This job originated on www.usajobs.gov. For the full announcement and to apply, visit www.usajobs.gov/job/538030700. Only resumes submitted according to the instructions on the job announcement listed at www.usajobs.gov will be considered.
Position are located in the Department of Labor, Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA).
There are 4 positions available in Philadelphia, PA and 4 positions available in Silver Spring, MD. Apply for the location that you are able and available to report to. Once your application is submitted, you will only be considered for that location. Final determination of work location is made by the agency.
Philadelphia, PA - ($67,418 - $87,649)
Silver Spring, MD - ($69,581 - $90,461)
06/28/2019 to 01/02/2020
$67,418 - $90,461 per year
GS 11
8 vacancies in the following locations:
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
50% or less - Investigations/audits may involve travelling up to 50% of the time in any 12 month period. Travel will normally be within assigned geographic area; however, incumbent may be assigned at any time to any State as defined in Section 3(10) of ERISA.
No
Permanent
Full-Time
Competitive
12 - There is no obligation to provide future promotions if you are selected. Promotions are dependent on your ability to perform the duties at a higher level, meet all the performance requirements, and supervisor’s recommendation to the next grade.
No
No
MS-19-PHIL-EBSA-0125
538030700
Current or former competitive service federal employees.
Federal employees who meet the definition of a "surplus" or "displaced" employee.
Certain current or former term or temporary federal employees of a land or base management agency.
Current federal employees with competitive status; Former federal employees with reinstatement eligibility; CTAP and ICTAP eligibles in the local commuting area; VEOA eligibles; Land and Base Management Workforce Flexibility Act eligibles. Military Spouse eligibles.
EBSA is responsible for planning, directing, and administering a program of enforcement to ensure maximum compliance throughout the geographical jurisdiction of the Office with the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) and the criminal provisions of the United States Code as they relate to the employee benefit plans.
This position has a positive education requirement. A copy of all college transcripts are required when applying. Failure to submit a copy of all college transcripts will result in your application being rated ineligible/incomplete.
-This position is located inside the Bargaining Unit.
- Additional vacancies may be filled using this announcement.
Major Duties Include:
Plans, conducts, and coordinates civil and criminal investigations/audits of moderate size single or multi-employer benefit plans, service providers, trust departments, and other financial entities having relationships and conducting transactions with the plans. Audits/investigations usually: (1) involve multiple issues and/or complex single issues (such as the interpretation of fiduciary responsibility when precedents do not provide conclusive guidance); (2) include analysis of diverse investments, complex financial transactions, organizational structures, or accounting systems; (3) require application of statutory requirements, class and/or individual exemptions to case facts; and/or (4) affect a large number of participants and/or large sum of plan assets. Incumbent also participates in the review of large plans and service providers (i.e., of multi-state or national scope) as a team member under the leadership of a higher level investigator/auditor.
Investigations/audits typically require that the incumbent:
- Determine the scope and investigative approaches to be taken for each investigation/audit. Assigned investigations/audits cover areas where there may be a high probability of significant findings. This includes: (1) researching and reviewing targeting data, reporting and disclosure documents, case files and other background information relative to the entity being investigated; and (2) determining investigative/audit scope and approaches as weU as setting forth the issue(s) being investigated, the sections of ERISA believed.to be violated. references to relevant interpretations and regulations, required elements of proof, estimated time for completion, records to be reviewed, interviews to be conducted, and information and documentation to be collected.
- Initiate and arrange for meetings, conferences, and discussions with plan officials, service providers, and. their legal and financial representatives to explain the purpose and scope of investigation/audit, ERISA requirements and EBSA policy and procedures and conduct formal interviews. Prepares and serves subpoenas when necessary to obtain desired records, documents, information, and testimony.
