USAID/Ukraine Solicitation for an Accountant

I. GENERAL INFORMATION

1. SOLICITATION NO.: 72012121R20

2. ISSUANCE DATE: 08/12/2021

3. CLOSING DATE/TIME FOR RECEIPT OF OFFERS: 09/12/2021 at 11:59 p.m. Kyiv Time

4. POSITION TITLE: Accountant

5. MARKET VALUE: Basic Annual rate (in U.S. Dollars): $32,180-41,841

In accordance with AIDAR Appendix J and ADS 309, the Local Compensation Plan (in effect at the time) of the U.S. Embassy to Ukraine forms the basis of compensation. The LCP consists of the salary schedule, which includes salary rates, authorized fringe benefits, and other pertinent facets of compensation. Final basic compensation will be negotiated within the listed market value. Salaries over and above the top of the pay range will not be entertained or negotiated. This salary range is not inclusive of other benefits and allowances.

6. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE:

Employment under any contract issued under this solicitation is of a continuing nature. Its duration is expected to be part of a series of sequential contracts; all contract clauses, provisions, and regulatory requirements concerning availability of funds and the specific duration of the contract shall apply. The initial CCNPSC contract will be for five years, with the possibility of renewing. The renewal may be exercised based upon satisfactory contractor performance, mutual agreement between the Contractor and USG, continued Mission requirements and the continued availability of funds.

7. PLACE OF PERFORMANCE: Kyiv, Ukraine

8. SECURITY LEVEL REQUIRED: Foreign Service National Security Certification

9. STATEMENT OF DUTIES:

This is one of two accountant positions located in the Office of Financial Management (OFM) at USAID/Ukraine. The primary purpose of this position is to perform professional accounting duties of moderate scope and complexity in planning, designing, analyzing, evaluating, and coordinating assigned segment(s) or specialized accounting functions relating to the overall accounting system for the Regional Mission USAID Ukraine and Belarus and the independent Mission of USAID/Moldova.  The incumbent is responsible for budgeting, funds control and accounting for USAID program and OE funds and for reporting and reconciliation functions of the OFM in compliance with USAID financial policies and procedures in a timely manner.

MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

A. Accounting                                                                                                                                   

Accounts for USAID/Ukraine, Moldova and Belarus program and OE fund in accordance with USAID policies and procedures and Mission policies and procedures. Ensures the flow of transactions, documentation, and authorities are met prior to posting the accounting information within the USAID Federal accounting structure, including allowances, commitments, obligations and payments and ensures accounting transactions are fully supported by required documentation for audit purposes.  Specific duties include:

1. Prepares the Master Funding Documents to incrementally fund both program- and OE-funded CCN contracts and the Mega-Modified Acquisition & Assistance Request Documents (MAARDs) covering program support costs other than salaries and benefits.

2. Processes and clears program and OE funded financial transactions and related activities which includes reviewing, clearing and recording funds citations; recording commitments and obligations in financial accounting and support systems based on supporting documents, e.g. MAARD, Purchase Orders, travel authorizations, leases and utility payments, etc.

3. Processes transactions generated in USAID/W, other USAID Missions and the State Department (Intra-Agency-Payments (IPAC) and 1221 charges).

4. Conducts quarterly and the mandatory year-end review of unexpended balances of OE-funded and program-funded support operating obligations also referred to as 1311 reviews in accordance with the USG rules and regulations to ensure continued validity of obligations and commitments and ensures that follow-up actions are taken. Documents all decisions, obtains necessary approvals, takes required action.

5. Works with Executive Office/Contracting Officer Representatives (CORs) in the development and recording of quarterly accrued expenditures for OE-funded and Program Support operating obligations, which impact the General Ledger for USAID/W reporting to Congress.

6. Coordinates with the Supervisory Voucher Examiner on corrective measures for faulty transactions through preparation of journal voucher entries and adjustments.

7. Coordinates with USAID/W upward and downward adjustments to cover authorized actual expenses. 

8. Provides clearance and procedural advice pertaining to availability of funds for Forward Funding and appropriate usage of type of funds.

