Foreign Service Officer - Auditor (Performance) - Requires Worldwide Mobility Agreement Job in Washington, DC

Vacancy No. OIG-24-FS-12372876-LL Department U.S. Agency for International Development
Salary $63,191.00 to $128,106.00 Grade 4 to 6
Perm/Temp Permanent FT/PT Full-time
Open Date 4/23/2024 Close Date 5/23/2024
Job Link Apply Online Who may apply Public
Locations:
Washington, DC


Job Description (Please follow all instructions carefully)

Summary

USAID Office of Inspector General (OIG) is responsible for preventing and detecting fraud, waste, abuse, and violations of law, and for promoting economy, efficiency, and effectiveness of USAID programs. OIG provides oversight of the U. S. African Development Foundation (USADF), the Inter-American Foundation (IAF), and Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC).

This job is open to

Clarification from the agency

All U.S. Citizens, no prior Federal experience is required.

Duties

As an Auditor (Performance) assigned to the Office of Audits, Inspections, and Evaluations' Millennium Challenge Corporation and Global and Strategic Audits Division, you will:

  • Conduct high quality performance audits in compliance with Generally Accepted Government Auditing Standards (GAGAS), professional audit standards, and OIG audit policies and procedures.
  • Research and prepare proposals for performance audits.
  • Review and evaluate descriptive, financial, and statistical reports and program data using quantitative and qualitative research methods and techniques, such as questionnaires, interviews, and analyses of computer-processed data to assess the effectiveness of programs or operations in meeting established goals and metrics.
  • Identify and apply relevant laws, regulations, policies, guidance, and other criteria.
  • Communicate with agency representatives and internal stakeholders to acquire and/or disseminate information.
  • Brief team leads, audit mangers, and senior leadership on the progress and results of audits.
  • Prepare and maintain audit working papers, such as analytical summaries and documentation of interviews, in accordance with GAGAS.
  • Work with team members to identify relevant facts, determine if evidence collected is sufficient and appropriate to support findings, and link those findings to appropriate audit recommendations.
  • Assist senior staff in a full range of analytical steps, from planning and designing the audit through implementing the audit, to reporting results orally and in writing.
  • Participate in interviews with agency officials, program implementers, and recipients to collect information and present findings, conclusions, and recommendations.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

  • United States Citizenship is required.
  • Relevant experience (see Qualifications below).
  • Must be able to obtain and maintain a Top Security clearance.
  • Males born after 12/31/1959, must be registered with the Selective Service.
  • Must be able to obtain an appropriate Foreign Service Medical Clearance - Prior to being hired to the Foreign Service, applicants must have a thorough medical examination and receive an unlimited medical clearance for assignment worldwide.
  • Requires worldwide mobility agreement.
  • Designated and/or random drug testing required
  • OIG offers employees the option to telework and work remotely within the United States and its territories and possessions, consistent with the business needs of the organization.
  • Determination of remote or telework eligibility will be made at the time of a job offer.

Qualifications

You are encouraged to read the entire announcement before you submit your application package. Your application may not receive full consideration if you do not follow the instructions as outlined.

Applicants must meet all the required qualification and educational requirements below.
Auditing Series, 0511 - Individual Occupational Basic Requirements
A. Degree: auditing; or a degree in a related field such as business administration, finance, public administration, or accounting.
OR

B. 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:

1. A certificate as a Certified Internal Auditor or a Certified Public Accountant, obtained through written examination; or
2. Completion of the requirements for a degree that included substantial course work in auditing or accounting, e.g., 15 semester hours.

Individuals with degrees in international affairs or policy, international development, regional or area studies, public policy or evaluation, journalism with an international focus, security policy, and related degrees are strongly encouraged to apply.

In addition to the mandatory education requirements specified in this announcement, applicants must have specialized experience and/or directly related education in the increments shown below:
1. A certificate as a Certified Internal Auditor or a Certified Public Accountant, obtained through written examination; or
2. Completion of the requirements for a degree that included substantial course work in auditing or accounting, e.g., 15 semester hours.

Individuals with degrees in international affairs or policy, international development, regional or area studies, public policy or evaluation, journalism with an international focus, security policy, and related degrees are strongly encouraged to apply.

In addition to the mandatory education requirements specified in this announcement, applicants must have specialized experience and/or directly related education in the increments shown below:

FS-06 (equivalent to GS-09 grade level): Applicants must have one year of specialized experience at the FS-07 grade level or equivalent in the Federal service, or the equivalent to in the private sector, which includes: (1) participating in the planning, preparation, and execution of performance audits in accordance with Generally Accepted Government Auditing Standards (GAGAS); (2) applying a variety of audit techniques to conduct performance audit operations; and (3) analyzing and reviewing information to develop audit findings and recommendations and drafting sections of audit reports.

FS-05 (equivalent to GS-11 grade level): Applicants must have one year of specialized experience at the FS-06 grade level or equivalent in the Federal service or the equivalent to in the private sector, which includes: (1) participating in the planning, preparation, and execution of performance audits in accordance with GAGAS; (2) planning and developing and/or modifying techniques and methods, conducting analysis, and interpreting the results for an audit; and (3) developing specific and unique audit/review plans corresponding to operating programs and/or control systems with generalized and/or nonspecific guidelines.

