Clarification from the agency

All U.S. Citizens, No Prior Federal Experience is Required

Videos

Duties for an Auditor, GS-511-7/9 for the Office of Audit Services include but not limited to:

• Participates in entrance and exit conferences and in the conduct of preliminary surveys. Conducts tests and examinations of accounting system and records, internal controls, policies and practices, and other management information pertinent to the audit.
• Uses audit techniques such as statistical sampling where appropriate. Maintains audit working papers and sustaining documents in accordance with OIG/OAS requirements.
• Makes audit determination concerning matters such as the accuracy of cost representations, reasonableness of cost proposals, reliability of accounting systems and information, allocability of costs, and the economy and effectiveness of management policies or operations. Where incumbent identifies possible fraud or abuse develops findings and pertinent documentation and consults with supervisor/project leader for referral to OIG Office of Investigations.
• Meets with audit team leads and managers to discuss audit findings and recommendations developed to correct reported deficiencies, prevent or correct costly errors and improve future operations and mission accomplishments.
• Develops report of audit findings in assigned segment of large complex audits to support conclusions and recommendations to team leaders or supervisors.
• Prepares or assists in the preparation of final audit reports. Develop a variety of narrative and statistical reports and correspondence. As assigned, reviews audit reports or portions of audit reports prepared by non-HHS auditors for adherence to OIG requirements and for completeness of documentation.

Conditions of employment

• U.S Citizenship is required.
• Registration with the Selective Service (if applicable).
• Suitability for Federal employment determined by background investigation.
• One-year probationary period may be required.

Qualifications

HHS has a critical preparedness and response mission: HHS protects the American people from health threats, researches emerging diseases, and mobilizes public health programs with domestic and international partners. In support of this mission, HHS offers its employees the opportunity to volunteer to become Federal Civilian Detailees and contribute their unique skills through voluntary temporary assignments to humanitarian emergencies or Departmental priorities countering new and emerging health, safety, and security threats.

You must meet the requirements of the job by 11:59 (Eastern Standard Time) of the closing date: 04/04/2023

Applicants must meet all the qualification requirements, including education, and any selective placement factors described below within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement. Education used as part of an application package will only be considered if complete transcripts are submitted and must be from an accredited institution as recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. To see if your institution is accredited, please follow this link: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/Search.aspx

Positive Education Requirement: This position has a position education requirement, as indicated below. A complete transcript showing relevant coursework and degrees must be submitted with your application package. A list of completed courses or incomplete transcripts will not be accepted.

Basic Requirements for Financial Auditors
Degree: accounting, auditing; or a degree including auditing courses 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
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:
Twenty-four semester hours in accounting or auditing courses of appropriate type and quality. This can include up to 6 hours of business law;
A certificate as Certified Public Accountant or a Certified Internal Auditor, obtained through written examination; or 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

AND

GS-07 Specialized Experience: For the GS-07 applicants must have 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-05 grade level in the Federal service which provided the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities to perform the duties of the position. Examples of qualifying specialized experience: (1) Comparing similarities and differences of accounting systems and report findings to team members and or audit manager. (2) making recommendations concerning changes to accounting procedures; and (3) preparing charts, tables, graphs, and other exhibits to aid in audit findings.
OR
1 full year of graduate level education or superior academic achievement. One year of graduate experience is 18 semester hours. You must submit a copy of your unofficial transcripts to support your claim
OR
A combination of graduate education and specialized experience as described above. To combine education and experience, determine your total qualifying experience as a percentage of the experience required for the grade level. Then determine your education as a percentage of the education required for the grade level. Finally, add the two percentages. The total percentage must equal at least 100 percent to qualify. You must submit your unofficial transcript to support your claim.


GS-09 Specialized Experience: For the GS-09 applicants must have 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-07 grade level in the Federal service which provided the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities to perform the duties of the position. Examples of qualifying specialized experience: (1) examining financial transactions, accounts, and reports, to include an evaluation of compliance with applicable laws and regulations to the audit team; (2) performing pre-audit research and organizes background material pertaining directly to the auditee, organization, program activity to be audited; (3) preparing charts, tables, graphs, and other exhibits to aid in audit findings.
OR
2 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a master's degree or master's or equivalent graduate degree. (Eighteen semester hours is generally equivalent to one year of graduate education). NOTE: Applicants must submit supporting transcripts if qualifying based on education.
OR
A combination of graduate level education and specialized experience as described above which can be combined to equal one year. To compute this, first determine your total qualifying experience as a percentage of the experience required above. (For example, 6 months of professional experience equals 50% of the experience requirement.) Then, determine your graduate education as a percentage of the education required under B above. (For example, 9 semester hours of creditable graduate work equals 50% of the education required.) Add the two percentages together. The total must equal at least 100 percent to qualify. The first 18 semester hours may not be credited towards specialized experience. NOTE: Applicants must submit supporting transcripts if any part of qualifications is based on education.

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. Your resume should include the dates of all qualifying experience (from month/year to month/year) and the number of hours worked/volunteered per week.

How you will be evaluated

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

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 a job questionnaire that is based on the following competencies or knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to perform this job:

• Auditing
• Attention to Detail
• Written Communication

This agency uses Category Rating Procedures. Under Delegated Examining (All U.S. Citizens), we will use your responses to the job questionnaire to place you in one of three categories. If you meet the minimum qualifications, you will be placed in one of the following categories:

• Best Qualified: Applicants possessing a background that demonstrates a superior level of all evaluation criteria.
• Well Qualified: Applicants possessing a background that demonstrates a satisfactory level of evaluation criteria.
• Qualified: Applicants possessing the basic qualifications, with general knowledge, skills, and abilities.

The Category Rating Process does not add veterans' preference points or apply the "rule of three" but protects the rights of Veterans by placing them ahead of non-preference eligibles within each quality category. Veterans' preference eligibles who meet the minimum qualification requirements and who have a compensable service-connected disability of at least 10 percent will be listed in the highest quality category (except in the case of scientific or professional positions at the GS-09 level or higher).

If, after reviewing your resume and any supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have rated yourself higher than is supported by your application materials, your responses will be adjusted and/or you may be excluded from consideration for this job.

Your resume must document specialized experience and support your responses to the vacancy questions.

To view the application form, visit: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/11891099

Selections may be made for vacancies across the entire Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). By applying, you agree to allow your application and other personal information to be shared with one or more HHS hiring officials for employment consideration for same/similar positions within the location(s) identified in this announcement.