- Examine and analyze: (1) employee benefit plan financial records, trustee meeting minutes and other plan records such as plan and trust documents to ascertain information such as benefit and eligibility data, plan investment policies and authorizations, audit and accounting reports, financial control systems; (2) employee benefit plan operating procedures to determine compliance with plan documents and ERISA; (3) Form 5500 series of annual reports with financial statements and audit reports prepared by plan's accountant (4) fidelity hooding 10- determine coverage inadequacy in accordance with ERISA.
-Prepare comprehensive and weJJ-documented investigative reports (including evidentiary materials and related documentation, work paper and financial analyses, problem identification, findings, citation of ERISA and related laws, regulations, interpretations, etc. and recommendations for disposition and/or the necessity for additional investigation, civil litigation, or criminal prosecution).
-Discuss findings with supervisor and/or a higher level investigator/auditor and make recommendations that may serve as the basis for negotiation of voluntary compliance and/or other corrective actions.
-Participate with higher level investigator in the negotiation of corrective actions with plan officials, fiduciaries and their legal representatives to secure monetary restitution and other remedial actions. Under the guidance of a higher level investigator, develops recommendations for settlements for the Regional Director's approval and, as necessary, recommends and prepares investigations for civil litigation by the Department's Office of the Solicitor and/or for criminal prosecution by the Department of Justice Assistant United States Attorney.
Applicants must meet time-in-grade, time-after-competitive-appointment and qualifications requirements within 30 calendar days after the closing date of the vacancy to be eligible for consideration for selection.
Federal Employees Please Note: Your SF-50 must include enough information to be able to determine that time-in-grade requirements have been met and reflects your position title, pay plan/series/grade, tenure and the type of appointment (i.e. competitive/excepted). In some cases you may need to submit more than one SF-50.
Reference the "Required Documents" section for additional requirements.
THIS POSITION HAS AN INDIVIDUAL OCCUPATIONAL REQUIREMENT. ALL APPLICANTS MUST MEET THIS REQUIREMENT IN ORDER TO BE CONSIDERED.
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. (The term "accounting" means "accounting and/or auditing" in this standard. Similarly, "accountant" should be interpreted, generally, as "accountant and/or auditor.")
OR
B. 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:
IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE.
In addition to meeting the basic education requirement, applicants must have 52 weeks of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level, GS-09 in the Federal Service.
Examples of specialized experience sought for this position are:
1.) Applying accounting /auditing principles to audit employee benefit plans covered by ERISA;
2.) Working with and applying laws, regulations, court proceedings, precedents, interpretation and exemptions governing the employee benefits plan community.
3.) In-Depth knowledge of the civil and criminal provisions of ERISA and related Federal and state civil and criminal statutes, regulations, advisory opinions, exemptions, judgments, rules of evidence and court decisions in order to analyze plan regulatory compliance and develop recommendations;
4.) Developing audit programs and guidelines and providing technical auditing guidance to support field enforcement and litigation efforts;
5.) Independently investigating and analyzing financial transactions, background information and other evidentiary materials;
6.) Drafting clear and comprehensive reports including investigative findings and recommendations for corrective action.
To qualify for this position solely on education, in addition to meeting the basic education requirement, the following education may be used to substitute for specialized experience:
For GS-11: 3 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree., if related.
Any applicant falsely claiming an academic degree from an accredited school will be subject to actions ranging from disqualification from federal employment to removal from federal service.
If your education was completed at a foreign college or university, you must show comparability to education received in accredited educational institutions in the United States and comparability to applicable minimum course work requirements for this position. Click Evaluation of Foreign Education for more information.
DOL seeks to attract and retain a high performing and diverse workforce in which employees’ differences are respected and valued to better meet the varying needs of the diverse customers we serve. DOL fosters a diverse and inclusive work environment that promotes collaboration, flexibility and fairness so that all individuals are able to participate and contribute to their full potential.
Federal Employees Please Note: Your SF-50 must include enough information to be able to determine that time-in-grade requirements have been met and reflects your position title, pay plan/series/grade, tenure and the type of appointment (i.e. competitive/excepted). In some cases you may need to submit more than one SF-50.