FS-04 (equivalent to GS-12 grade level): Applicants must have one year of specialized experience at the FS-05 grade level or equivalent in the Federal service or the equivalent to in the private sector, which includes: (1) planning, preparing, and executing complex performance audits in accordance with GAGAS; (2) interpreting complex policies and regulations in support of audits; and (3) developing methods and procedures to resolve problem areas identified during audits.

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 or equivalent.

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, relevant to the duties of the position to be filled, including volunteer experience.

CTAP/ICTAP candidates will be referred to the selecting official if they are found well qualified. Well-qualified means an eligible employee who possesses the knowledge, skills, and abilities which clearly exceed the minimum requirements of the position. A well-qualified employee must meet the qualification and eligibility requirements of the position, including any medical qualifications, suitability, and minimum education and experience requirements, meet all selective factors (where applicable); meet quality ranking factors and are assigned to the Silver Category or higher Category; be physically qualified with reasonable accommodation to perform the essential duties of the position; meet any special qualifying U.S. OPM-approved conditions; AND be able to satisfactorily perform the duties of the position upon entry without additional training.

A well-qualified candidate will not necessarily meet the definition of highly or best qualified when evaluated against other candidates who apply for a particular position. In the absence of selective and quality ranking factors, selecting officials will document the job-related reason(s) for qualification determinations.

Education


This position has a positive education requirement, therefore, transcripts are required.

Additional information

Important note: Before receiving a career appointment in the Foreign Service an individual shall first serve under a limited appointment as a career candidate for a trial period of service not to exceed five (5) years. During such trial period of service, the career candidate may be terminated at any time for any reason including misconduct. Please see Sec. 306-309 of the Foreign Service Act of 1980, as amended.https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1868/fsa.pdf

Applicants must be available for and willing to accept assignments throughout the world, including assignments to Washington, D.C. They must also be willing to travel frequently on short notice. In cases where both spouses are foreign affairs agency employees, both are expected to be willing to accept assignments to a post other than that of the tandem spouse in order to meet the needs of the Service. This job is being filled by an alternative hiring process and is not in the competitive civil service.

Foreign Service career candidates will be considered for tenure by a Tenure Board after they have acquired at least three years in the agency, of which a minimum of two years' overseas experience in the Service. Each career candidate is afforded two opportunities to receive tenure based on the Board's review of the employee's written performance evaluations which are prepared by a supervisor at least once a year. A career candidate who fails to perform satisfactorily may be separated at any time during their probationary period. Any employee who remains untenured after two reviews will be separated from the Agency at the end of the five-year probationary appointment. The appointment status of a career candidate who receives tenure will be changed from probationary to career.

The appointment status of a career candidate who receives tenure will be changed from probationary to career.


Handicapped applicants, disabled veterans, and VRA's or any others eligible for a noncompetitive appointment under special appointing authorities must clearly specify this eligibility on their application and attach documentation.

These are Testing Designated Positions (TDPs) under the Agency's approved Drug-Free Workplace Program. All applicants selected for this position will be subject to random drug testing once they begin working for the Agency.

SELECTIVE SERVICE: http://www.sss.gov/

EEO Policy Statement: https://help.usajobs.gov/index.php/EEO_Policy_Statement

Reasonable Accommodation Policy Statement:
https://help.usajobs.gov/index.php/Reasonable_Accommodation_Policy_Statement

Veterans Information: http://www.fedshirevets.gov/

Telework: www.telework.gov

Disability: www.opm.gov/disability/mngr_3-13.asp

Noncompetitive Appointment Authorities: The following links contain information on the eligibility requirements to be considered under a noncompetitive appointing authority:
http://www.opm.gov/hr_practitioners/lawsregulations/appointingauthorities/

Selections are made on the basis of merit without regard to race, ethnicity, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, genetic information, or any other non-merit-based factor.

If needed, additional selections will be made from this announcement.

Benefits

A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.

How You Will Be Evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

We use a multi-step process to evaluate and refer applicants: Qualified applicants receive a score of 70 to 100. You will be rated on your qualifications for this position as evidenced by the work experience and training you report relative to this position that shows the degree to which you possess the competencies listed on this vacancy announcement. USAID must be able to conduct reference checks as part of its assessment process. Applicants who do not permit reference checked from previous employers may be disqualified.

The assessment questionnaire is designed to measure the following competencies that are required for this position:

The scored occupational questionnaire will evaluate you on the following competencies:

  • Critical Thinking
  • Oral & Written Communication
  • Performance Auditing
  • Problem Solving
  • Quantitative and Qualitative Analysis
  • Teamwork and Collaboration


IMPORTANT: If you are found to have rated your self-assessment higher than the information in your on-line application, supporting documentation narratives, and/or any other relevant part of your application package; including attachments, a score will manually be determined that reflects your documented experience. This may result in a lowered score and may also eliminate you from the best qualified list.

