Clarification from the agency

Recent graduates from a qualifying educational institution having completed an academic program within the preceding two years. Note: Veterans who were precluded by their military service obligation from applying for Pathways Recent Graduate jobs will have up to six years from date of graduation and two years from date of separation from the military to apply.

The EPA OIG is seeking Recent Graduates under the Pathways Program. This position is provided for recent graduates with a desire to work in the Office of the Inspector General and assignments are designed to complement the graduates educational field while meeting the expressed needs of the agency and organizations.

This position is located in the Office of Inspector General, Office of Audit, Pollution Control and Cleanup Directorate -or- Environmental Investment and Infrastructure Directorate -or- Information Resources Management Directorate - or- Business Operations Directorate. 

The Pollution Control and Cleanup directorate conducts performance audits to determine the efficiency, effectiveness, and compliance of EPA’s programs including Air and Radiation, Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention, Land and Emergency Management, and Water.

The Environmental Investment and Infrastructure Directorate conducts performance audits and program evaluations of EPA funding and management of environmental programs delegated to state, tribal, and local programs, including those related to infrastructure, to determine whether they meet and comply with applicable laws, regulations, and policies.

The Information Resources Management Directorate conducts mandatory and discretionary audits and evaluations of the EPA’s and Chemical Hazards and Safety Board’s (CSB) information security programs and processes. These include the EPA and CSB FISMA compliance, review of financial systems, examination of IT related hotline complaints, physical and logical access controls, configuration management, patch management, IT contracting compliance, and data privacy among others.

The Business Operations Directorate conducts audits to assess efficiency and effectiveness of the EPA’s business operations and processes,  to include workforce planning, required reporting, management of contracts and grants, as well as mandatory audits related to Agency operations such as Payment Integrity, Single Audits, Purchase and Travel Card Programs.

Individuals with accounting, business administration, finance, policy analysis, public policy, public administration, environmental science, environmental engineering, public health science, social science or related degrees are strongly encouraged to apply.

Responsibilities

The ideal candidate will perform the following duties: 

• Participate in the design and development of a comprehensive approach to answer significant questions involving non-complex Agency wide programs.
• Provide program and policy analysis; process improvement; data analytics; contracts, grants, and other assistance agreements; financial management; information resources management; and/or environmental programs and issues.
• Conducts non-complex assignments and assists with selected aspects of more complex assignments targeting various programs carried out by the Agency, state agencies, grantees, or contractors.
• Clearly communicate issues and findings orally and in writing.

Conditions of employment

Conditions of Employment

• U.S. Citizenship Required. 
• Background Investigation Required.
• Must meet education requirements. 
• Position has portable work and selectee may be eligible to telework.
• Must meet Pathways Recent Graduate program requirements.
• Salary will be set based upon the grade level and duty location at which the selection is made.

This is an appointment under the EPA OIG Recent Graduate program. You must have graduated within the past two years, from a qualifying educational institution or certificate program. The program duration is one year (or two years for STEM positions). Upon successful completion of the program and at the agency's discretion, the appointee may be converted to a permanent position in the competitive service. Appointee must sign a Participant Agreement. Recent Graduates will enter a formal training program with a mentor and execute an Individual Development Plan outlining training requirements and program expectations. The entire duration of the Recent Graduate Appointment constitutes a trial period.

This is a Public Trust Position. Employment in this position requires a background investigation. If you are selected and cannot obtain a favorable security determination within a reasonable period of time due to disclosed or undisclosed background issues, the tentative employment offer may be withdrawn.

Selectees will be required to complete a "Declaration of Federal Employment", (OF-306), prior to being appointed to determine their suitability for Federal employment and to authorize a background investigation. False statements or responses on your resume or questionnaire can jeopardize your employment opportunity and subject you to disciplinary action, including removal from Federal service. 

If you are a male born after December 31, 1959 you must certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System, or are exempt from having to do so under the Selective Service Law.

The selectee will be required to complete a Personal Identity Verification (PIV) process that requires two forms of identification from the I-9 Form. We will compare information provided on the I-9 Form to records available from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. The system confirms employee’s identity and eligibility to work in the United States. Learn more about e-verify, including your rights and responsibilities.

Qualifications

All applicants must meet one of the following requirements to be determined eligible:

Performance Auditors

Basic Requirements:

A. Bachelor's or Higher 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.

In addition to meeting one of the above series basic qualification requirements, applicants must also possess a minimum of 1 year (52 weeks) of specialized experience to at least the next lower grade level or equivalent band level of responsibility in the Federal Service OR meet the additional education described OR a combination of education and experience.  Specialized experience is experience that has equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled.    Example of specialized experience includes:

GS-07:

1. Working as a trainee auditor applying a practical application of accounting principles, audit standards, procedures and technology.
2. Verifying that accounting systems are set up and maintained according to accepted accounting principles.
3. Examining program documents as well as previous audit reports to determine compliance with governing regulations.

-OR- 

1 year of graduate-level education or superior academic achievement (SAA). 

In order to be creditable under the provision, superior academic achievement (SAA) must have been gained in a curriculum that is qualifying for the position to be filled. SAA is based on (1) class standing, (2) grade-point average, or (3) honor society membership. 

Applicants must be in the upper third of the graduating class in the college, university, or major subdivision, such as the College of Liberal Arts or the School of Business Administration, based on completed courses. Applicants must have a grade-point average of:

• 3.0 or higher out of a possible 4.0 as recorded on your official transcript, or as computed based on 4 years of education, or as computed based on courses completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum; OR
• 3.5 or higher out of a possible 4.0 based on the average of the required courses completed in the major field or the required courses in the major field completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum.
• These honor societies are listed by the Association of College Honor Societies.

-OR- 

Combination of education and experience.

GS-9:

In addition to meeting one of the above series basic qualification requirements, applicants must also possess a minimum of 1 year (52 weeks) equivalent to at least the GS-7 grade level or equivalent in the Federal Service.   Example of specialized experience includes: 

1. Working as a trainee auditor applying a practical application of accounting principles, audit standards, procedures and technology.
2. Verifying that accounting systems are set up and maintained according to accepted accounting principles.
3. Examining program documents as well as previous audit reports to determine compliance with governing regulations.
4. Preparing charts, tables, graphs and other exhibits to aid in the presentation of audit findings; studying functional and program manuals; preparing briefing materials, etc.

-OR- 

2 years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a master's degree or master's or equivalent graduate degree.

-OR- 

Combination of education and experience.

How you will be evaluated

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

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above. After the vacancy closes, we will review your application package to determine if you meet the minimum qualifications for the position. If you meet the minimum qualifications, your responses to the questionnaire, resume and supporting documentation will then be reviewed. You will be placed in one of the three pre-defined categories. Your responses to the questionnaire will serve as the basis for your initial rating in one of three pre-defined categories: "best", "better", and "good". Within each category, those eligible through veterans preference will be listed at the top of the category. Your resume must support your answers to the questionnaire, or your category may be changed. The candidates in the highest category will be certified for referral to the selecting official and may be invited to an interview.

CTAP/ICTAP candidates will be eligible if it is determined that they have exceeded the minimum qualifications for the position by attaining at least a category rating of BETTER. 

Please ensure that your resume contains specific information such as position titles, beginning and ending dates of employment for each position, average number of hours worked per week, salary, duties performed for each position, and if the position is/was in the Federal government,
you should provide the position series and grade level/pay band.