9. Reviews monthly requirements for recurring expenses in light of expenditure trend, and coordinates with EXO the preparation of the journal voucher to obligate the necessary funds.

10. Prepares quarterly and yearly USAID/W data call documentation.

11. Establishes and maintains current working files for OE and Program support accounting documents.

B. Budget and ICASS Management                                                               

1. Prepares the Mission’s annual OE and program operating costs budgets in collaboration with the Executive Office, Program Office, and other applicable offices.  Bases budgets on a detailed analysis of historical records, inflation trends and planned actions, and requirements measured against probable fund availability.  Takes into account staffing projections, training plans, non-expendable property (NXP) procurement plans, entitlement travel, ICASS (International Cooperative Administrative Support Services).  Support budget estimates with justifications, complete documentation of projected expenses by category and account. Prepares “what if” scenario pertaining to the OE and program operating budgets.

2. Periodically analyzes trends (favorable/unfavorable) or deviations from approved budgets/plans, and makes recommendations/suggestions addressing deviations—thereby assisting or contributing to the Mission decision and policy-making process. Updates/modifies budgets as required.

3. Reviews the ICASS workload counts and target/mid-year budgets for reasonableness and suggests appropriate actions to correct any discrepancies or excess billing. Recommends innovative mechanisms that could effectively result in savings or optimum utilization of USAID funds. Periodically reviews ICASS billings and procedures to ensure that ICASS billings are consistent with the service subscriptions and ICASS policies and procedures for billings and charges to USAID.

C. Accounting Section Management and Outreach                                                                             

1. Serves as the alter ego and backup to the other Accountant and together with the Chief Accountant, coordinates the workload distribution, assignments and tasks, provides and/or recommends training on new systems or cross training, etc. for the Accounting Section.

2. Serves as the backup for the Chief Accountant, Accountant, and Phoenix Coordinator when necessary due to their periodic absences from duty.

3. Provides advice and assistance to Mission personnel on all financial management requirements, to include accounting policies and procedures.

SUPERVISORY RELATIONSHIP: Receives general supervision from the Chief Accountant who sets priorities and deadlines for major assignments.  Plans and carries out assignments and alerts the supervisor of potential problems.  Completed work is reviewed for technical soundness and conformity to policy requirements.

SUPERVISION EXERCISED: None.

10. AREA OF CONSIDERATION: Open to All Interested CCN (Cooperating Country National) Candidates.

“Cooperating country” means the country in which the employing USAID Mission is located.

“Cooperating country national” (“CCN”) means an individual who is a cooperating country citizen or a non-cooperating country citizen lawfully admitted for permanent residence in the cooperating country.

NOTE: ALL CCNs MUST HAVE THE REQUIRED WORK AND/OR RESIDENCY PERMITS TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR CONSIDERATION. THE MISSION DOES NOT SPONSOR WORK PERMITS.

11. PHYSICAL DEMANDS: The work requested does not involve undue physical demands.

12. POINT OF CONTACT: Completed offers (including all required documents – see section IV below) must be submitted electronically to: [email protected]. When submitting an application, the solicitation number and the title of the position are to be mentioned in the subject line of the email.

II. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED FOR THIS POSITION

Education: University degree in Accounting or Finance or Business Administration is required

Prior Work Experience: At least five years of progressively responsible experience in public or private accounting formulating and tracking budgets, reporting on financial results, and providing general accounting services, including the calculation of accruals/liabilities and reconciliation of accounts is required.  This work experience must include five years of working on a financial system.

Language Proficiency: Level IV (fluent) Speaking/Reading/Writing of English and Ukrainian is required.  Level IV (Good) Russian is also required.

Only offerors clearly meeting the above minimum qualifications will be considered for further evaluation.

Foreign Service National Security Certification and Medical Clearances: The ability to obtain the required foreign national security certification and medical clearances for the position is considered a minimum qualification. See section V below.

