERIFY is an Internet-based system that compares information from an employee's Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification, to data from U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Social Security Administration records to confirm employment authorization in the United States. If you are selected for this position, the documentation that you present for purposes of completing the DHS Form I-9 will be verified through the DHS "E-VERIFY" electronic system. For more information on E-Verify, please visit http://www.dhs.gov/files/programs/gc_1185221678150.shtm The Architect of the Capitol is an Equal Opportunity Employer and prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, age, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information and/or disability. This agency provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please notify the agency. The decision on granting reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis. Moving expenses are not authorized. Relocation expenses are not authorized. Probationary Period - A newly appointed selectee is subject to the completion of a one-year trial/probationary period, regardless of whether or not a trial/probationary period has been completed previously with the Architect of the Capitol or another Federal agency. This vacancy announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies in any of the jurisdictions of the Architect of the Capitol. All application materials become the property of the Architect of the Capitol.