Job Listing: Cost Accountant

Duty Locations

 1 vacancy - Honolulu, HI "To care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow and his orphan."

In this position, you will participate as a member of a team charged with responsibility of implementation of the Decision Support System (DSS), an automated information system that provides management with the analysis of all costs, utilization and quality associated with the delivery of health care at the patient level.  May assist in the development of guidelines for the automation and incorporation of cost and patient procedural data into DSS.  The final product will be computer generated reports which will then provide management with information by patient; bed section; ward; clinic; service; hospital and clinical groupings. 

 

A 25% cost of living allowance is included in the base salary.

 

The agency desires candidates who have completed their immunizations.

 

More than one vacancy may be filled through this announcement should the need arise.

 

Full Performance Level is GS-11

Major Duties

In addition to assisting in the implementation of the Decision Support System (DSS), you will also analyze the existing automated and manual systems to determine the financial and clinical information presently available; identify procedures done in each direct patient care unit, and determine the proper cost elements and relative value units for each procedure; write simple programs and audit the data collection process; perform system tests and validation process to ensure that the system is properly functioning after each programming change; document portions of the costing methodologies used in the cost accounting system for inclusion in the system’s technical manuals, and perform a variety of other accounting functions for the organization.

How to Apply

A complete Application Package must be received by 11:59 p.m., Eastern Time, on the closing date of Wednesday, May 14, 2008.

 

To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package, which includes both of the following parts:

(1)     Your responses to the Assessment Questionnaire (completed online or a hard copy Form 1203-FX (Form C)), and

(2)     Your résumé and any other documents specified in the Required Documents section below.

 

Your application package may be submitted in full or in parts via Application Manager, fax, or mail delivery. In other words, you may submit your resume online, then submit your transcripts via fax, then submit your DD-214 via regular mail.

 

Use Application Manager for convenience and quickest processing. Track your progress to a Complete Application Package using the My Application Packages checklist and status displays in Application Manager. (NOTE: Application Manager has a navigation box that appears on the left side of the screen whenever you are working on an Application Package. The items listed in the navigation box are pages you need to visit, and represent steps you need to complete, in order for your Application Package to reach the status of Complete.) Your Application Package status must be Complete by Wednesday, May 14, 2008.

 

Option A:  Application Manager

To begin, choose ONE of these options:

·         If your résumé is going to be one you prepared outside of USAJOBS Résumé Builder, click this link to begin the process:  Online Questionnaire.

OR

·         If your résumé is going to come from the USAJOBS Resume Builder, you begin the process by clicking the Apply Online button near the bottom of this page. Your résumé will be attached only to the Application Package you complete and Submit immediately after you click the Apply Online button for this job announcement, not to any Application Packages you may already have created.

 

To return to Application Manager at any time, click this link: https://ApplicationManager.org.

 

Option B:  Paper Qualifications Questionnaire

If it is not possible for you to use Application Manager, you can write your answers on paper, and submit the form, with your resume and any supporting documents by fax or by mail.  Obtain and print a copy of the OPM Form 1203-FX (Qualifications and Availability Form C), which you will use to provide your answers. You can obtain the form at this URL http://www.opm.gov/Forms/pdf_fill/OPM1203fx.pdf or by calling USAJOBS by Phone at (703) 724-1850; after the introduction, press 1, and listen for instructions. (Note:  Use the “Instructions for Completing the Hard Copy Questionnaire” below (in the Required Documents section) as a guide to filling out the form.)

 

To Fax Resumes, Documents and/or Forms:  

·            If you are faxing a Form 1203-FX, do not use a separate cover sheet. Simply make sure the Form 1203-FX is on top of any other documents you are faxing.

·            If you are faxing any documents (such as a resume or transcripts) without the Form 1203-FX on top, always use the official cover sheet which is here -- http://staffing.opm.gov/pdf/usascover.pdf -- and be sure to fill it out completely and clearly.  The information contained on the cover page should match exactly the information you provided to the assessment questionnaire (Vacancy ID number FS186082, your name, and SSN).

The fax number is 1-478-757-3144.  Feed all documents into your fax machine top first so that we receive them right-side up.

