AUDITOR (PERFORMANCE)

Summary

This position is in the Office of Audits (AUD), which is part of the Office of Inspector General (OIG) for the U.S. Department of State (Department). AUD has the responsibility for planning, conducting, supervising, overseeing, and coordinating performance audits, evaluations, and other projects of Department, U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM), and U.S. Section of the International Boundary and Water Commission (USIBWC) programs worldwide, including crisis, post-conflict, and fragile states.

Duties

• The duties of the Auditor (Performance) GS-0511 include: GS-12: Assists in planning, scheduling, conducting, and reporting on comprehensive audits, evaluations, and special inquiries of Department of State, USAGM, and/or USIBWC activities, both domestically and at overseas posts in accordance with Generally Accepted Government Auditing Standards (GAGAS) and Quality Standards for Inspection and Evaluation. Applies professional standards, theories, practices, and techniques of performance auditing and evaluation, including qualitative and quantitative methods to analyze and improve programs, identify deficiencies, and propose innovative solutions. Prepares supporting documentation, including analysis of data and conclusions, and assist in drafting sections of audit or evaluation reports that provide information on program operations and identify causes of deficiencies determined during the project. Plans, organizes, schedules, and prioritizes assigned audit or evaluation work steps; independently perform assigned project steps; and draw conclusions on the efficiency and effectiveness of programs reviewed. Communicates audit findings and recommendations effectively, both verbally and in writing, including leading meetings or representing OIG at internal or external functions, and developing clear, concise, and accurate reports for diverse audiences. Coordinates work and maintains effective relationships with managers, staff, and external officials, including conducting interviews and meetings to obtain information, resolve issues, and encourage opportunities for compromise when stakeholders have diverse viewpoints and goals. GS-13: Plans, conducts, and participates in comprehensive performance audits, evaluations, and special inquiries, in accordance with GAGAS and Quality Standards for Inspection and Evaluation, of Department of State, USAGM, and/or USIBWC entities to assess economy, efficiency, effectiveness, and compliance with laws, regulations, and policies. Develops audit scopes, objectives, methodologies, and detailed audit plans, including defining team roles, establishing priorities and milestones, and creating audit program steps for complex, multi-site audits where significant issues and undefined problems may arise. Identifies, analyzes, and resolves complex audit issues, applying administrative laws, regulations, and policies; develops new audit approaches where no precedents exist; and provides expert recommendations to refine audit objectives, methods, and overall direction of audit work. Conducts interviews, site visits, inspections, and data collection activities with federal officials, program recipients, contractors, and other stakeholders to gather evidence, verify compliance, and support findings, conclusions, and recommendations consistent with professional standards. Drafts audit findings, conclusions, and recommendations, prepares work papers and supporting materials, and contributes to formal audit reports that serve as the evidentiary basis for corrective actions and management improvements within the audited entity. Communicates and negotiates audit results with senior officials, including management of audited entities, to influence acceptance and implementation of audit recommendations, often involving sensitive or controversial issues. Provides mentorship, guidance, and feedback to junior auditors, prepares training materials, shares information across the audit team, and may make on-site decisions while maintaining effective working relationships and coordinating activities with managers and team leaders.

