Accountant - IS-0510-12
Smithsonian Institution
Accounting & Finance
Washington, DC, USA
USD 101,401-131,826 / year
Posted on Dec 10, 2025
OPEN DATE: December 9, 2025
CLOSING DATE: December 23, 2025
POSITION TYPE: Trust Fund
APPOINTMENT TYPE: Indefinite
SCHEDULE: Full Time
DUTY LOCATION: Washington, DC
Position sensitivity and risk
Open to all qualified applicants
What are Trust Fund Positions?
Trust Fund positions are unique to the Smithsonian. They are paid for from a variety of sources, including the Smithsonian endowment, revenue from our business activities, donations, grants and contracts. Trust employees are not part of the civil service, nor does trust fund employment lead to Federal status. The salary ranges for trust positions are generally the same as for federal positions and in many cases trust and federal employees work side by side. Trust employees have their own benefit program, which may include Health, Dental & Vision Insurance, Life Insurance, Transit/Commuter Benefits, Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance, Annual and Sick Leave, Family Friendly Leave, 403b Retirement Plan, Discounts for Smithsonian Memberships, Museum Stores and Restaurants, Credit Union, Smithsonian Early Enrichment Center (Child Care), Flexible Spending Account (Health & Dependent Care).
Conditions of Employment
- Pass Pre-employment Background Check and Subsequent Background Investigation for position designated.
- Complete a Probationary Period.
- Maintain a Bank Account for Direct Deposit/Electronic Transfer.
- The position is open to all candidates eligible to work in the United States. Proof of eligibility to work in U.S. is not required to apply.
- Applicants must meet all qualification and eligibility requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement.
- Application Deadline
- December 23, 2025
- Department
- Office of Finance & Accounting
- Employment Type
- Full Time
- Location
- Washington, DC
- Workplace type
- Onsite
- Compensation
- $101,401 - $131,826 / year
- Reporting To
- GAR 1 Supervisor
OVERVIEW
This position is located organizationally in General Accounting and Reporting (GAR), Office of Finance and Accounting (OF&A), Under Secretary for Administration, Smithsonian Institution (SI). SI is a diverse museum and research complex dedicated to the increase and diffusion of knowledge. OF&A is responsible for the management and integrity of SI’s: - financial assets - financial operations - financial reporting - financial records - financial policies and procedures - central accounting and financial services The GAR team is primarily responsible for accounting activities among SI central offices, such as the Smithsonian Facilities, Office of Advancement and Office of Investments. This position: - advises on accounting matters - analyzes and resolves complex problems - prepares specialized accounting data, records, reports and procedures - operates and inspects accounting systems - supports internal and external audit processes - develops and trains individuals in areas of expertise.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Account Analysis & Reconciliation
- Prepares, analyzes, interprets and presents accounting data and resolves daily accounting problems.
- Analyzes ad-hoc financial transactions and statements for propriety and budgetary accounts and determines potential impact on funding sources or the financial position of a specific unit.
- Prepares fund balance reconciliations that agree with U.S. Treasury, identifying causes for differences and implementing corrective action.
- Monitors interagency agreements (IAA) activity in the grants module and the general ledger and prepares reports for units.
- Conduct Interagency Agreement (IAA) Reviews. Review, analyze, and reconcile Interagency Agreements (IAAs) to ensure proper classification, accurate recording of receivables/payables, and resolution of discrepancies in accordance with Treasury and OMB guidelines.
- Prepares journal entries to reflect transactions related to endowments, fixed assets, investments, federal budgetary and proprietary, debt, cash and business activities.
- Prepare and Submit GTAS Reports. Compile and validate financial data for the Governmentwide Treasury Account Symbol Adjusted Trial Balance System (GTAS), ensuring accurate and timely submission in compliance with Treasury reporting deadlines and federal regulations.
- Prepares and maintains assigned general ledger account reconciliations for cash, inventory, accounts receivable, fixed assets, prepaid and deferred expenses, deferred revenue and accrued liabilities.
- Manage IPAC Transactions. Initiate, review, and reconcile Intra-governmental Payment and Collection (IPAC) transactions, ensuring appropriate supporting documentation, proper classification, and timely resolution of billing disputes with trading partners.
- Executes and monitors corrective actions for reconciling differences.
- Perform SF-224 Reconciliations. Reconcile Statement of Transactions (SF-224) with agency internal records and CARS reports, identifying and resolving variances to ensure integrity and accuracy of disbursement reporting.