 

To Mail:  If you must mail any of your application materials, please use the address shown at the end of this vacancy announcement.  Indicate the vacancy announcement number (FS186082-08-PS) on your application materials and on the envelope.  Your application materials will not be returned, so please do not submit original documents that you may need in the future.

Required Documents:

In addition to your responses to the Assessment Questionnaire, the following documents are required:  

 

Resume
A copy of your college transcripts or list of college courses, if applicable
Veterans Preference documentation, if you are claiming veteran preference
CTAP/ICTAP documentation, if applicable
Qualifications/Miscellaneous (Optional)  You may include your response to the narrative question in one of these categories of documents, cover letter, etc.  However, there are no required documents that must be submitted under either document type.)

If you fail to submit all of the required materials, we will not be able to fully process your application, and you may lose consideration for this position.  No additional information will be solicited or accepted after the closing date.

 

RESUME:  In your resume, be sure you provide all of the information requested below:

 

1.       Vacancy Announcement Number (FS186082-08-PS), title and grade(s) for which you are applying.

2.       Your full name, mailing address (with zip code) and day/evening telephone numbers (with area code); Social Security Number; Country of Citizenship. If ever employed by the Federal Government, please show the highest Federal civilian grade held, job series, and dates of employment in grade.

3.       Education - High School name, city, state and zip code, date of diploma or GED. For any Colleges and/or Universities attended, include city, state and zip code; major field(s) of study; type and year of degree(s) received. If no degree received, show total credit hours received in semester or quarter hours. 

4.       Work Experience - List each paid or non-paid position held related to the job for which you are applying (do not provide copies of job descriptions). Include job title; duties and accomplishments; number of hours per week; employer's name and address; supervisor's name and phone number; starting and ending dates of employment (month and year); salary. Indicate if your current supervisor may be contacted.

5.       Other Qualifications - Job-related training courses (title and year); job-related skills (e.g., other languages, computer software/hardware, tools, machinery, typing speed, etc.); job-related certificates and licenses; job-related honors, awards, and special accomplishments (e.g., publications, memberships in professional or honor societies, leadership activities, public speaking, performance awards, etc.). Do not send copies of documents unless specifically requested.

 

SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS:

 

College Transcripts - If you are using education or a combination of education and experience to qualify,  or if there are mandatory course requirements for the job, you must submit copies of college transcripts or a list of college courses taken that identify for each course the college or university, semester or quarter hours earned, grade and grade-point received. (Official transcripts are not required.) If your school does not operate on a semester hour (SH) or quarter hour (QH) system (i.e., academic credit is expressed in contract months, units, or other terms that differ from conventional SH/QH), you must include a statement of equivalency from your school equating the school's credits to SH or QH. (This information is often found on the back of college transcripts.) You must submit evidence that any education completed in a foreign institution is equivalent to U.S. educational standards and that you have the required knowledge, skills and abilities for this position.

 

Veterans’ Preference - If you are claiming 5-point veterans’ preference, you must submit a copy of your military discharge certificate, DD-214, or other valid proof of eligibility. If you are claiming 10-point preference, you must submit an Application for 10-Point Veterans' Preference, SF-15, and the required documentation specified on the form. The SF-15 can be downloaded from the USAJOBS website. IF YOU DO NOT SUBMIT ALL OF THE REQUIRED DOCUMENTATION, YOU WILL NOT RECEIVE ADDITIONAL VETERAN PREFERENCE POINTS.

 

Surplus or Displaced Federal Employees:  Eligible Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) or Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP) applicants may apply for special selection over other candidates for this position. To exercise selection priority for this vacancy, you must be rated at 85 or above on the rating criteria for this position.  You must submit one of the following as proof of eligibility for the special selection priority:  a separation notice; a “Notice of Personnel Action” (SF-50) noting current or last position, grade level, duty location and documenting separation; an agency certification that you cannot be placed after injury compensation has been terminated; an OPM notification that your disability annuity has been terminated; OR a Military Department or National Guard Bureau notification that you are retired under 5 U.S.C. 8337(h) or 8456.

