Clarification from the agency

This announcement is open to all U.S. citizens.

OIG has statutory oversight responsibilities for both the Department and USAGM. This oversight responsibility includes conducting and reporting on audits, inspections, investigations, and other inquiries of all overseas and domestic organizational entities of these organizations.

MERO plans, conducts, supervises, coordinates, and oversees performance audits of high-cost, high-risk Department programs in crisis and post-crisis areas, including in the Middle East, North Africa, and South and Central Asia. MERO performs audit work on a range of cross-cutting issues such as humanitarian aid; counterterrorism messaging and training; emergency planning; contract and Federal assistance administration; counternarcotics; and embassy construction, operations, and maintenance. Performance audit objectives vary widely and could include assessments of program effectiveness, economy, and efficiency; internal control; or compliance. These audits are done in compliance with Generally Accepted Government Auditing Standards, issued by the Government Accountability Office. MERO audits are generally intended to improve management and strengthen integrity and accountability.

Under the broad direction and supervision of an Assistant Inspector General, the incumbent is responsible for planning, directing, and administering MERO’s comprehensive audit program. The audit program for which the incumbent is responsible involves reviewing and making recommendations for changes and improvements to major programs and activities of the Department’s organizational entities located both domestically and overseas. The audits conducted under the direction of the incumbent can affect the programs, operations, and agency-wide activities of the Department. The projects performed by MERO relate to major programs in the Department that have been identified to be major management challenges. By leading the staff in his/her Directorate, the incumbent complies with policies established by OIG and the Government Accountability Office to plan, schedule, conduct, and report on comprehensive audits of Department activities. In addition, the incumbent serves as the principle advisor to the Assistant Inspector General for Audits on Department activities in post-conflict locations.

MERO consists of auditors and management analysts, some of which are located in Baghdad, Iraq; Frankfurt, Germany; and Kabul, Afghanistan; who work together on projects to assist the Department to recognize and address deficiencies.

Conditions of employment

• Incumbent will be subject to random drug testing.
• Verification of employment eligibility in the United States is required.
• U.S. Citizenship is required.
• One-year probationary period, unless excepted by regulation.
• Must be able to obtain and maintain a Top Secret security clearance.

The Ethics in Government Act, PL 95-521 requires the applicant selected for this position to submit a financial disclosure statement, SF-278, prior to assuming the SES position, annually and upon termination of employment. This position is a drug-testing designated position subject to random testing for illegal drug use. Appointment will be subject to the applicant's completion and favorable adjudication of a background security investigation.

Qualifications

Unless you are currently serving under a career Senior Executive Service (SES) appointment, are eligible for reinstatement into the SES, or have successfully completed a SES Candidate Development Program approved by OPM, you must submit a narrative statement covering each of the Executive Core Qualifications (last five questions). All applicants must submit a narrative statement covering each of the Mandatory Technical Qualification questions in order to receive consideration for the position.

To view additional information on the proper preparation of Executive Core Qualification statements available on the Office of Personnel Management's website please click here.

When responding to the Mandatory Technical Qualifications and Executive Core Qualifications, you must clearly show that you possess the experience, knowledge, skills, and ability to perform the duties of this position by submitting narrative responses in which you detail your experience in each of the Technical Qualifications and the Executive Core Qualifications.

Your examples should be clear and emphasize your level of responsibilities, scope and complexity of programs managed, program accomplishments with results of your actions, policy initiatives, and level of contacts. You should limit your narrative to two pages per Mandatory Technical Qualification and Executive Core Qualification.

Applicants who use "see resume" as a response will not receive consideration for the position.

Mandatory Technical Qualifications (MTQ)

All applicants must address each of the MTQs in order to receive consideration for this position. 

For this position ALL applicants must address each of the following MTQs.

1) You must address the MTQs separately (as a separate document) and NOT through the question portion of the application process.

2) After preparing your MTQs, please upload the document as an "additional document" in the document upload section.

For this position ALL applicants must address each of the following MTQs:

1. To what extent do you have experience in managing highly complex and diverse audits and evaluations encompassing major organizations and supervising a large technical staff, including managing resources to achieved desired results and developing staff to perform at a high level of competence while measuring and improving organizational performance?

2. To what extent do you possess extensive knowledge and experience in planning, conducting, and reporting on performance audits of programs and operations in accordance with Government Auditing Standards?

3. To what extent do you possess knowledge, skills and abilities in interpersonal relation techniques to meet and deal effectively with others at all levels of authority and exert a positive influence though strong differences of opinion may exist?

4. To what extent do you possess a mastery of oral and writing communication skills to present clear and concise information, answer detailed questions, write memoranda and reports that effectively explain and articulate audit and evaluation findings and recommendations?

IF YOU DO NOT POSSESS THE MANDATORY TECHNICAL QUALIFICATIONS DESCRIBED ABOVE, YOU MAY BE CONSIDERED INELIGIBLE FOR THIS POSITION.

All applicants MUST meet one of the basic qualification requirements described below for this position:

BASIC QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS: A. Applicants must have a degree from an accredited college or university in accounting and/or auditing 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 and/or auditing. (The 24 semester hours may include up to 6 hours of credit in business law);

OR B. Combination of Education and Experience: Have 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 AND meet 1, 2 or 3 below:

1. Twenty-four semester hours in accounting or auditing courses. (This can include up to 6 hours of business law.)

2. A certificate as a Certified Public Accountant or a Certified Internal Auditor obtained through a written examination.

3. Have at least 4 years of experience in accounting AND 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 described in paragraph A above, AND (a) have successfully worked at the full-performance level in accounting, auditing, or a related field, (e.g., valuation engineering or financial institution examining); AND (b) a panel of at least two higher level professional accountants or auditors determined that I have 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 above; AND (c) except for literal nonconformance to the requirement of 24 semester hours in accounting, my education, training, and experience fully meet the specified requirements.

Note: All applicants MUST submit transcripts as verification of educational requirement OR a certificate as a Certified Public Accountant or a Certified Internal Auditor, obtained through written examination OR panel recommendation that includes all the requirements as described under Combination of Education and Experience #3 above by the closing date of this announcement. If you fail to provide requested information, or the information you submit is insufficient to verify your eligibility, you WILL lose consideration for this position.

How you will be evaluated

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

An Executive Review Board (ERB) and Qualifications Review Panel (QRP) consisting of senior officials will rate applicants based on the quality and extent of total accomplishments, experience and education. The ERB and QRP will determine the degree to which candidates possess the required knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the MTQ requirements of the position and the ECQ requirements. Among the factors the ERB and QRP will consider in determining the applicant's relative capacity and fitness for the position are education, training, experience, and demonstrated executive level qualifications. The ERB and QRP will rate your applications against each of the ECQs and MTQs to determine the best qualified candidates. Candidates determined to be best qualified candidates will be referred to the selecting official for further consideration for the position.