- Completes reconciliations of accounting and sub-ledger activity and executes corrective actions for reconciling differences.
Financial Reporting
- Prepares assigned portions of financial statements.
- Prepares assigned footnotes for annual reporting which tie to financial statements.
- Prepares and validates financial reports for net asset reports, various US federal reports and contributions and inter-unit transactions.
- Generates reports from the subledger to validate balances reflected in the general ledger.
- Coordinate with Internal and External Stakeholders collaborate with program offices, accounting teams, and external trading partners to ensure consistent application of accounting standards and federal financial reporting.
- Prepares, updates, and monitors trust fund advance reports.
- Participates in monthly and year-end closing processes.
Management Advisory Services
- Applies accounting standards to specialized, mission-related programs and recommends solutions to management problems.
- As a team member, advises management on financial and managerial accounting methods and procedures for purchases, receivables, returns, transfer of merchandise, sales, refunds, income and expense deferrals, grants, contributions, allotments, capital expenditures and obligations and budgetary and proprietary liabilities.
- As a team member, attends external meetings with units to increase awareness of their operations to maintain positive working relationships.
- Attends internal meetings to provide input on potential accounting risks or variances.
- Research issues offering practical solutions and reports findings to more senior accountants and the supervisor.
Development and Training
- Provides professional accounting advice, support, development and training to lower graded staff regarding programs, systems, functions and structures of the office and application of accounting methods and procedures to daily work activities.
- Provides support and training to SI personnel to promote understanding and effective application of accounting and related financial management policies, procedures and systems. Pursues and completes opportunities to grow and learn for self- development purposes, in areas of interest and need.
- Performs other duties as assigned.
QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS
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. (The term "accounting" means "accounting
and/or auditing" in this standard. Similarly, "accountant" should be interpreted, generally, as
"accountant and/or auditor.")
OR
Combination of education and experience: at least 4 years of experience in accounting, or an 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; or
• 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-semesterhour 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.
You must submit a copy of your unofficial college transcripts, certificate as a Certified Public
Accountant or Certified Internal Auditor for verification in order to be considered.
OR
An equivalent combination of accounting experience, college-level education, and training that provided
Experience required for this position is as follows:
- Professional, comprehensive knowledge of federal-specific accounting theories, practices, methods and techniques and of SI programs and functions sufficient to analyze accounting systems.
- Knowledge of U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP).
- Knowledge of U.S. federal financial regulations, procedures and budget processes.
- Knowledge of automated accounting and financial systems.
- Ability to apply fund accounting methods to non-appropriated funds.
- Ability to communicate verbally to advise management on complex financial and managerial accounting methods and procedures.
- Ability to communicate in writing to prepare comprehensive reports that present financial or research findings.
Education completed outside the United States must be deemed equivalent to higher education programs of U.S. Institutions by an organization that specializes in the interpretation of foreign educational credentials. This documentation is the responsibility of the applicant and should be included as part of your application package.
Any false statement in your application may result in rejection of your application and may also result in termination after employment begins.
Join us in "Inspiring Generations through Knowledge and Discovery."
Resumes should include a description of your paid and non-paid work experience that is related to this job; starting and ending dates of job (month and year); and average number of hours worked per week.
What To Expect Next: Once the vacancy announcement closes, a review of your resume will be compared against the qualification and experience requirements related to this job. After review of applicant resumes is complete, qualified candidates will be referred to the hiring manager.
Relocation expenses are not paid.
The Smithsonian Institution provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities where appropriate. Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation should contact OHRTrustBranch@SI.EDU. Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis. To learn more, please review the Smithsonian’s Accommodation Procedures (https://www.si.edu/OEO/IndividualswithDisabilities).
The Smithsonian Institution provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities where appropriate. Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation should contact OHRTrustBranch@SI.EDU. Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis. To learn more, please review the Smithsonian’s Accommodation Procedures (https://www.si.edu/OEO/IndividualswithDisabilities).
The Smithsonian Institution is an Equal Opportunity Employer. To review The Smithsonian's EEO program information, please click the following: https://www.si.edu/oeo
About Smithsonian Institution
Founded in 1846, the Smithsonian is the world’s largest museum and research complex of 21 museums and galleries, the National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, and 14 education and research facilities. There are more than 6,500 Smithsonian employees, including approximately 500 scientists. The total number of objects, works of art and specimens at the Smithsonian is estimated at more than 157 million.
Our Hiring Process
Stage 1:
Applied
Stage 2:
Qualifications Review
Stage 3:
Phone Screen
Stage 4:
First Interview