Summary This position is in Region 5. About Region 5: Region 5 Website This is an office-centered position*--you must physically report to the duty station stated in this announcement on a regular basis. *Work-from-home flexibilities may be authorized as described in the Benefits section. Responsibilities At the GS-5 level, you will: -Assist with the reviewing factual differences of financial statements in support of the accounting and financial management program. -Assist with accounting and review activities involving the review of accounting records and recording factual differences that may involve such matters as the type and kind of information needed on balance sheets. -Assist with the review of outstanding obligations; unobligated balances, expenditures, travel, suspense items, interest payments, and make recommendations for corrective action to provide experience in using the specific procedures of automated systems -Assist in the preparation of accounting entries and enters them into the accounting system. At the GS-7 level, you will: -Perform varied routine accounting functions. -Analyze portions of current or projected resources to evaluate effectiveness in meeting established goals and objectives. -Track ongoing operations and solves problems that arise; studies existing reports, accounts, or instructions to streamline operations or provide reports with greater detail. -Advise managers or others when transactions differ from norms on nature and volume. One or more positions may be filled (in the organization advertised and/or in other organizations), if appropriate to the position. Requirements Conditions of Employment You must submit transcripts & proof of enrollment--see Required Documents. You must be age 16 or older. If you are selected, a written participant agreement must be signed. You must submit a resume and required documents--see How to Apply section. You must be a U.S. citizen. You must be enrolled at least half-time during your appointment. #LI-Onsite You must be enrolled at least half-time and maintain at least a half-time course load as defined by your academic institution (typically 6 undergraduate credit hours or 4.5 graduate credit hours per semester). You must have and maintain good academic standing as defined by your academic institution (typically a cumulative GPA of at least 2.0). If you are selected, the entire period served under the Internship Program will be a trial period. This position is designated as Low Risk and requires a background investigation. Unless an appropriate background investigation is already on record with the Office of Personnel Management, you must undergo a background investigation. All conditions of the pre-employment security process must be met before an official letter of employment can be issued with a report for duty date. Qualifications NOTE: You must meet qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement. In addition to the eligibility requirements for the Pathways Internship Program, Pathways Interns qualify for an initial appointment based on their educational achievements as described below: To qualify for the GS-05 level, you need to have completed four academic years of post-high school leading to a bachelor’s degree or equivalent degree. To qualify for the GS-07 level, you need to have completed one full academic year of graduate level education; or a bachelor’s degree with superior academic achievement (Superior Academic Achievement Definition). Experience refers to paid and 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 and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. *If you have part-time work experience, read this: EPA Announcement Policies and Procedures. Education Additional Information This position is in the bargaining unit. Diversity, equity, and inclusion are core values at EPA. Our excellence can only be fully realized by staff who share our commitment to these values. Successful candidates are committed to advancing equity and inclusion in the Agency’s workplace and mission. We encourage applications from candidates with a variety of personal experiences, values, and worldviews that arise from differences of culture and circumstance. At EPA, diversity is a vital element in bringing a balance of perspectives to bear on every challenge we face. We are committed to creating a diverse workforce because we know that the individual strengths and abilities of our employees make us a stronger organization. The more inclusive our employee base is, the greater the variety of ideas that are generated, and the more representative we are of the nation we serve. To learn more about how EPA values and supports our diverse workforce, visit Equal Opportunity Employment at EPA. EPA participates in E-Verify. E-Verify is an Internet based system operated by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in partnership with the Social Security Administration (SSA) that enables participating employers to electronically verify the employment eligibility of their newly hired employees. For additional information: EPA Announcement Policies and Procedures. Interns without not-to-exceed dates who successfully complete the program may be converted to a term or permanent position in the competitive service without further competition; however, if you are being considered for conversion to a position that has positive education requirements, you must be enrolled in a degree program directly related to the position’s duties to be eligible for conversion to that position. The grade level you may be converted to will be dependent on the grade for which you qualify (based on your education and/or experience), but the grade level can be no higher than the promotion potential indicated in this announcement. NOTE: To be eligible for conversion, you must complete 640 hours of work (if you meet all required criteria, up to 320 hours may be waived if: (1) you complete 320 hours of career-related work experience under an Internship Program appointment and have demonstrated high potential by outstanding academic achievement and exceptional job performance; or (2) you complete comparable non-federal internship experience in a field or functional area related to your target position). If you are graduating from your present course of study at the end of the current semester/quarter: You may be hired prior to graduation; however, to continue in this program after graduation, you must be continuing your education next semester/quarter and be accepted for enrollment seeking a diploma, certificate, bachelor’s degree, graduate degree, or professional degree from a qualifying educational institution on a full- or half-time basis. If you are selected, travel, transportation, and relocation expenses will not be paid by EPA. Any travel, transportation, and relocation expenses associated with reporting to work in this position will be your responsibility. Except in special circumstances, those new to the federal government will be hired at the starting salary (step 1) of the applicable grade range listed in the Overview section.