Required Documents

  • Resume showing relevant experience and upload your most recent performance appraisal if applicable
  • Veterans' documentation, if requesting consideration under any Veterans' hiring eligibilities (veterans' preference and Veterans Recruitment Appointment). To verify the type of veterans' preference you are eligible for, we recommend using the Department of Labor's Veterans' Preference Advisor.
  • ICTAP Eligibles: Must submit a copy of the appropriate documentation such as a reduction-in-force (RIF) separation notice, an SF-50 reflecting your RIF separation, or a notice of proposed removal for declining a direct reassign or transfer of function to another commuting area. You MUST also submit documentation to reflect your current (or last) performance rating of record of at least "fully successful" (Level III) or equivalent, along with your application/resume package.
  • If this position requires proof of higher education, you must submit a copy of your transcript(unofficial transcript) or a list of courses that includes the following information: name of accredited institution, grades earned, completion dates, and quarter and semester hours rated. You may use education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the requirements. Please refer to http://www.opm.gov/qualifications/policy/ApplicationOfStds-04.asp for more information. Please be advised that an official transcript will be required if the hiring manager selects you for the position.

If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:

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.

Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.

How to Apply


The following instructions outline our application process. You must complete this online application process and submit any applicable required documents by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on the closing date of this announcement. If applying online poses an extreme hardship, you must contact the human resources office no later than two business days before the closing date of this vacancy announcement. Our Office will provide an alternative application method upon approval of the hardship notification. After the advertisement has closed, we will not grant requests to apply via alternative plans.

Please note, we must receive all required documents by the closing date via online or alternative methods. We will determine your eligibility and qualifications based solely on the material received by the closing date.

Step 1 - Review the Job Announcement (https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12372876)
Before you apply, we suggest you review the entire job announcement. Pay close attention to the Major Duties section and the How You Will Be Evaluated section, where you will see the areas upon which an HR Specialist or Subject Matter Expert will evaluate your application and a link for previewing online questions.

Step 2 - Create or Upload a resume with USAJOBS (www.usajobs.gov)
Create or upload a resume in USAJOBS. You may wish to customize your resume to ensure it supports your responses to the online questions and addresses the Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities listed in the How You Will Be Evaluated section of the job announcement. For resume tips, click here.-Although you must enter your Social Security Number (SSN) for USAJOBS, we will only see the last four digits for identification purposes.

Step 3 - Apply Online
Click the "Apply Online" button on this announcement and then select the resume you wish to submit with your application. You will be redirected to the OPM's USA Staffing website to complete the application process.

Step 4 - Answer the Online Questions and Submit Your Online Application
If this is your first time on OPM's USA Staffing website, the system will prompt you to register by answering questions about your eligibility for Federal employment. Select "Take me to the assessment" and click on the "Next" button to answer the job-specific questions. The system will save these responses and take you back to the main screen so that you can answer the job-specific questions. You must answer all the questions and click the "Finish" button.

Step 5 - Review and Confirm Your Submission
You will now have the option to upload a document or print fax cover sheets for documents (see Step 6 for details). Once you click "Done," you will see a summary of your application for your review, and you may also print a copy for your records. When you click "Finish" at the bottom of the page, our system will then direct you back to USAJOBS, where you can confirm that you correctly submitted your application, and you can track your application status.

Step 6 - Submit Documents
You can submit any applicable required or optional documents (see below) by document upload, fax, or e-mail. Whichever method you choose, please include the job announcement number with your records. To protect your privacy, we encourage you to remove your SSN from any documents that you submit.

Document Upload: You may upload documents in one of two ways:

  1. Once you finish answering the questions in the job announcement, the system will prompt you to upload your document(s) to your application. You will be given a choice to either upload the document as part of the application process or select a copy that you've already loaded on USAJOBS. Or
  2. You can upload a document to an existing application by logging into your USAJOBS account profile. Click on "My Applications" and search for the vacancy. Once you've located the vacancy, click on the vacancy and select "Apply Online." Move through your existing application to the Documents page and select upload to add a document to your application. Be sure to review your complete application for confirmation that you uploaded the document.

Agency contact information

OIG HR Operations Washington

Address

OIG - Office of Audit
1300 Pennsylvania Ave NW
Washington, DC 20523
US
Learn more about this agency

Next steps

You must complete the online application/Occupational Questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below to apply for this position.

You must submit a complete application package by 11:59 PM (EST) on the announcement's closing date to receive consideration.

To begin, click Apply to access the online application. You will need to be logged into your USAJOBS account to apply. If you do not have a USAJOBS account, you must create one before beginning the application.

Follow the prompts to select your resume and other supporting documents to be included with your application package. You will have the opportunity to upload additional documents to include in your application before it is submitted. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process.

After acknowledging you have reviewed your application package, complete the Include Personal Information section as you deem appropriate and click to continue with the application process.

Our automated system will take you to the online application you must complete to apply for the position. Complete the online application, verify the required documentation is included with your application package, and apply.

To verify the status of your application, log into your USAJOBS account (https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login), all of your applications will appear on the Welcome screen. The Application Status will appear along with the date your application was last updated. For information on what each Application Status means, visit: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/how-to/application/status/.


Note: We cannot accept applications on behalf of Federal Agencies. Application instructions are listed within the Job Description.