Refer to these links for more information: GENERAL INFORMATION, ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTATION, FORMER FEDERAL EMPLOYEES
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
Click here for Evaluation details. For Displaced Employees ONLY: if you meet the eligibility requirements for special priority selection under ICTAP/CTAP, you must be well-qualified for the position to receive consideration for special priority selection. ICTAP/CTAP eligibles will be considered "well-qualified" if they attain at least a rating score of 85 in a numerical rating scheme. Be sure to review DOL Account Eligibility Questions #24 and 27 to reflect that you are applying as an ICTAP/CTAP eligible and submit supporting documentation.
Evaluation Factors (Competencies) - All qualified applicants will be evaluated on the following key competencies:
- Communication Skills- Clearly and effectively conveys to individuals and groups taking into account the audience and nature of the information.
- Individual Effectiveness-Organizes work and sets realistic personal goals; displays high levels of initiative, effort and commitment towards completing assignments.
- Interpersonal Skills-Demonstrates interpersonal skills that support and environment in which constructive communication takes place.
- Technology Application-Uses computers and computer software applications.
- Critical Thinking/Problem Solving-Knowledge of investigative principles and techniques; ability to investigate and analyze plan operations and practices.
- Investigations/Employee Benefits Plan Law-Knowledge and application of the laws and regulations, court proceedings, precedents, interpretations and exemptions governing the employee benefits plan community. Knowledge of accounting auditing and investigative accounting relative to employee benefits plans and related parties.
- Auditing-Identifies and analyzes problems; determines accuracy and relevancy of information.
The information you provide may be verified by a review of your work experience and/or education, by checking references and through other means (ex. interview). Your evaluation may also include a review by an HR Specialist or panel and may include other assessment tools (ex. interview, structured interview, written test, work sample, etc). The examining Human Resources Office (HRO) makes the final determination concerning applicant ratings. Your resume MUST provide sufficient information to substantiate your vacancy question responses. If not, the HRO may amend your responses to more accurately reflect the level of competency indicated by the content of your resume.
The following documents must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. (ET) on the vacancy closing date. Warning: If you submit a document using the same document title, the 2nd submission will OVERWRITE the 1st submission. Also, do not upload password protected documents. Follow the instructions: click How To Submit Supplemental Documentation Document.
The following documents are required from all applicants (PLEASE READ CAREFULLY):
ARE YOU A CURRENT OR FORMER FEDERAL EMPLOYEE? If applying as a status candidate with current or former Federal Service, please provide a copy of your last or most recent SF-50, "Notification of Personnel Action” which shows your appointment eligibility for the position for which you are applying. Your SF-50 must identify the highest grade you held on a permanent basis, Pay Plan/Pay Schedule, Series, and Grade/Pay Band, and career status. Multiple SF-50 may be submitted to demonstrate your highest previous rate and eligibility.
*WARNING: An award SF-50 (ex. cash or time off award) may not indicate grade, step and competitive status. For current DOL employees, an award SF-50 DOES NOT indicate grade and step.
- Most recent performance appraisal/evaluation signed and dated within 18 months is requested by the agency, but will not disqualify candidates if not submitted. If not submitted during the application process, one may/will be requested at the time of the interview if the opportunity is extended. Applies to current and former Federal employees.
- Land Management Eligibles: a copy of your most recent Notification of Personnel Action (SF-50 or equivalent) proving your eligibility for appointment under the Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act. This service must have been performed in the competitive service, under a time limited appointment in a Land Management Agency, as defined by P.L. 114-328. For more information, click here.
The following documents are required if applicable:
- Displaced Employee Placement Documents - Only required if requesting priority consideration under ICTAP/CTAP Eligibility.
- DD-214 - verifying military service, eligibility for consideration under the Veterans Employment Opportunity Act (VEOA) and showing character of discharge (ex. Member Copy 4 and 2 are acceptable vs. Copy 1 which is not acceptable to adjudicate veteran's preference)
- Cover Letters are not mandatory and will not be used to verify experience, but may be submitted
Applicants selected for employment who are not current DOL employees will be required to provide proof of citizenship, and the E-Verify system will be used to confirm the employment eligibility of all new hires.