III. EVALUATION AND SELECTION FACTORS

Selection Process and Basis of Evaluation: Offerors who clearly meet the aforementioned minimum education and work experience qualification requirements may be further evaluated through review of the offeror’s submitted required documents (see section IV below) and ranked based on the below evaluation and selection factors. A competitive range may be established of the highest-ranked offerors, who may be further evaluated through technical/language tests, interviews, and reference checks to determine the most qualified/highest-ranked offeror. Reference checks may be conducted with individuals not provided by the offeror, and without prior notification to the offeror. Any offeror not receiving satisfactory reference checks will no longer be considered for the position. Negotiations may be conducted with the most qualified/ highest-ranked offeror at the conclusion of evaluations.

10 points – Education: University degree in Accounting or Finance or Business Administration is required. Additional education in the aforementioned areas is desired.

20 points – Experience: At responsible least five years of progressively responsible experience in public or private accounting formulating and tracking budgets, reporting on financial results, and providing general accounting services, including the calculation of accruals/liabilities and reconciliation of accounts is required.  This work experience must include five years of working on a financial system. Additional experience in the aforementioned areas is desired.

30 points – Knowledge: A thorough knowledge and understanding of professional accounting principles, theories, practices and terminology as well as the principles and accepted practices of governmental and business financial accounting budgeting and reporting is required. Must have a sound knowledge of financial systems, spreadsheets, and accounting procedures. Advanced knowledge in one or more of the aforementioned areas is desired.

40 points – Skills and Abilities: Must have a high level of analytical skills to effectively carry out assigned duties.  Must have the ability to apply sound independent judgment in addressing financial problems and to make decisions. Must have good self-management skills.  Must have excellent interpersonal skills to maintain effective working relationships with various customers/clients and to effectively communicate with non-accounting personnel and to explain requirements, practices, policies and suggested solutions.  Must have initiative and resourcefulness to identify and evaluate accounting policies and practices requiring correction and/or modification, and to formulate effective recommendations.  Must have the ability to understand the capabilities of the financial management system. Must have computer skills in specialized software including Windows and the Microsoft Office Suite. Advanced skills/abilities in one or more of the aforementioned areas are desired.

TOTAL POSSIBLE POINTS: 100 points

IV. PRESENTING AN OFFER/APPLYING FOR THIS POSITION

1. Eligible Offerors are required to complete and submit through email all the below documents in English in order to be considered for the position.

a. Completed DS-174 (application for Employment as Locally Employed Staff) which can be retrieved here: https://eforms.state.gov/Forms/ds174.pdf

Offerors must thoroughly complete the DS-174 form in English and are advised to include all of their current and previous work experience related to this position. Offerors may use continuation pages to further explain their relevant work experience, if needed.

An Internal Offeror’s experience acquired before/after joining the U.S. Government should correspond to the information provided in the Official Personnel Folder (OPF). Any discrepancy found between the current application form (DS-174) and the information provided in the OPF related to the offeror’s qualifications could make the offeror ineligible for the position.

b. A cover letter of no more than 2 pages that demonstrates how the Offeror’s qualifications meet the evaluation and selection factors in section III. Excess pages (beyond 2) will not be read or considered.

c. A CV or standard resume of no more than 4 pages.

Offerors who do not include all above required documents in their offer submission will not be considered for this position.

d. Names of three professional references, including at least one current/former supervisor, that have knowledge of the offeror’s ability to perform the duties set forth in the solicitation. This information may be included in the cover letter or resume/CV.

2. Offers must be received by the closing date and time specified in Section I, item 3, and submitted to the Point of Contact in Section I, item 12 by email with appropriate attachments. Documents/offers received through links to Google Drive, Sky Drive, and/or any other private cloud computing database/websites will not be considered.

3. To ensure consideration of offers for the intended position, Offerors are to prominently reference the Solicitation number in the offer submission.

NOTE:  Due to the high volume of applications received, we may only contact applicants who are being considered. Thank you for your understanding.

V. LIST OF REQUIRED FORMS FOR PSC HIRES

Once the Contracting Officer (CO) informs the successful Offeror about being selected for a contract award, the HR unit will provide the successful Offeror instructions about how to complete and submit the following forms, needed to obtain medical and security/facility access.

