Clarification from the agency

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

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Duties for the Auditor GS-511-11/12 in the Office of Audit Service, 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.
• Determines audit procedure and approach; participates or conducts full cycle audits of varying scope and complexity. Develops and presents audit findings. May assign or review audit project assignments.
• 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 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. 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

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

1. 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
2. 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 of paragraph A, provided that (a) the applicant has successfully worked at the full-performance level in accounting, auditing, or a related field, e.g., valuation engineering or financial institution examining; (b) a panel of at least two higher level professional accountants or auditors has determined that the applicant has 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; and (c) except for literal nonconformance to the requirement of 24 semester hours in accounting, the applicant's education, training, and experience fully meet the specified requirements.

AND

Specialized Experience GS-11

1. For the GS-11 applicants must have 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-09 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 include: (1) preparing charts, tables, graphs, and other exhibits to aid in audit findings; (2) communicating with team members concerning audit assignments; and (3) preparing or assisting in the preparation of final audit reports. OR
2. Applicants may substitute three (3) years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree (Eighteen semester hours is generally equivalent to one year of graduate education). NOTE: Applicants must submit supporting transcripts (unofficial) if qualifying based on education. OR
3. 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 under letter A 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. Only graduate education in excess of the first two years may be substituted for specialized experience. NOTE: Applicants must submit supporting transcripts (unofficial) if any part of qualifications is based on education.

Specialized Experience GS-12

1. For the GS-12 applicants must have 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 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 include: (1) preparing or assisting in the preparation of final audit reports; (2) developing and presenting audit findings; (3) developing or modifying methods and techniques to resolve a variety of auditing problems; and (4) serving as a team member, attending and participating in entrance and exit conferences with auditee, auditee staff, and program staffs.

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:

• Attention to Detail
• Auditing
• 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/12167595

Additional selections may be made for similar positions across the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) within the local commuting area(s) of the location identified in this announcement. By applying, you agree to have your application shared with interested selecting official(s) at HHS. Clearance of CTAP/ICTAP will be applied for similar across HHS.