– Unofficial Transcript(s) (in English) - submit if using education as a basis for qualifying for this position. If so, you must submit all applicable academic transcripts demonstrating that you meet the qualifying educational requirements (ex. BA/BS, MA, JD, PHD, etc). If specific course work is required to qualify, you must supply transcripts from each academic institution in which the required courses were taken in order to receive credit.
You may upload your transcript(s) as one document (3 MB size limit). If over 3 MB, please submit via fax feature.
OFFICIAL Transcripts MUST BE RECEIVED prior to selection and report date. Reference the “Education Section” for College Transcript and Evaluation of Foreign Education.
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.
To apply for this position, you must complete the initial online application, to include submission of the required documentation specified in the Required Documents section.
Note: If you are unsure, refer to your last or most recent Notification of Personnel Action (SF-50) or ask your servicing Human Resources Specialist.) If you don’t know what type of appointment you are on, you may find copies of your SF-50s in your electronic personnel folder (eOPF).
Follow the steps below to apply. Your application and ALL required supplemental documents MUST be received by 11:59 pm Eastern Time (ET) on the vacancy closing date to receive consideration. Paper applications and supplemental documents submitted in any other manner without prior approval from the vacancy contact will not be considered. Click here for information on Reasonable Accommodations.
SAVE your information before the 30 MINUTE TIMEOUT! For help, go to https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/how-to/.
STEP 1 - Create USAJOBS Account on www.usajobs.gov, including Resume and Saved Documents
Your resume must provide sufficient information to substantiate your responses in the self-assessment vacancy questions. If not, HR may amend your responses to more accurately reflect the competency indicated by resume content. FOR EACH EMPLOYMENT PERIOD, include: start/end month & year and note full-time or part-time (if part-time, include # of hours worked per week); otherwise, your application may be considered incomplete.
STEP 2 - Complete the 1st part of the application process (USAJOBS)
Once you have identified a job on www.usajobs.gov that you wish to apply for, click on the title and click the Apply button . For questions about the vacancy, contact the Agency Contact at the bottom of the announcement. Click “Start Application” and proceed through 5 steps noted at the top of the USAJOBS page. You will be able to select a resume and documents from your USAJOBS Account that you can submit as a package as part of your DOL application. At Step 5, click “Continue to Agency Site”.
STEP 3 – Complete the 2nd part of the application process (DOL)
On the Department of Labor (DOL) page, create a DOL Account if you have not already and click “APPLY TO THIS VACANCY”. Continue through the 7 progress steps indicated by circles at the top of the DOL page. The 3rd progress step is where you answer the vacancy specific questions. The 4th progress step "Documents" is where you submit required documents (only if applicable to you) specified in the "Required Documents" section of this vacancy. If you submit a document using the same document title, the 2nd submission will OVERWRITE the 1st submission.
STEP 4 – On the “Review and Submit” step, click “Submit Application”
The last “Confirmation” step will turn green noting that your application was submitted successfully.
STEP 5 - Edit Application as needed by 11:59 pm ET of Closing Date by returning to USAJOBS, clicking the vacancy, then “Update Application”.
Once your complete application is received, we will conduct an evaluation of your qualifications and refer candidates for selection consideration. Candidates will be referred to the hiring manager for further consideration and possible interview. You will be notified of the outcome. A selection is expected to be made within 30 calendar days from the issuance date of the certificate.
For instructions on how to check the status of your application, go to Step 7 on: Using DOORS and USAJOBS Help Guide. To sign up for Application Status Updates via email: Click Here for instructions.
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
This job originated on www.usajobs.gov. For the full announcement and to apply, visit www.usajobs.gov/job/538030700. Only resumes submitted according to the instructions on the job announcement listed at www.usajobs.gov will be considered.
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