Qualifications

Applicants must meet all the required qualification requirements, including education, and any selective placement factors described below by the closing date of this announcement. If there are mandatory education requirements listed below, you MUST submit a copy of your college transcript with your application. Basic Qualification Requirements: The Auditor (Performance) Series 0511 has Individual Occupational Requirements (IORs), which must be met in addition to the specialized experience. Education Requirements: This position has a positive education requirement, as described below: Bachelor's Degree or higher degree: auditing; or a degree in a related field such as business administration, finance, public administration, or accounting. (OIG will also consider degrees in: economics, public policy, international relations, international affairs, or political science) OR Combination of education and experience: at least 4 years of experience in performance auditing, or an equivalent combination of performance auditing experience, college-level education, and training that provided professional auditing knowledge. The applicant's background MUST also include one of the following: A certificate as a Certified Internal Auditor or a Certified Public Accountant, obtained through written examination NOTE: You must submit a copy of the transcript(s) and appropriate certification/documentation at the time of application to receive credit for this option; or Completion of the requirements for a degree that included substantial coursework in auditing or accounting, e.g., 15 semester hours. NOTE: You must submit a copy of the transcript(s) that reflects the substantial course work and reflects the semester hours to receive credit for this option. Specialized Experience Requirements: Applicants applying for the GS-12 must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 grade level in the Federal service (experience may have been gained in the private sector) that demonstrates: Experience in planning and performing government audits using Government Auditing Standards and evaluations using Quality Standards for Inspection and Evaluation. This includes assisting in the planning, scheduling, conducting, and reporting of comprehensive audits, evaluations, and special inquiries. Experience applying professional standards and analytical methods. This includes applying professional standards, theories, practices, and techniques of performance auditing and evaluation, including qualitative and quantitative methods to analyze and improve programs and propose solutions for deficiencies. Experience communicating audit results. This includes effectively communicating audit findings and recommendations both verbally and in writing, including developing clear, concise, and accurate audit or evaluation reports for diverse audiences. Experience coordinating with internal and external stakeholders. This includes planning and coordinating work with manager, staff, and external officials, including conducting interviews and meetings to obtain information and resolve issues related to audit or evaluation projects. Applicants applying for the GS-13 must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-12 grade level in the Federal service (experience may have been gained in the private sector) that demonstrates: Experience in planning, conducting, and leading performance audits using Government Auditing Standards and evaluations using Quality Standards for Inspection and Evaluation in complex environments. This includes the ability to plan, organize, and execute comprehensive audits and evaluations of U.S. government programs. Experience in analyzing and interpreting program and management operations. This includes applying qualitative and quantitative methods to analyze performance data to evaluate the economy, efficiency, and effectiveness of program and management operations to identify instances of fraud, waste, and mismanagement, and to determine compliance with laws, regulations, and policies. Experience in effective communication and reporting of audit findings. This includes preparing clear, concise, and accurate audit reports; briefing management on audit progress; and presenting findings, conclusions, and recommendations to senior officials and stakeholders. Experience in coordinating and collaborating with internal and external stakeholders. This includes coordinating information and schedules for site visits with agency offices and external parties, leading interviews with U.S. government officials and program recipients and maintaining effective relationships with staff and officials of audited entities. Time-In-Grade Requirements: Federal applicants must have served 52 weeks at the next lower grade to satisfy time-in-grade restrictions, per 5 CFR 300, Subpart F. NOTE: Applicants must meet time-in-grade and time after competitive appointment requirements, by the closing date of this announcement. Time-in-grade documentation: When applying for a higher grade, if your SF-50's effective date is within the past year (52 weeks), it might not adequately verify you have met the 1-year time-in-grade requirement. Therefore, you should provide an SF-50 that clearly verifies you meet this requirement-such as a step increase SF-50. (Appropriate examples of SF-50s includes Promotions, Within-grade Grade/Range Increases, or any SF-50 with an effective date older than one year.) Applicants who have held a non-temporary General Schedule (GS) position within the last 52 weeks must meet the time-in-grade restriction. You must also submit the most recent SF-50 dated within 52 weeks of the closing date for this announcement. If you fail to provide requested information, or the information you submit is insufficient to verify your eligibility, you WILL lose consideration for this position. 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) is qualifying. Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience. DOES THIS POSITION REQUIRE A LICENSE OR CERTIFICATE? You are strongly encouraged to provide a copy of your license or certificate in your application package. It is also acceptable to document your license number and the name of the licensing authority in your resume. Non-competitive hiring authority eligibility documentation, if applicable. For information related to Schedule A hiring authority for individuals with disabilities visit OPM's hiring information site. Political Appointment: The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must authorize any employment offers made to current or former (within the last 5 years) political appointees. If you are currently or have been within the last five (5) years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, Noncareer SES or Presidential Appointee employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the Human Resources Office.

Education

Due to the education requirement of this position, an unofficial/official transcript must be submitted at the time of application. If transcripts are not received, you will be rated as ineligible. You MUST provide unofficial/official transcripts or other documentation to support your educational claims. Transcripts must include the following information: name of accredited institution, list of courses with grades and credit earned for each course, quarter or semester hours earned, degree conferred and date, and the name and address of the school. If selected for this position, you will be required to provide an official certified copy of your transcripts before a start date will be established. All materials must be submitted by the closing date of the announcement. Accreditation: Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Special Instructions for Foreign Education: Education completed in foreign colleges or universities must be evaluated in terms of equivalency to that acquired in U.S. colleges and universities. Applicants educated in whole or in part in foreign countries must submit sufficient evidence, including transcripts, to an accredited private organization for an equivalency evaluation of course work and degree. A listing of these accredited organizations can be found on the Department of Education's website. You must provide a copy of the letter containing the results of the equivalency evaluation with a course-by-course listing along with your application. If you fail to provide the required documentation, by the closing date of this announcement, you will not receive consideration.

How to apply

Please read the entire announcement and all the instructions before you begin an application. To apply and be considered for this position, you must complete all required questionnaires, assessments and submit all required documentation as specified in the How to Apply and Required Documents section. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on the closing date of the announcement to receive consideration. The application process is as follows: Click the Apply Online button. Answer the questions presented in the application and attach all necessary supporting documentation. Click the Submit Application button prior to 11:59 PM (ET) on the announcement closing date. If you are required to complete any USA Hire Assessments, you will be notified after submitting your application. The notification will be provided in your application submission screen and via email. The notification will include your unique assessment access link to the USA Hire system and the completion deadline. Additionally, in USAJOBS you can click "Track this application" to return to your assessment completion notice. Access USA Hire using your unique assessment link. Access is granted through your USAJOBS login credentials. Review all instructions prior to beginning your assessments. You will have the opportunity to request a testing accommodation before beginning the assessments should you have a disability covered under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended. Set aside about three (3) hours to take the USA Hire Assessments; however, most applicants complete the assessments in less time. If you need to stop the assessments and continue later, you can re-use your unique assessment link. Your responses to the USA Hire Assessments will be reused for one year (in most cases) from the date you complete an assessment. If future applications you submit require completion of the same assessments, your responses will be automatically reused. Visit the USA Hire Applicant Resource Center for practice assessments and assessment preparation resources at https://support-usahire.opm.gov/hc/en-us. To update your application, including supporting documentation: During the announcement open period, return to your USAJOBS account, find your application record, and click Edit my application. This option will no longer be available once the announcement has closed. To view the announcement status or your application status: Visit https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/howto/application/status/. Your application status page is where you can view your application status, USA Hire assessment completion status, and review your notifications sent by the hiring agency regarding your application.