Defense Finance and Accounting Service Logo
Position Title
ACCOUNTING TECHNICIAN
Agency
Defense Finance and Accounting Service
Announcement Number
LI-12742408-25 Opens in new window
Open Period
Friday, May 30, 2025 to Friday, June 13, 2025
For preview purposes only. To apply, please return to the USAJOBS announcement and click the Apply button.
Eligibilities
The following section is used to determine your eligibility for appointment in the Federal Government or Status for referral consideration. Please indicate by your responses all categories of eligibilities for which you would like to be considered. You will only be considered under eligibilities that you select. If you are not able to select at least one of the eligibilities below, you are not eligible to be considered for this position.

NOTE: You must submit the required documentation to verify EACH eligibility you select. Failure to provide the required documents will render you not eligible for consideration.

See instructions under the "How to Apply" tab for submitting documentation.
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1. Are you a current, permanent Career or Career-Conditional employee of the agency hiring for this position in the competitive service AND you reside in the local commuting area of the position's duty station AND my highest permanent grade is LOWER than the highest grade of this position? (SF-50 block 24 must be a "1" or "2") (limit characters)
2. Are you a current, permanent Career or Career-Conditional employee of the agency hiring for this position in the competitive service AND you reside in the local commuting area of the position's duty station AND I have held a permanent grade the SAME or HIGHER than the highest grade of the position being filled OR I have held a permanent developmental position with promotion potential to the same grade of the position being filled? (SF-50 block 24 must be a "1" or "2") (limit characters)
3. Are you a veteran who is currently an employee of the agency hiring for this position on a permanent Veterans Recruitment Appointment (VRA) AND you reside in the local commuting area of the position's duty station? (SF-50 block 24 must be a “1” or “2” AND block 34 must be a “2”). (limit characters)
4. I am a military spouse who is currently married to my active duty sponsor. I am exercising my preference eligibility for positions within the local commuting area of my sponsor's current duty station.  I certify that I have not accepted nor declined a permanent, continuing Federal appropriated or non-appropriated fund position in the local commuting area of our current duty location. 
NOTE 1:  Military spouses are eligible for one permanent noncompetitive appointment using their preference eligibility for the duration of the active duty sponsor's assignment to a permanent duty station, as long as the military spouse has not declined or accepted a permanent Federal or non-appropriated fund position in the commuting area of the sponsor's current duty location.  If you certify that you have not used your preference at your sponsor's current duty location and it is discovered to be untrue, you may be subject to loss of MSP and possible disciplinary action. 
NOTE 2:  You must include a copy of the Military Spouse PPP Self-Certification Checklist along with the documents identified on the checklist to verify your eligibility for MSP.
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Preferences
1. This position requires regular on-site attendance at the designated DFAS location in  DFAS Limestone, Maine. As a condition of employment, selected applicants must be willing and able to report to the worksite on a regular basis, as determined by the agency's needs. (limit characters)
There is a time-in-grade (TIG) requirement for this position for applicants who have held a General Schedule (GS) position in the previous 52 weeks. These applicants must meet TIG within 30 days of the closing date of the announcement. Your answer to this section will indicate you possess the time in grade requirement or if it does not apply. Please answer the following question(s) by selecting the most appropriate response.
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2. There is a time in grade (TIG) requirement for advancement to this position. Have you completed one year in a position at, above, or equivalent to the GS-05 level? Please indicate the appropriate response below: (limit characters)
3. This section is used to determine if your current performance rating is acceptable for further consideration. All current federal employees must have a minimum performance rating of at least Fully Successful (or equivalent) to be considered for placement. Current federal employees who have a current unacceptable performance rating will be excluded from consideration. NOTE: Failure to select one of the below responses will render you ineligible for further consideration.

If you are a current Federal employee, was your most recent performance rating of record (that is, the rating recorded in your official personnel folder) at least Fully Successful (or equivalent); OR a Pass rating on a Pass/Fail scale? Even if you have not received a rating of record in the past 12 months, you should still indicate your most recent performance rating of record.
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4. To be eligible for Military Spouse Preference (MSP) under this vacancy announcement, you must have appointment eligibility under one of the following authorities and submit the appropriate, required documentation to verify your eligibility. Please select one or more eligibilities that apply to you. (limit characters)
5. To exercise your PPP application based preference as a Military Reserve and National Guard Technician, Military Reserve and National Guard Technician Receiving Disability Retirement, or Retained Grade Preference Eligible under this vacancy announcement, you must have appointment eligibility under one of the following authorities and submit the appropriate, required documentation to verify your eligibility. Please select one or more eligibilities that apply to you. (limit characters)
6. Are you a retired Federal employee receiving an annuity from the Office of Personnel Management? NOTE: If you answered yes to this question, attach a copy of your retirement Standard Form 50 to your application. (limit characters)
7. Are you a current or former (within last five-years) Executive Branch political appointee; Schedule C excepted service appointee (confidential, policy or transitional role), or non-career or limited appointee in the Senior Executive Service (SES)?

