Director- Audit Policy and Quality Assurance Job

Vacancy No. APQA-26-IMP-12985394 Department Government Accountability Office
Salary $151,661.00 to $228,000.00 Grade 00 to 00
Perm/Temp Permanent FT/PT Full-time
Open Date 6/23/2026 Close Date 7/14/2026
Job Link Apply Online Who may apply Status Candidates
Locations:
Huntsville, ALLos Angeles, CAOakland, CADenver, CO
Washington, DCAtlanta, GAChicago, ILBoston, MA
Dayton, OHDallas, TXNorfolk, VASeattle, WA


Director- Audit Policy and Quality Assurance

Legislative Branch
Government Accountability Office
Audit Policy and Quality Assurance (APQA)

Summary

This position is located in the Government Accountability Office. As a Director- Audit Policy and Quality Assurance you will be responsible for providing executive leadership, strategic direction, and supervisory oversight for GAO's audit quality assurance and risk management programs. The Director is responsible for ensuring that GAO engagements and products comply with Generally Accepted Government Auditing Standards (GAGAS), GAO policies, and the agency's Quality Assurance Framework.

This job is open to

Internal to an agency

Current federal employees of the hiring agency that posted the job announcement.

Clarification from the agency

Internal to GAO employees

Duties

As a Director- Audit Policy and Quality Assurance, ES-0340-00, your typical work assignments may include the following:

Provides technical leadership and strategic direction for GAO's audit quality assurance and risk management programs, ensuring alignment with agency priorities and core values.

Plans, directs, and oversees reviews of medium and high-risk GAO audit engagements and products to ensure compliance with GAGAS, GAO policies, and reporting standards.

Serves as a senior expert official with responsibility for leading, managing, and developing a multidisciplinary staff of analysts, specialists, and managers.

Provides authoritative advice and consultation to GAO teams and leadership on audit policy, quality assurance, internal controls, and risk management.

Provides guidance to teams on the design and execution of audits and engagements to ensure appropriate application of GAGAS and GAO's Quality Assurance Framework.

Identifies trends, systematic issues, and root causes affecting audit quality and organizational performance; recommends and implements corrective actions. Promotes innovation and continuous improvement in audit methodologies, quality assurance processes, and risk management practices.

Leads or contributes substantially to key APQA responsibilities including: the annual Performance and Accountability Report, organizational performance measurement system, Engagement Management Process, GAO Policy Manual and guidance tools (e.g., EAGLE, Words at Work, Visuals at Work), records disclosure processes consistent with the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), and reporting on financial and nonfinancial benefits and recommendation follow-up.

Requirements

Conditions of employment

Conditions of employment

You must meet all qualification requirements before the announcement closes.
1.You must be a U.S. citizen
2. You will be required to submit a financial disclosure statement.
3. You must be suitable for a top-secret security clearance.
4. Registered for Selective Service, if applicable. (www.sss.gov).
5. Completion of a 1-year supervisory SES probationary period.
6. Medical and Physical Examinations are required.
7. Selectee must have and be able to maintain a valid state driver's license.
8. This position requires that the selectee has successfully completed the Criminal Investigator Training Program (CITP) https://www.fletc.gov/criminal-investigator-training-program or an equivalent program, such as the program offered to agents from the FBI, DEA and Postal Inspection Service.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications: The Senior Executive Service (SES) appointments require one year (52 weeks) of specialized experience at the next lower band/grade at the GS-14/GS-15 level, PE band level III, PT band levels III and IV, MS band levels I and II, Senior Executive Service, Senior Level (SL), or equivalent in the Federal Service, or comparable private/public sector.

Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs): The ECQs assess executive experience and potential. They measure whether you have the executive skills needed to succeed in a variety of Senior Executive Service positions. ECQs can be submitted outside of the resume as additional documentation. Please address the following ECQs listed below.

*NOTE*: For current SES applicants or applicants who have previously held an SES appointment, ECQs can be resume based.

  • Leading Change: This core qualification involves the ability to bring about strategic change, both within and outside the organization, to meet organizational goals. Inherent to this ECQ is the ability to establish an organizational vision and to implement it in a continuously changing environment.
  • Leading People: This core qualification involves the ability to lead people toward meeting the organizations vision, mission, and goals. Inherent to this ECQ is the ability to provide an inclusive workplace that fosters the development of others, facilitates cooperation and teamwork, and supports constructive resolution of conflicts.
  • Results Driven: This core qualification involves the ability to meet organizational goals and customer expectations. Inherent to this ECQ is the ability to make decisions that produce high quality results by applying technical knowledge, analyzing problems, and calculating risks.
  • Business Acumen: This core qualification involves the ability to manage human, financial, and information resources strategically.
  • Building Coalitions: This core qualification involves the ability to build coalitions internally and with other federal agencies, state and local governments, nonprofit and private sector organizations, foreign governments, or international organizations to achieve common goals.
Technical Qualifications: All applicants must meet the Mandatory Technical Competency and Executive Core Qualification requirements listed above to be eligible for consideration. Eligibility will be based on a clear demonstration that the applicants training, and experience are of the scope, quality, and level of responsibility sufficient to successfully perform the duties and responsibilities of this executive position.