 

INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMPLETING THE HARD COPY QUESTIONNAIRE (FORM 1203-FX).  If you are applying to this announcement by completing the OPM 1203-FX form instead of using the Online Application method, please use the following step-by-step instructions as a guide to filling out the required questionnaire. You will need to print the vacancy announcement (or at least the following instructions) and refer to it as you answer the questions. You may omit any optional information; however, you must provide responses to all required questions. Be sure to double check your application before submission.

 

Submitting Documents

 

If you upload your documents using Application Manager, DO NOT FAX the same documents. To verify uploaded documents have been processed, please wait one hour to ensure they have cleared the virus scan. You can verify that your uploaded documents are attached to your application by checking the Details tab of your Application Manager account https://applicationmanager.org for this vacancy announcement. Your documents will display under the Details tab in the Document area.

 

Faxed documents will take 2-3 business days to process. To fax documents, you MUST use the special cover page. Print the pre-populated cover page on the upload documents screen of Application Manager. Or, you may click this link http://staffing.opm.gov/pdf/usascover.pdf to print a copy of the cover page. When faxing documents, follow the procedures outlined below.  

 

Include the 8-character Vacancy Identification Number FS186082
Provide your Social Security Number and full name in the spaces provided or we will not be able to associate your document(s) with the rest of your application.
You may submit multiple documents for the same vacancy announcement using one cover page.
Fax your cover page and documents to 1-478-757-3144.

 

Faxed documents submitted with missing information will not be processed. The following will prevent your documents from being processed: 

 

Not using the special cover page mentioned above.
Missing, incomplete, or invalid Vacancy Identification Number
Missing or incomplete Social Security Number or name

 

Note: If you have documents in your Application Manager account from a previous vacancy announcement they can be opened, copied and saved then reused as an upload file for this vacancy. Uploading your documents will speed the processing of your application for this announcement.

 

Social Security Number

Enter your Social Security Number in the space indicated. Providing your Social Security Number is voluntary, however, we cannot process your application without it.
Vacancy Identification Number

FS186082
1. Title of Job

Cost Accountant
2. Biographic Data

All biographic information is required, except for country (unless you reside in an overseas area), your telephone number, the contact time and fax number.
3. E-Mail Address

Would you like to be notified by e-mail? If so, please enter your e-mail address in the space provided.
4. Work Information

If you are applying by the OPM Form 1203-FX, leave this section blank.

5. Employment Availability

If you are applying by the OPM Form 1203-FX, leave this section blank.

6. Citizenship

(Required) Are you a citizen of the United States?
7. Background Information

If you are applying by the OPM Form 1203-FX, leave this section blank.

8. Other Information

If you are applying by the OPM Form 1203-FX, leave this section blank.

9. Languages

If you are applying by the OPM Form 1203-FX, leave this section blank.

10. Lowest Grade

Enter the lowest grade you are willing to accept.
11
11. Miscellaneous Information

If you are applying by the OPM Form 1203-FX, leave this section blank.

12. Special Knowledge

If you are applying by the OPM Form 1203-FX, leave this section blank.

13. Test Location

If you are applying by the OPM Form 1203-FX, leave this section blank.

14. Veteran Preference Claim

Enter your veterans' preference claim. (Note: If you are claiming veterans' preference YOU MUST submit supporting documentation as specified in the vacancy announcement to receive eligibility consideration.)
15. Dates of Active Duty - Military Service

These dates are required if you have claimed veterans' preference, unless you have claimed derived preference (i.e., widow, spouse, etc.). Please use this format: (mm/dd/yyyy)
16. Availability Date

If you are applying by the OPM Form 1203-FX, leave this section blank.

17. Service Computation Date

If you are applying by the OPM Form 1203-FX, leave this section blank.

18. Other Date Information

If you are applying by the OPM Form 1203-FX, leave this section blank.

19. Job Preference

If you are applying by the OPM Form 1203-FX, leave this section blank.

20. Occupational Specialties

(Required) The specialty code for this position is:
001 Cost Accountant
21. Geographic Availability

(Required) The location code for this position is:
0768 Honolulu, HI
22. Transition Assistance Plan

Complete this section ONLY IF you are a surplus or displaced Federal employee requesting special priority consideration under the Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) or the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP). To be considered, you must be a surplus or displaced Federal employee as defined in the regulations, be applying for a vacancy at or below the grade level of the position from which you have been or are being separated (and with no greater promotion potential than your position), and be occupying or have been displaced from a position in the same local commuting area as the vacancy.

