Accountant (Staff)

Summary

This position is located in the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), Office of Justice Programs (OJP), Office of the Chief Financial Officer (OCFO), Grant Financial Management Division (GFMD).

Duties

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The duties and responsibilities for a GS- 0510-13 generally include, but are not limited to, the following:

Major Duties:

• Interprets and administers comprehensive accounting and financial management policies to ensure compliance with federal standards established by Office of Management and Budget (OMB), Treasury Department, General Accountability Office (GAO), Department of Justice (DOJ), and Office of Justice Programs (OJP), including formulating policy clarifications on fiscal requirements for record-keeping, auditing, purchasing, grant management, and contracting.
• Analyzes complex federal grant administration requirements for grant-in-aid programs by reviewing OMB circulars, program regulations, DOJ/OJP guidelines, and authorizing statutes to establish procedures resolving unprecedented issues affecting grant programs.
• Serves as subject matter expert on accounting and financial management policies by authoring and revising official guidance, producing clear written material on complex technical accounting topics, and coordinating development and dissemination of policy statements.
• Provides technical guidance and education to discretionary grant recipients, state criminal justice agencies, and for-profit/nonprofit organizations on financial accountability, budgeting, grants management, and compliance with federal statutes and DOJ/OJP policies.
• Conducts cost analysis and validation by reviewing indirect cost rate applications from state/local governments and organizations, examining payment requests and grant budgets to verify cost allowability, allocability, reasonableness, and compliance with cost principles.
• Performs comprehensive financial monitoring by conducting on-site visits to assess grantee accounting systems, analyzing financial reports and audit findings, and consulting with stakeholders to identify and resolve complex financial issues.
• Evaluates grantee operations to ensure compliance with federal requirements in financial accountability, budgeting, and program implementation, while reviewing waiver requests and assessing legislative impacts on operations.
• Develops and delivers specialized training by creating customized, program-specific technical assistance for grantees on a regional basis and conducting regular training sessions for Office of the Chief Financial Officer (OCFO) and OJP staff.
• Analyzes and resolves complex financial program issues requiring comprehensive strategies, evaluates impacts of legislative changes on program operations, and provides recommendations for policy formulation and decision making.
• Coordinates interagency collaboration by serving as DOJ/OJP liaison to working groups and task forces, presenting and negotiating agency positions, and partnering with Inspector General, federal agencies, and GAO on significant policy issues.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

• You must be a United States Citizen.
• You will be required to complete a pre-employment security investigation and background check which includes a drug screening.
• Selective Service registration is required for males born on, or after, December 31, 1959. Those not registered should have an approved exemption on file.
• You must meet all eligibility requirements by the closing date of this announcement and continue to meet these requirements throughout the hiring process. Offers can be rescinded if requirements are not met.
• Financial Disclosure: If selected, you may be required to disclose financial information in accordance with DOJ and Federal ethics guidelines.
• Security Requirements: Non-Sensitive/Moderate Risk
• A USA Hire assessment is required. An email will be sent with additional information after you submit your application. You will have 48 hours from the closing date of this announcement to complete the assessment.

Qualifications

To qualify for the position of Accountant (Staff), at GS-0510-13, you must meet the qualification requirements listed below.

Basic Entry Requirements:

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:

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.

Specialized Experience:

Applicants must have one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-12 level. Specialized experience is experience which is in or related to the line of work of the position to be filled and which has equipped the applicant with the specific knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position.

Examples of specialized experience include:

• Analyzing the impact of budgetary or accounting events on multi-appropriated fund accounts;
• Performing quality assurance reviews of accounting procedures and making major revisions to accounting processes;
• Conducting cost reporting;
• Conducting financial monitoring and evaluating accounting systems and internal controls; and
• Analyzing cost requirements and variances, including validating indirect cost rates, examining budgets for cost allowability and allocability, and ensuring compliance with cost standards.

Online Assessment:

This position requires an online assessment. After you submit this application, you will receive an e-mail informing you that a USA Hire assessment is required of you. You will have 48 hours from the closing date of this announcement 10/20/2026 to complete the assessment as this assessment is part of your application.

You will be assessed on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics):

• Occupational Interaction Assessment:
  
  • Accountability
  • Attention to Detail
  • Customer Service
  • Flexibility
  • Integrity/Honesty
  • Interpersonal Skills
  • Learning
  • Self-Management
  • Stress Tolerance
  • Teamwork
• Occupational Judgment Assessment
  
  • Decision Making
• Occupational Math Assessment
  
  • Arithmetic
  • Mathematical Reasoning
• Occupational Reasoning Assessment
  
  • Reasoning

You MUST meet all qualification requirements, including time-in-grade, by the closing date of this announcement, 10/20/2026.

Your resume must support your responses to the online questionnaire and the qualification requirements. Failure to do so may result in an ineligible rating. See the Required Documents section for important notes about what must be included in your resume.

Education

This position has a positive education requirement. Please see the Qualifications section for more information.

Education must be reviewed and certified by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education, in order for it to be creditable towards your qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from accredited institution.

FOREIGN EDUCATION: Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the requirements. You must show proof the education credentials have been deemed to be at least equivalent to that gained in a conventional U.S. education program. It is your responsibility to provide such evidence when applying. For special instructions pertaining to foreign education and a list of organizations that can evaluate foreign education, see the Department of Education website. If you are qualifying on foreign education, you MUST submit proof of creditability of education as evaluated by a credentialing agency. All documentation must be in English or include an English translation.

Additional information

• OJP offers opportunities for flexible work schedules.
• Additional selections may be made from this announcement.
• Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution. Candidates will not be hired based on their race, sex, color, religion, or national origin
• Probationary Period: You may be required to serve a 1-year probationary period to evaluate your fitness and whether continued employment advances the public interest. We may consider: 1) performance and conduct; 2) agency needs and interests; 3) advancement of agency/Government organizational goals; and 4) Federal service efficiency. Upon completion, employment terminates unless you receive written certification that your continued employment advances the public interest.

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Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

Benefits

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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. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

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Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.