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Accountant, GS-0510-14 NF

National Science Foundation

Alexandria, VA · FlexibleFull-time$144–187K/yrPosted today

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At a glance

Compensation
$144–187K/yr
Location
Alexandria, VAFlexible
Schedule
Full-time
Work Authorization
US work authorization required

Olive lists jobs from US employers, including remote roles you can work from the United States.

Requirements

Credentials this posting asks for.

CPA Or CIA Certification

Job overview

The Accountant is located in the Accounting and Reporting Branch of NSF’s Office of the Chief Financial Officer. The branch maintains official accounting records, prepares financial reports, coordinates quarterly closing, handles debt collection and interagency agreements, and reconciles general ledger accounts. The role analyzes financial data, prepares reports, manages ledger activities, supports audits, and assesses internal controls. Applicants must meet federal accounting qualifications and be U.S. citizens.

Skills & qualifications

RequiredNice to have

Skills

Financial Data AnalysisFinancial ReportingGeneral Ledger ManagementAudit SupportInternal Controls AssessmentFederal Financial OperationsAccountingArithmetic ReasoningAttention to DetailCustomer ServiceDecision MakingFlexibilityIntegrityInterpersonal SkillsLearningReasoningSelf-ManagementStress ToleranceTeamwork

Qualifications

Accounting Degree or Related24 Accounting Semester HoursFour Years Accounting Experience or EquivalentCPA or CIA CertificationOne Year Specialized ExperienceU.S. Citizenship52 Weeks Federal Service at Next Lower Grade

Full job description

Summary

This position is located in the Accounting and Reporting Branch (ARB), Office of the Chief Financial Officer (OCFO). ARB maintains official accounting records for NSF, preparing internal and external financial reports, is responsible for controlling and coordinating the quarterly closing/financial reporting process, handles NSF's debt collection program, NSF's interagency agreements, in addition to reconciling and maintaining general ledger accounts and balances.

Duties

As a Accountant, GS-0510-14 NF, you will perform the following duties: Financial Data Analysis: Analyze and validate complex financial data to identify trends, anomalies, and process improvements, ensuring accurate, compliant reporting and actionable recommendations for management. Financial Reporting: Prepare, reconcile, and deliver accurate, timely financial reports and statements that comply with federal requirements and inform management decision-making. General Ledger Management: Maintain and reconcile general ledger accounts, prepare and review journal entries, and lead closing activities to ensure accurate, U.S. Standard General Ledger (USSGL) compliant financial records and trial balances. Audit Support: Serve as the primary liaison for internal and external audits, coordinating audit documentation and responses, analyzing findings, and tracking corrective actions to sustain audit readiness and compliance. Internal Controls Assessment: Design, implement, and evaluate internal controls and accounting policies to safeguard assets, ensure reliable financial reporting, and maintain compliance with federal requirements. Other duties as assigned. Requirements

You must be a U.S. citizen. Selectee will be required to have a background investigation prior to onboarding. Selectee may be required to serve a 1-year probationary period. 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. Additional Requirements: Time in Grade Requirement: Applicants who have held a General Schedule (GS) position within the last 52 weeks must have 52 weeks of Federal service at the next lower grade/equivalent. You must meet eligibility and qualification requirements within 30 days of the closing date. You must answer all job-related questions in the NSF eRecruit questionnaire and any external assessment that is included. All online applicants must provide a valid email address. If your email address is inaccurate or your mailbox is full/blocked, you may not receive important communication that could affect your consideration for this position. It is NSF policy that personnel employed at, or Intergovernmental Personnel Act (IPA) individuals detailed to, NSF are not permitted to participate in foreign talent recruitment programs. Failure to comply with this NSF policy could result in disciplinary action up to and including removal from Federal Service or termination of an IPA assignment and referral to the Office of Inspector General. NSF has determined that all of its positions are eligible for situational telework. Situational telework may be approved on an occasional basis in accordance with agency policy, supervisory approval, and operational requirements. Selected candidates interested in telework, or other workplace flexibility arrangements, should discuss available options with the selecting official. Participation in telework is voluntary and requires an approved telework agreement. Qualifications

