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Open 11/02/2026 to 11/08/2026

***This job will close when we have received 150 applications which may be sooner than the closing date.***

This job is only open to: Federal career or career conditional employees in the competitive service; displaced Federal employees with CTAP or ICTAP eligibility; Military Spouses; individuals eligible for VEOA; VRA (for positions up to the GS-11 Federal level), 30% disabled veterans; foreign service employees; national service (Peace Corps/VISTA); USPHS officers and officer candidates; certain former overseas employees; former employees with reinstatement eligibility; and individuals with disabilities.

***THIS POSITION IS NOT REMOTE. ONLY ONSITE***

*U.S. Citizenship required***

***Few vacancies in the following locations:

  • Washington, DC
  • Atlanta, GA
  • Rockville, MD
  • Kansas City, MO
  • Charleston, SC
  • Dallas, TX

 

***YOU MUST APPLY ON USAJOBS.***

***Link to USAJOBS Vacancy Announcement: https://www.usajobs.gov/job/891007700

For questions regarding the position or application process, please contact the point of contact listed under “Agency Contact Information” in the USAJOBS vacancy announcement.

 

WHAT YOU'LL BE DOING DAY TO DAY

As a Cost Accountant, you will be:

  • Applying knowledge of generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) and relevant federal standards to assist in recording, validating, and maintaining and/or troubleshooting financial transactions in agency accounting systems, such as Oracle Federal Financials and other enterprise resource planning platforms.
  • Supporting cost accounting and system-related activities by assisting senior personnel in analyzing data trends, validating ledger outputs and support in reconciliation of cost elements within accounting systems.
  • Processing financial entries, conducting transaction reviews, and assisting with reconciliations across general and subsidiary ledgers.
  • Maintaining the integrity of day-to-day accounting operations and ensuring adherence to existing guidance and procedures.
  • Ensuring compliance with regulatory guidance from OMB, Treasury, GAO and HHS, and works with team members to ensure accounting entries are properly documented and timely.

Qualifications

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR

Basic Qualifications:

  1. 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.

OR

  1. 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.

AND

GS-11 Minimum Qualifications: You must have one year specialized experience to perform successfully the duties of the position. To be creditable, specialized experience must have been equivalent to at least the GS-09 grade level in the Federal service performing ALL of the following:

  • Applying 2 CFR 200 and other federal regulations to conduct reviews and support the negotiation of indirect cost rates and cost allocation plans.
  • Analyzing financial information and apply accounting, auditing, and administrative principles to evaluate financial practices of nonprofit organizations, institutions of higher education, and state and local governments.
  • Reviewing, identifying, and resolving issues related to cost allocations, cost transfers, and potential overbillings identified in the reviews.
  • Participating in negotiations with grantee organizations to establish indirect cost rates and cost allocation plans, using technical expertise and effective communication to support agency's position, with occasional guidance from the Branch Chief.
  • Advising management on inconsistent cost patterns and provide policy interpretation and technical assistance to grantees and stakeholders.

OR

Have a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree in a field which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to perform the work of the position. (Note: You must attach a copy of your transcripts.)

OR

Have a combination of graduate education and experience that meets 100% of the requirement.

GS-12 Minimum Qualifications: You must have one year specialized experience to perform successfully the duties of the position. To be creditable, specialized experience must have been equivalent to at least the GS-11 grade level in the Federal service performing ALL of the following:

  • Applying advanced accounting, auditing, and administrative principles to evaluate financial practices of nonprofit organizations, institutions of higher education, and state and local governments.
  • Leading negotiations with senior officials to address cost-related adjustments, using technical expertise and effective communication to support agency's position.
  • Conducting comprehensive virtual or on-site reviews of Facilities and Administrative Rate proposals and Statewide Cost Allocation Plans to evaluate cost allocation methodologies and ensure costs are properly allocated and billed in compliance with federal regulations
  • Identifying, evaluating, and resolving complex issues involving cost transfers, cost allocations, and potential overbillings in the proposals.
  • Serving as a technical resource and subject matter expert by providing guidance to stakeholders, contractors, and colleagues.

GS-13 Minimum Qualifications: You must have one year specialized experience to perform successfully the duties of the position. To be creditable, specialized experience must have been equivalent to at least the GS-12 grade level in the Federal service performing ALL of the following:

  • Serving as a senior technical authority in applying advanced accounting, auditing, and administrative principles to evaluate financial information of nonprofit organizations, institutions of higher education, and state and local governments.
  • Leading and overseeing complex university space reviews, conducted onsite or virtually, to support the negotiation of Facilities and Administrative (F&A) rates.
  • Directing comprehensive onsite or virtual reviews of Statewide Cost Allocation Plans (SWCAPs), ensuring full compliance with federal cost principles and billing requirements.
  • Leading high-level negotiations of indirect cost rates and cost allocation plans with senior officials of the grantee organizations, using technical expertise, sound judgment, and effective communication to support the agency's position.
  • Providing technical guidance and authoritative advice on cost principles and allocation methodologies to stakeholders, grantees, and junior staff members