Clarification from the agency

Current U.S. Customs and Border Protection employees who are currently working in a permanent competitive service position

Joining Customs & Border Protection will allow you to serve as auditor in charge in a headquarters division. This position starts at a salary of $91,231.00 (GS-13, Step 1) to $118,603.00 (GS-13, Step 10) with promotion potential to $118,603.00(GS-13 Step 10). Apply for this exciting opportunity to strengthen the Department's ability to perform homeland security functions by being a member of the auditing team.

In this Auditor position, you will become a key member of Homeland Security professionals. Typical work assignments may include:

• Ensuring that all RAAAS audit staff meets continuing professional education (CPE) requirements and provide logistics to RAAAS staff nationwide for CPE;
• Conducting quality reviews of RAAAS Field Offices to ensure compliance with applicable Generally Accepted Government Auditing (GAGAS) standards, internal policies and procedures, and CBP laws and regulations. Provides written reviews of reports when required;
• Developing, analyzing, researching, coordinating, and preparing for the issuance of policies, processes, technical guidelines and operational instructions for field audit staff application for continuous improvement and to ensure efficient operations;
• Developing training materials and delivering training based on mission, updated policies, procedures, processes, guidelines, and audit results to ensure requirements are understood by the auditors and
• Requesting and processing feedback from subject matter experts, field, headquarters divisions and other components for incorporation into new and updated policies, procedures, technical guidance, processes, special projects, and innovative solutions/new initiatives.

Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this position
• Males born after 12/31/1959 must be registered with Selective Service
• Primary U.S. residency for at least three of the last five years (additional details below)
• You may be required to pass a background investigation
• CBP follows the DHS Drug-Free Workplace Plan for drug testing procedures

Qualifications

Basic Requirement: Individuals must meet one of the options below and provide supporting documentation to meet the basic requirement for this position.
A. 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.
OR
B. A combination of education and experience - at least 4 years of experience in accounting, or an equivalent combination of accounting experience, college-level education, and training that provided professional accounting knowledge. The applicant's background must also include one of the following:1. 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
2. A certificate as a Certified Public Accountant or a Certified Internal Auditor, obtained through written examination;
OR
3. 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-semester-hour 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 non-conformance to the requirement of 24 semester hours in accounting, the applicant's education, training, and experience fully meet the specified requirements.

In addition to meeting the basic requirement listed above, applicants must have at least one year of specialized experience described below.

Experience: You qualify for the 13 grade level if you possess 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level, performing duties such as:

• Developing and documenting standards for measuring the effectiveness and efficiency of field audit operations.
• Assisting and participating in quality assurance reviews of field audit operations, including reviewing audit reports and working papers to ensure compliance with national standards.
• Developing and delivering training on technical subject matter related to the audit environment.
• Reviewing audit reports and working papers and uses in-depth knowledge of audit techniques and operations to verify the proper use of audit techniques, reasonableness of conclusions and recommendations, and use of the proper tone and readability of the reports.
• Developing policies, procedures and technical guidance based on GAGAS for audit work such as an audit program with instructions, and the scope and depth of fact-finding needed.

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.

You must:

• Meet all qualification requirements, including education if applicable to this position, subject to verification at any stage of the application process; and
• Meet all applicable Time in Grade requirements (current federal employees must have served 52 weeks at the next lower grade or equivalent grade band in the federal service) by 03/17/2020.

The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must authorize employment offers made to current or former political appointees. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES or Presidential Appointee employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the Human Resources Office.

Background Investigation: U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is a federal law enforcement agency that requires all applicants to undergo a thorough background investigation prior to employment in order to promote the agency's core values of vigilance, service to country, and integrity. During the screening and/or background investigation process, you will be asked questions regarding any felony criminal convictions or current felony charges, the use of illegal drugs (e.g., marijuana, cocaine, heroin, LSD, methamphetamines, ecstasy), and the use of non-prescribed controlled substances including any experimentation, possession, sale, receipt, manufacture, cultivation, production, transfer, shipping, trafficking, or distribution of controlled substances. For more information visit this link.

Residency: There is a residency requirement for all applicants not currently employed by CBP. Individuals are required to have physically resided in the United States or its protectorates (as declared under international law) for at least three of the last five years. If you do not meet the residency requirement and you have been physically located in a foreign location for more than two of the last five years, you may request an exception to determine if you are eligible for a residency wavier by meeting one or more of the following conditions:

• Working for the U.S. Government as a federal civilian or as a member of the military
• A dependent who was authorized to accompany a federal civilian or member of the military who was working for the U.S. government
• Participation in a study abroad program sponsored by a U.S. affiliated college or university
• Working as a contractor, intern, consultant or volunteer supporting the U.S. government

Probationary Period: All employees new to the federal government must serve a one year probationary period during the first year of his/her initial permanent federal appointment to determine fitness for continued employment. Current and former federal employees may be required to serve or complete a probationary period.

Agency Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) Eligibles: If you have never worked for the Federal Government, you are not CTAP eligible. Information about CTAP eligibility can be found here. You must submit the supporting documents listed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement. In addition, to be considered well qualified under CTAP, you must possess the knowledge, skills and abilities and/or competencies clearly exceeding the minimum requirements of the position. This will be measured by a score of 85 or higher.

How you will be evaluated

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

Applicants will only be considered for the Eligibilities for which they claim in the job questionnaire AND must provide the supporting documentation. Applicants will not be considered for Eligibilities for which they did not claim, regardless of the documentation submitted with the application. https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/10741172

We will review your resume and supporting documentation to ensure you meet the basic qualification requirements. If you meet the minimum qualifications, your experience, education and training will be rated using an online self-assessment questionnaire based on the competencies and/or knowledge, skills, and abilities listed below. You will receive a score ranging from 70-100 based on your responses. Your entire application package will then be reviewed. The final determination will be based on all the information provided in your application package.

If you are best qualified, you may be referred to the hiring manager for consideration and may be called for an interview. To preview the job questionnaire, see https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/10741172

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities and Other Characteristics (KSAOs):Candidates who meet the minimum qualification requirements are required to possess certain Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, or Other Characteristics (KSAOs) to successfully perform the functions of this position. Candidates will be asked to demonstrate their attainment of these KSAOs in their resume. The KSAOs are:

• Skill in fact-finding, analysis, problem solving, consulting and in applying new fact professional concepts and developments to audit or program assignments.
• Skill and ability to conduct difficult audits, focused assessments, and following up with businesses/organizations to ensure compliance with applicable laws and regulations including import/export laws and regulations.
• Knowledge of GAGAS and generally accepted accounting principles, theories, concepts, and practices in order to develop and disseminate expert guidance on audit approaches and techniques for field implementation.
• Ability to communicate orally and in writing in order to present and explain findings and approaches, justify recommendations, and respond to a wide variety of individuals with various levels of technical expertise and organizational and issue knowledge.
• Ability to negotiate, analyze, conceptualize and perform with a high level of tact and diplomacy.