Note: To receive consideration for the CTAP or ICTAP, you must submit the necessary supporting documentation as specified in the vacancy announcement.

23. Job Related Experience

If you are applying by the OPM Form 1203-FX, leave this section blank.

24. Personal Background Information

If you are applying by the OPM Form 1203-FX, leave this section blank.

25. Occupational/Assessment Questions:

EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND AND WORK EXPERIENCE: This section asks you to describe your educational background, your work, and other experiences in specific factors which relate to job performance. Record one response for each question online or in section 25 of Form 1203-FX. Please note that your answers may be verified against the information you provide in your resume. The quality, type, and scope of your experience, education and/or training must demonstrate that you are fully qualified to perform the duties of the position to be filled. Be sure to explicitly describe your background as it relates to the duties of this position since your narrative resume must support the responses you select in this questionnaire.
(Note: In this questionnaire, the term "accounting" means "accounting and/or auditing", and "accountant" generally means "accountant and/or auditor." "Accredited college or university" means a school accredited by one of the regional accrediting associations in the U.S.)

1. Select the one statement below that best describes how you meet the basic requirements for this position.

A. I have successfully completed, at an accredited college or university, a bachelor's or higher degree in accounting or in a related field such as business administration, finance, or public administration that included or was supplemented by 24 semester hours in accounting and/or auditing. The 24 hours may include up to 6 hours of credit in business law.

B. I 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. My background also includes at least 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; or 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) 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.

C. My background is NOT covered by the statement in A or B above.

2. Select the ONE letter from the statements following that best represents your "highest level" in meeting the qualification requirements for this position.

A. I have at least one year (12 months) of full-time specialized work experience which is equivalent to at least the GS-9 grade level in the Federal service that has equipped me with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position, including performing under limited supervision, design and modification of cost accounting systems, and using appropriate costing methodologies to recognize, determine, accumulate, and report costs of activities on a regular basis for management information purposes. This experience has provided me with an understanding of the characteristics and capabilities of the accounting software architecture and experience working with systems accountants, system analysts, and/or computer specialists to design and install computerized accounting systems and the systems that interface with them.
B. I have successfully completed at least three full-time years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree in accounting or auditing from an accredited university. One year of full-time graduate education is considered to be the number of credit hours that the school attended has determined to represent 1 year of full-time study. If the number cannot be obtained from the school, 18 semester hours will be considered one academic year of graduate study. Part-time graduate education is creditable in accordance with its relationship to a year of full-time study at the school attended.

C. Although I do NOT have at least one year of full-time specialized work experience as described in A above, and I do NOT have the complete graduate education described in B above, I DO have a combination of education and graduate education beyond the second full-time year or graduate study (as described above in A and B, respectively) that, when prorated, combine to meet the qualification requirement for this position. Experience and education should be computed as percentages of the overall requirements and must total at least 100 percent when combined. For example, an applicant with six months of qualifying work experience and one-half year of graduate education beyond the second full-time year of graduate study would meet the qualification requirement under this 'combination' provision

D. My education and/or work experience is not reflected in any of the above statements.

Please provide information in the narrative box provided or as a supplemental portion of your resume, on your background as it specifically relates to your ability to design and modify cost accounting systems; use of appropriate costing methodologies to recognize, determine, accumulate, and report costs of activities on a regular basis for management information purposes; and your understanding of the characteristics and capabilities of the accounting software architecture plus experience working with systems accountants, system analysts, and/or computer specialists to design and install computerized accounting systems and the systems that interface with them.

Knowledge of professional accounting policies, principles and concepts as they related to accounting systems
For each task in the following groups, choose the statement from the list below that best describes your experience and/or training. Please select only one letter for each item.

A- I have not had education, training or experience in performing this task.
B- I have had education or training in performing the task, but have not yet performed it on the job.
C- I have performed this task on the job. My work on this task was monitored closely by a supervisor or senior employee to ensure compliance with proper procedures.
D- I have performed this task as a regular part of a job. I have performed it independently and normally without review by a supervisor or senior employee.
E- I am considered an expert in performing this task. I have supervised performance of this task or am normally the person who is consulted by other workers to assist them in doing this task because of my expertise.