APPLICANTS MUST DEMONSTRATE THAT THEY MEET THE INDIVIDUAL OCCUPATIONAL REQUIREMENTS AND SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE, AS NOTED BELOW. Basic Qualifications: 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 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: Twenty-four semester hours in accounting or auditing courses of appropriate type and quality. This can include up to 6 hours of business law; A certificate as Certified Public Accountant or a Certified Internal Auditor, obtained through written examination; or 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: To qualify at the GS-14 level, you must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-13 level in the Federal service, serving as a technical expert in federal financial operations, accounting, and reporting. Experience refers to paid/unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training/experience that translates directly to paid work. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

Education

This position requires specific coursework/experience to meet the basic education requirement. You must submit an official or unofficial transcript which list courses, grades earned, completion dates, and quarter and semester hours earned. Your transcript(s) must clearly demonstrate the course(s) listed in the qualification requirement section. If the transcript(s) do not clearly demonstrate this, you must submit a copy of the course description and/or other documentation demonstrating that the courses are equivalent. Professional certifications as Certified Public Accountant or a Certified Internal Auditor, obtained through written examination will also be accepted. How You Will Be Evaluated

Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents), your responses on the application questionnaire, and your responses to all assessments required for this position. To be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process. In addition to the application and application questionnaire, this position requires an online assessment. The online assessment measures critical general competencies required to perform the job. Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration. Cheating on the online assessment may also result in your removal from consideration. You will be assessed on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics): Accountability Arithmetic/Mathematical Reasoning Attention to Detail Customer Service Decision Making Flexibility Integrity/Honesty Interpersonal Skills Learning Reasoning Self-Management Stress Tolerance Teamwork Applicants eligible for selection preference under the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) must meet the agency definition of "well qualified." At NSF, this means a score of 85.0 or higher. In the merit promotion selection process, formal performance appraisals may be considered if voluntarily submitted by the applicant. To preview the application questionnaire, click the following link: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13107588 Other Information

Relocation expenses WILL NOT be paid. Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP) ICTAP and Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced Federal competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. If your agency has notified you in writing that you are a displaced employee eligible for ICTAP or CTAP consideration, you may receive selection priority if: 1) this vacancy is within your ICTAP or CTAP eligibility; 2) you apply under the instructions in this announcement; and 3) you are found well-qualified for this vacancy. To be well-qualified you must meet the following: OPM qualification requirements for the position, all selective factors, where applicable; special OPM approved qualifying conditions for the position; is physically qualified with reasonable accommodation, where appropriate, to satisfactorily perform the duties of the position upon entry; and receives a rating of at least "Very Good" on the assessment. You must provide proof of eligibility with your application to receive selection priority. Such proof may include a copy of your written notification of ICTAP or CTAP eligibility, or a copy of your separation personnel action form. Additional information regarding ICTAP or CTAP eligibility is available from OPM's Career Transition Resources. Veterans' Preference: If you are entitled to veterans' preference, you should indicate the type of veterans' preference you are claiming on your resume. Your veterans' preference entitlement will be verified by the employing agency. For 5-point veterans' preference, please provide your DD-214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty), official statement of service from your command if you are currently on active duty, or other official documentation (e.g., documentation of receipt of a campaign badge or expeditionary medal) that proves your military service was performed under honorable conditions. For 10-point veterans' preference, please submit a SF-15 (Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference), DD-214, and official documentation of a compensable service-connected disability of 10% or more or other required documentation as specified on the SF-15. Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application. Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case-by-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, if you received the link after the close of the announcement. To determine if you need a RA, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments.

How this job compares

Set against the 3,474 open Accountant jobs on Olive Jobs, counted November 4, 2026.

Pay
  • This posting$144–187K/yr
  • Virginia median$71–115K/yr48 salary ranges
  • US median$76–100K/yr1,029 salary ranges

This range's midpoint, $166K, is 77% above the Virginia median midpoint ($93K) — in the top quarter of Accountant salary ranges in Virginia.

Openings
Olive Jobs lists 79 open Accountant jobs in Virginia and 3,474 across the US. 4% of them nationwide are listed as remote or flexible.
Hiring the most in Virginia
Experience
This posting asks for at least 1 year of experience — less than three in four Accountant postings that state a minimum ask for (median 3 years, across 2,294 postings).
Education
1,867 of the 3,474 open Accountant jobs (54%) ask for a bachelor's degree or higher.

Counted across the open, public US postings on Olive Jobs on November 4, 2026. Pay medians are the middle values of the low ends and of the high ends of postings that list both ends of a range in the same cadence (a yearly salary or an hourly rate); a range's midpoint is halfway between its ends. Pay and experience figures resting on fewer than 20 postings are left out.

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