TQ:1: Comprehensive knowledge of GAO's audit policies, engagement lifecycle, and reporting standards including requirements for evidence, documentation, independence, and transparency.

TQ: 2: Supervisory and managerial skills in leading multidisciplinary teams, developing staff, managing performance, resolving conflicts, and fostering a high-performing, inclusive workplace.

TQ: 3: Policy development and interpretation skills to create clear, effective guidance and provide authoritative advice on complex or ambiguous auditing and compliance issues.

TQ: 4: Ability to exercise sound, independent judgment in evaluating sensitive, high-visibility audit work and resolve complex technical and policy issues.

TQ: 5: Ability to manage and prioritize multiple, concurrent responsibilities while maintaining high standards of quality, timeliness, and accuracy.

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.

Education

This job does not have an education qualification requirement.

Additional information

Update your resume so it meets new resume requirements
Starting on September 27, 2025, federal agencies will only accept resumes up to two pages in length to comply with the Merit Hiring Plan. USAJOBS will not allow you to upload or build resumes longer than two pages, and you will need to update the resumes in your profile before applying to a job.
What is required in the resume?
Resumes submitted for federal jobs are required to have:

  • Contact Information-your name and the best way to contact you.
  • Relevant work experience-Job experience should include employer name, job title, start and end dates (month/year), the number of hours worked per week and descriptions that explain how your previous work experience relates to and helps you meet the required qualifications in the GAO job announcement to which you are applying.
  • Education, certifications or licensures-If the job announcement requires any education, certifications or licensures, make sure you include the required information on the resume.
For more information on the how to check the resume for the new 2-page requirement, please go to the Help Center or click the link : USAJOBS Help Center - Update your resume now so it meets new resume requirements


This is not a bargaining unit position. (Add whichever is applicable to the position)

OPTION FOR ADDITIONAL SELECTIONS: Based on the staffing needs, additional selections may be made through this vacancy announcement.

Travel and relocation expenses will not be paid for by the GAO.

REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION: GAO provides reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees with disabilities. To request accommodation, please email ReasonableAccommodations@gao.gov.The U.S. Government Accountability Office's policy is to provide equal employment opportunity for all regardless of race, religion, color, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, age, disability, genetic information, sexual orientation, or gender identity.

The U.S. Government Accountability Office's policy is to provide equal employment opportunity for all regardless of race, religion, color, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, age, disability, genetic information, sexual orientation, or gender identity.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

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.

Review our 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.

If you meet the qualification requirements stated above, you will be further rated based on your responses to the vacancy questions. Please make sure that your responses to the vacancy questions are supported in your resume. Please follow all instructions carefully. If you provide incomplete answers, fail to provide a narrative response to any vacancy question(s) that requires further explanation, or if your response to a vacancy question is "see resume", your rating may be affected or you may be determined ineligible.

Required Documents

You must provide a complete application package which includes:

Resume: must be created using the USAJOBS resume builder and show relevant work experience.- Current GAO employees must submit their most recent Notification of Personnel Action (SF-50 or equivalent) showing tenure, type of service (competitive/excepted), as well as the highest grade/band held. The SF-50 must show that you are currently a GAO employee.

How to Apply

To apply for this position, you must complete the online application and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below.

A complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on the closing date of the announcement 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 will need to create one before beginning the application.

- Follow the prompts to select your résumé and/or 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.- You will be taken to the online application which you must complete in order to apply for the position. Complete the online application, verify the required documentation is included with your application package, and submit the application.

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/.

If you are unable to apply online, please contact Stephanie Ayton at aytons@gao.gov or 404-679-1879 by 4 p.m. on the closing date of the announcement.

For technical issue with USAJOBS: Please refer to the USAJOBS help page.

Agency contact information

Stephanie Ayton
Email
aytons@gao.gov
Address
Government Accountability Office
Human Capital Office
441 G Street NW
Washington, DC 20548
US

Next steps

After the closing date of this announcement, GAO's Human Capital Office will conduct an evaluation of your qualifications by reviewing your assessment questionnaire and resume to complete an analysis. Please be as complete and thorough as possible. If your application is rated "best-qualified," your name will be referred to the selecting official for consideration. At this point you may be contacted for an interview.

If you do not meet the key requirements and/or basic qualifications or you fail to submit all required application materials, your application will not be considered.

Additional locations

Washington, DC
Atlanta, GA
Chicago, IL
Boston, MA
Dayton, OH
Dallas, TX
Norfolk, VA
Seattle, WA

Government Accountability Office

Agency contact information

Stephanie Ayton
Email
aytons@gao.gov
Address
Government Accountability Office
Human Capital Office
441 G Street NW
Washington, DC 20548
US

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