3. Resolve standardized accounting system problems.

4. Review, evaluate, summarize and propose changes to an accounting system.

5. Advise managers on changes to program requirements.

6. Recommend and implement significant changes to a variety of accounting systems or to a major, complex accounting system.

Ability to analyze data in order to resolve operational problems

7. Collect information to resolve routine problems.

8. Collect facts to resolve non-routine accounting problems in the organization.

9. Collect information, analyze data, and propose changes to the method of operations.

10. Collect a wide variety of information, analyze and evaluate the data, and recommend significant changes to the method of operations or systems.

Knowledge of accounting transactions and operations

11. Perform day to day processing of a variety of accounting transactions.

12. Compile and analyze financial reports that provide a record of disbursements.

13. Provide professional accounting assistance to managers regarding the accounting function and the application of accounting principles, policies, and procedures.

14. Ensure the integrity, propriety, and accuracy of accounting transactions.

15. Determine corrective action needed to resolve operational problem conditions.

16. Review and evaluate incoming source documents to identify discrepancies and their sources and prescribe corrective action.

17. Examine documents, records and accounting reports to ensure compliance with generally accepted accounting policies.

18. Ensure compliance with new operating procedures and regulations.

19. Review procedures related to validating and reporting accounting transactions that affect the asset, cost, liability, revenue, and proprietary accounts of customers.

Ability to evaluate account balances and data

20. Evaluate general ledger account balances and subsidiary ledgers for accuracy and integrity of data.

21. Perform research to reconcile abnormal account balances.

22. Advise managers on regulatory requirements.

23. Advise managers on financial policies and data interpretation.

24. Interpret, develop, and integrate accounting and financial policies and procedures in the organization.

25. Provide technical advice and training to technicians and program managers on the processing of accounting transactions or reconciliation of accounting/financial reports.

26. Assist customers in interpreting accounting data and applying financial data to management problems.

27. Monitor the compliance of accounting operations with established internal controls.

28. Determine actions required to improve operating program effectiveness.

29. Use automated data processing systems in accounting operations.

30. Resolve the automated data processing system aspects of accounting program/system problems.

31. Develop or revise accounting and financial reporting requirements based on new legislation or changes in regulations.

32. Conduct special studies for identifying system problems and ensuring effectiveness of internal controls.

33. Develop procedures for maintaining internal controls required to prevent and detect Anti-Deficiency Act violation and fraudulent payments.

34. Direct processes related to examining, computing and certifying entitlements to payments and claims.

35. Develop and implement standard operating procedures for timely processing of payments and disbursements for the organization.

36. Conduct assessments of technical staff to determine training needs.

37. Implement vulnerability assessments and internal control reviews.

Knowledge of appropriate Federal Government regulations

38. Use knowledge of Federal government accounting laws and policies, regulations, and precedents applicable to vendor pay, travel or disbursing operations.

39. Use knowledge of Federal government regulations applicable to accounting operations in civilian agencies.

40. Use knowledge of Federal government regulations applicable to accounting operations in the Department of Veterans Affairs.

41. Use knowledge of non-appropriated funds laws and regulations governing non-appropriated fund accounting procedures.

42. Use knowledge of general ledger to include trial balances, subsidiary ledges, reconciliation, etc.

43. Use knowledge of commercial accounting for profit-making entities.

44. Use knowledge of automated accounting systems which encompass payroll, fixed assets ledger, resale and storeroom ledger, prepaids, deferral, etc.

45. Prepare and review budgets.

46. Prepare trend analyses.

47. Prepare variance analyses.

48. Compute rates of return on projects.

 

Contact Information:
Patricia R. Stockton

Phone: (808)259-9547

Email: patricia.stockton@opm.gov


Or write:
USOPM San Francisco Services Branch
San Francisco Federal Building
90 Seventh Street Suite 13-300
San Francisco, CA 94103


What To Expect Next:

You will receive notification of your rating and/or referral to the hiring official by mail or e-mail.  If further evaluation or interviews are required you will be contacted directly by the hiring agency.  The agency expects to make selection within 90 days from the closing date of this announcement.