Agencies must request OPM approval to appoint the following current or former (within five-years) Executive Branch political appointees to permanent competitive service, non-political excepted service, or career SES positions:
https://www.opm.gov/FAQs/QA.aspx?fid=023f2059-dff7-4307-89b4-c553c218af1d&pid=08248d29-d26e-44b6-9988-57655358d509
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Assessment 1
Instructions - Please accurately identify your level of training or experience when completing this questionnaire. Your responses will be evaluated and verified based on your submitted resume. Ensure that your resume accurately describes the level of education and/or experience claimed in the assessment questionnaire. Later steps in the selection process are specifically designed to verify your stated level of experience and demonstrated capability. By continuing in the application process, I acknowledge that my self-assessment questionnaire score may be reduced, and I may lose consideration for this position if the work experience described in my resume does not support my responses to the assessment questionnaire.
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1. From the descriptions below, select the letter that corresponds to the highest level of education and/or experience that you fully possess and demonstrates your ability to perform the work of Accounting Technician at the GS-06 grade level. Select only one letter for each item. (limit characters)
For each item, select the one response that most accurately describes your current level of experience and capability using the scale below. (limit characters)
2. Analyze account data to prepare worksheets that summarize data for report preparation.
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3. Create draft memoranda or letters, responding to inquiries of a non-routine nature, explaining various aspects of accounting to provide detailed and technical explanations of accounting discrepancies; procedural or reporting requirements.
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4. Prepare detailed financial reports on the status of funds in multiple accounts in order to certify to users that payments and accounts are current and in compliance with policy, regulation and terms of service.
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5. Train lower level accounting technicians in processing accounting transactions. (limit characters)
6. Extract data from multiple system sources to audit the accuracy of general or subsidiary ledgers. (limit characters)
7. Identify discrepancies in financial documents to determine source of error correct/adjust records appropriately. (limit characters)
8. Perform accounting work which involves processing vouchers; checking and assigning appropriation codes; updating pay or accounting systems; maintaining ledgers; processing pay actions; or performing debt collection (limit characters)
9. Prepare a variety of payment authorizations for payment to travelers based on receipt of all regulatory documentation.
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10. Reconcile general ledger accounts, according to applicable policies, procedures, and regulations. (limit characters)
11. Reconcile supporting documentation with listings and interrelated reports so that balances are in agreement. (limit characters)
12. Verify accuracy of accounting data to ensure sufficient funds have been obligated using applicable mathematical formulas. (limit characters)
13. Monitor fund balances and review postings to ensure entries are valid.
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14. Oversee debt collections process according to applicable policies procedures and regulations (limit characters)
15. Perform detailed analysis of transactions prior to inputting data into an automated accounting system.
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16. Pull error reports from multiple systems impacted by system changes or procedural errors applying approved business practices for the purpose of improving internal controls and procedures.
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17. Review accounting transactions files and computerized listings for information and accuracy before submitting for processing. (limit characters)
18. Review obligation invoices, receiving reports and payment vouchers to verify accounting data and mathematical accuracy in determining necessary accounting transactions for entry into accounting systems.
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19. Update pay or accounting systems including validating appropriation codes according to applicable policies, procedures and regulations. (limit characters)
20. Research financial data and perform continuous balancing and reconciling of disbursement accounts. (limit characters)
21. Certify payment vouchers according to applicable policies, procedures and regulations. (limit characters)
22. Compile and summarize daily transactions by category to determine the total amount disbursed and collected. (limit characters)
23. Conduct comprehensive reviews through the extraction of data from multiple system sources to audit data in the general or subsidiary ledger to validate compliance with policy, regulation and procedures. (limit characters)
24. Oversee debt collections process according to applicable policies procedures and regulations.
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25. Prepare daily reports of financial transactions and accounting registers ensuring that the appropriate data is valid. (limit characters)
26. Reconcile accounts having a variety of transactions (e.g., purchase orders, contracts, travel orders, et cetera) to research document discrepancies and make necessary adjustments in the subsidiary and general ledgers. (limit characters)
27. Review documents to verify disbursement or collection data and mathematical accuracy to determine necessary accounting transactions before entering data into accounting systems. (limit characters)
28. Review purchase orders and contract authorization documents for propriety, authentication, accuracy, and compliance with applicable regulations, policies and precedents.
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29. Screen data files for accuracy and compatibility with automated accounting system.
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30. Use per diem rate charts, official travel distance guides, and airline guides to check the correctness of claims.
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Select “Yes” or “No” to the following question(s). (limit characters)
31. Do you certify, to the best of your knowledge and belief, all of the information submitted by you with your application for employment is true, complete, and made in good faith, and that you have truthfully and accurately represented your work experience, knowledge, skills, abilities, and education (degrees, accomplishments, etc.)? Do you understand that the information provided may be investigated? Do you understand that misrepresenting your experience or education, or providing false or fraudulent information in or with your application may be grounds for not hiring you or for firing you after you begin work? Do you also understand that false or fraudulent statements may be punishable by fine or imprisonment (18 U.S.C. 1001)? (limit characters)