Accounting Technician

This position is located within the Resource Management Directorate, Finance Department in the Accounting Section, located at the Captain James A. Lovell Federal Health Care Center (FHCC), North Chicago, Illinois; a 1c complexity facility. The Lovell FHCC is larger than just a single facility, but rather a system of facilities throughout Northeastern Illinois and Wisconsin which provide medical and dental services to U.S. Military Veterans, Recruits, Active-Duty, and eligible beneficiaries.

MAJOR DUTIES Financial Data Review/Verification The Accounting Technician troubleshoots complex situations and resolves complex problems by reviewing accounting data and documents for accuracy and out of balance conditions. The employee identifies and resolves a wide range of discrepancies by determining where errors have occurred and the cause(s) of the errors. Conducts extensive research before taking corrective action for all discrepancies found and decides the steps necessary to correct the problem(s), ensuring all corrective actions are completed. Provides guidance and assistance to lower graded technicians and assists them in solving problems. The employee examines and maintains financial accounts and accounting data. Classifies accounting transactions verifying the accuracy and completeness of the accounting data. Determines the general ledger accounts, journals, and subsidiary accounts affected, and the debit and credit entries to be made. Summarizes transactions and prepares control documents or other posting documents reflecting the entries to be processed. Has technical responsibility for the maintenance, auditing, and reconciliation of general ledger and subsidiary accounts, for the preparation of accurate and timely reports, and for the control of funds. Determines the nature of errors and adjusts in the correct appropriation to a variety of interrelated accounts. Researches, interprets, and verifies which appropriation and general ledger accounts a document and subsequent accounting transactions will affect; establishes routines for input of these transactions. The employee supports various financial systems, financial management, accountants, other accounting technicians, and voucher examination for the Lovell FHCC. This position is assigned unique and special nonrecurring projects. Performs preparation of accruals, adjusting journal entries, and recurring and nonrecurring monthly accounting reports as necessary. Reconciles accounting systems output with input for accuracy. Maintains control of funds obligated and funds expended. Analyzes accounting transactions to assure a proper audit trail. Reviews pending items and ensures that follow-up action is taken on all items pending for excessive periods of time. The following is a general description of what is to be accomplished: - Reviews documents for compliance with existing manuals, regulations, and station policies. - Certifies fund availability to cover all initiations, commitments, and obligations. - Prepares correspondence concerning the status of outstanding obligations. - Matches disbursing documents with obligation data; verifies accuracy and completeness of data and ensures that equipment, materials, or services have been received. - Reconciles open obligations monthly with Financial Management System reports. - Maintains and reconciles separate accounts for the North Chicago VAMC. Maintains the following programs as assigned: Suspense, General Post Fund, Patients Funds, CWT/TR, House Staff, Daily Deposits/Debit Memos, 224 Accounts, Agent Cashier Monitors, Equipment, Real Property, Federal Advances, Bulk Issue Offsets. Travel Support The employee serves as alternate Agency/Organization Program Coordinator (A/OPC) performing duties associated with the Government Charge Card Program. Responsible for performing A/OPC duties only during the absence of the principal A/OPC. The A/OPC is authorized to request that the Transportation Management Center (TMC) establish new accounts and close accounts. Agent Cashier Activities The employee serves as an alternate Agent Cashier (Class "A"), a category of disbursing officers authorized to make payments from advanced funds. Responsible for performing agent cashier duties only during the absence of the principal agent cashier. Interprets, applies, and issues instructions concerning the Department of Treasury regulations pertaining to Cash Management Programs (e.g., Disbursements and Collections; Credit Card Collection Network (Visa, MasterCard, Diners Club Activity, etc.; Over-the-Counter Channel Application (OTCnet); Cerner, Integrated Funds Distribution Control Point Activity Accounting & Procurement (IFCAP); and Collections Information Repository (CIR). Accountable for proper disbursement, receipt, and deposit of all public and private funds for the organization, in accordance with regulations of the Department of Veterans Affairs and the U.S. Treasury. Work Schedule: Monday to Friday 7:30am - 4:00pm Telework: Ad-hoc. This position may be authorized for telework. Telework eligibility will be discussed during the interview process. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Accounting Technician/PD25007A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized

You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job To be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process. In addition to the application and questionnaire, this position requires an online assessment. The online assessment measures critical general competencies required to perform the job. Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959 Physical Requirements: The work required does not inherently include any physical requirements essential for successful job performance that could not otherwise be performed with accommodation or workplace adjustment. A pre-placement physical examination is not required. Subject to background/security investigation Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP) As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider: your performance and conduct; the needs and interests of the agency; whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service. Upon completion of your probationary period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.