1. Questionnaire for Employment Authorization (U.S. Embassy Kyiv form)
2. Authorization for Release of Information (U.S. Embassy Kyiv’s form)
3. Certificate of Criminal Records (obtained from the pertinent authorities)

Failure of the selected offeror to accurately complete and submit required documents in a timely manner may be grounds for the CO to rescind any conditional pre-contract salary offer letter and begin negotiations with the next most qualified/highest ranked offeror.

VI. BENEFITS/ALLOWANCES

The local compensation plan (LCP) is the basis for all compensation payments to locally employed staff /CCNPSCs. The LCP consists of the salary schedule, which includes salary rates, authorized fringe benefits, and other pertinent facets of compensation such as health and life insurance, and retirement allowance. As a matter of policy, and as appropriate, a PSC is normally authorized the following benefits and allowances:

1. BENEFITS:

1. Health and Life Insurance coverage
2. Defined Contribution Fund 12%

2. ALLOWANCES (as applicable):

1. Meal Allowances: The annual amount is currently $853 for employees working on a full time basis.
2. Family Allowances: The mission provides a child allowance. Grants amounts are subject to change as determined by the Ukrainian State Budget Law.

Additional information may be provided to the selected offeror at time of salary offer.

VII. TAXES

Locally Employed Staff are responsible for paying local income taxes. The U.S. Mission does withhold year-end local income tax payments.

VIII. USAID REGULATIONS, POLICIES AND CONTRACT CLAUSES PERTAINING TO PSCs

USAID regulations and policies governing CCN/TCN PSC awards are available at these sources:

1. USAID Acquisition Regulation (AIDAR), Appendix J, “Direct USAID Contracts With a Cooperating Country National and with a Third Country National for Personal Services Abroad,” including contract clause “General Provisions,” available at https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1868/aidar_0.pdf.

2. Contract Cover Page form AID 309-1 available at https://www.usaid.gov/forms.

ITEM NO (A)	SUPPLIES/SERVICES (DESCRIPTION) (B)	QUANTITY   (C)	UNIT   (D)	UNIT PRICE (E)	AMOUNT   (F)
0001	Year 1 – Compensation and Fringe Benefits/Other Direct Costs (ODCs) Award Type: Cost Product Service Code: R497 Accounting Info:	1 year	LOT	$ _TBD__	$_TBD at Award after negotiations with Contractor
1001	Year 2 – Compensation and Fringe Benefits/Other Direct Costs (ODCs) Award Type: Cost Product Service Code: R497 Accounting Info:	1 year	LOT	$ _TBD__	$_TBD at Award after negotiations with Contractor
2001	Year 3 – Compensation and Fringe Benefits/Other Direct Costs (ODCs) Award Type: Cost Product Service Code: R497 Accounting Info:	1 year	LOT	$ _TBD__	$_TBD at Award after negotiations with Contractor
3001	Year 4– Compensation and Fringe Benefits/Other Direct Costs (ODCs) Award Type: Cost Product Service Code: R497 Accounting Info:	1 year	LOT	$ _TBD__	$_TBD at Award after negotiations with Contractor
4001	Year 5 – Compensation and Fringe Benefits/Other Direct Costs (ODCs) Award Type: Cost Product Service Code: R497 Accounting Info:	1 year	LOT	$ _TBD__	$_TBD at Award after negotiations with Contractor

3. Acquisition & Assistance Policy Directives/Contract Information Bulletins (AAPDs/CIBs) for Personal Services Contracts with Individuals available at http://www.usaid.gov/work-usaid/aapds-cibs.

• AAPD 16-03 Expanded Incentive Awards for Personal Services Contracts with Individuals
• AAPD 06-08 AIDAR, Appendices D and J: Using the Optional Schedule to Incrementally Fund Contracts

4. Ethical Conduct.  By the acceptance of a USAID personal services contract as an individual, the contractor will be acknowledging receipt of the “Standards of Ethical Conduct for Employees of the Executive Branch,” available from the U.S. Office of Government Ethics, in accordance with General Provision 2 and 5 CFR 2635. See https://www.oge.gov/web/oge.nsf/OGE%20Regulations.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY:  The United States Government does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, military service, or other non-merit factor. Management may consider the following when determining successful candidacy: nepotism, conflicts of interest, budget, and residency status.