Clarification from the agency

Exclusive Announcement open to all US Citizens and Nationals. Students may apply up to nine months prior to completing their academic requirements.

• The major duties described below reflect the full performance level of this position:
• Serves as a senior staff auditor to conduct audits of significant scope and mission impact on large or highly complex audits. Audits are to assess compliance, efficiency and effectiveness of programs where considerable variability exists.
• Plans audits covering broadly related and highly complex functions throughout DFAS. Develops and writes segments of the audit plan for highly complex DFAS-wide or corporate audits.
• Briefs management at entrance conferences to explain audit objectives, procedures, and scope, and obtains management’s input. Independently conducts audit survey to determine areas for detailed examination.
• Independently evaluates management processes and presents facts, conclusions, and recommendations clearly, and logically. Summarizes audit results and addresses management issues surfaced in the audit. Provides recommendations for corrective actions.
• Prepares complex audit reports which present findings and cite applicable regulations. Identifies causative situations and recommends corrective action for problems of significant complexity where differing opinions may be strong.
• Duties will be developmental in nature while performing below the full performance level of GS-12.

Conditions of employment

• Must be a U.S Citizen and Nationals.
• Registered for Selective Service (males born after 12-31-1959).
• Suitable for federal employment.
• Obtain/Maintain Financial Management Certification.
• This national security position, which may require access to classified information, requires a favorable suitability review and security clearance as a condition of employment. Failure to maintain security eligibility may result in termination.
• Background or Security Investigation: This is a Non-Critical Sensitive position. Employment in this position requires a background investigation which may delay your starting date.

Qualifications

Applicants MUST have related financial experience AND/OR a related financial degree (examples include: Finance, Accounting, Management, Actuarial Science, or related degree to the position being filled), in addition to meeting Office of Personnel Management (OPM) minimum qualification requirements. Substitution of combination of education and experience must still, in conjunction, minimally satisfy the DHA qualification requirement.

Human Resources will determine your qualifications for each entry grade level based on your interest and the additional following criteria. Resumes for federal government positions need more detailed work descriptions and accomplishments than a typical private sector resume. Please be sure to clearly describe the full scope of your work experiences in your resume. Combinations of education and experience may also be sufficient.

This position has a positive education requirement. To qualify for this position you must meet one of the basic requirements described below:

(1) Completion of all requirements for a bachelor's degree in accounting from an accredited college or university; 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

(2) Candidates may also qualify through a combination of education and experience: at least 4 years of accounting experience or an equivalent combination of accounting experience, college-level education, and training that provided professional accounting knowledge AND 24 semester hours in accounting/auditing courses, which may include up to 6 hours of business law, OR a certificate as a Certified Public Accountant or Certified Internal Auditor. You must send proof of education or of certification (CPA or CIA) to be considered for this position. Click here for more information on who must submit documentation at the time of application and what documentation is acceptable: Transcripts and Certifications.

You must send proof of education or of certification to be considered for this position. Click here for more information on who must submit documentation at the time of application and what documentation is acceptable: Transcripts and Certifications

In addition to meeting the basic requirement, qualified applicants must possess one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade in the Federal service, which demonstrates the ability to perform the duties of the position.

To be hired at the GS-7 entry grade level, applicants must minimally have:
One year of specialized experience equivalent in level of difficulty and responsibility to that of a GS-05 within the federal service, which demonstrates the ability to perform the duties of the position, is required.

• Specialized experience is defined as: Applying accounting or auditing laws, principles, systems, policies, methods, and practices to provide routine technical guidance to managers, employees and/or customers; gathering financial data from various sources related to a specific financial issue; and researching accounting or auditing policies and laws to resolve common issues.
• Substitution of Education for GS-07 Specialized Experience: One full year of graduate level education (or will have completed within 9 months of job post closing) or Superior Academic Achievement (S.A.A.) (if utilizing S.A.A. you must provide documentation establishing you meet one of the criteria below) at the undergraduate degree level which can be met by:
  1. Grade point average of a 2.95 or higher on a 4.0 scale OR
  2. Class standing in the upper third of the graduating class or major subdivision OR
  3. Membership in a national scholastic honor society may be substituted to meet the specialized experience requirement

To be hired at the GS-9 entry grade level, applicants must minimally have:
One year of specialized experience equivalent in level of difficulty and responsibility to that of a GS-07 within the federal service, which demonstrates the ability to perform the duties of the position, is required.

• Specialized experience is defined as: defined as experience applying professional accounting knowledge and auditing laws, regulations, policies and procedures to resolve basic problems relating to auditing and compliance review work.
• Substitution of Education for GS-09 Specialized Experience: Two full years of progressively higher level graduate education, Master's or equivalent graduate degree (or will have completed within 9 months of job post closing), may be substituted to meet the specialized experience requirement.

To be hired at the GS-11 entry grade level, applicants must minimally have:
One year of specialized experience equivalent in level of difficulty and responsibility to that of a GS-09 within the federal service, which demonstrates the ability to perform the duties of the position, is required.

• Specialized experience is defined as: experience providing professional accounting and auditing knowledge, standards and principles to effectively conduct financial management or performance audits by analyzing financial and statistical data.
• Substitution of Education for GS-11 Specialized Experience: Three full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree (or will have completed within 9 months of job post closing) may be substituted to meet the specialized experience requirement.

To be hired at the GS-12 entry grade level, applicants must minimally have:
One year of specialized experience equivalent in level of difficulty and responsibility to that of a GS-11 within the federal service, which demonstrates the ability to perform the duties of the position, is required.

• Specialized experience is defined as: conducting professional audits using the standards, theories, concepts, and practices of auditing, management, and accounting.
• GS 12 and above: Education is not substitutable for specialized experience at this grade level.

This position is developmental and selections may be made at the GS-7, GS-9, or GS-11 entry grade levels. Once eligibility and qualification requirements are met, selectees will be eligible for promotion at management discretion to the GS-9 and GS-11, and GS-12 grade levels without further competition.

Volunteer Experience: 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 to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

How you will be evaluated

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

IMPORTANT NOTE - YOU MUST FOLLOW ALL APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY. ERRORS OR OMISSIONS MAY AFFECT YOUR RATING.

All information included in the resume, required documents and Occupational Questionnaire is subject to review and verification. HR will review your resume and supporting documentation to ensure you meet the minimum qualification requirements. Applicants meeting the minimum requirements will be referred to management for consideration.

You can preview the Assessment Questionnaire here: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12101082

DFAS recognizes the value of competencies gained through formal education and professional certifications. To ensure that consistent credit is given for these credentials in the selection process, DFAS has developed standard selection criteria to be used when filling positions in professional and administrative series. Selections for professional and administrative positions will be based on four categories of selection criteria: Experience, Other, Education, and Certifications.

Applications will be accepted for the open period as stated above. A first cut-off or multiple cut-offs may be utilized for this opportunity. To ensure consideration, submit your application early. The agency reserves the right to close or extend the announcement based on mission need and/or volume of applications received.

If you are unable to apply online or need to fax a document you do not have in electronic form, view the following link for information regarding an Alternate Application.