The Professional Accounting Fellow program, which began in 1972, is designed to provide participating fellows with outstanding opportunities for public service and professional development.
OCA is seeking candidates who can draw upon their significant experience in auditing the financial statements of, consulting with, or working for public companies to exhibit an understanding of and an ability to succinctly explain policy or practice matters affecting public companies.
Summary
The Professional Accounting Fellow program, which began in 1972, is designed to provide participating fellows with outstanding opportunities for public service and professional development.
OCA is seeking candidates who can draw upon their significant experience in auditing the financial statements of, consulting with, or working for public companies to exhibit an understanding of and an ability to succinctly explain policy or practice matters affecting public companies.
At the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), we are committed to diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility (DEIA) and value a workforce that reflects the diverse experiences and perspectives of the communities we serve. As such, we welcome applications from qualified individuals of all backgrounds who share our commitment to public service.
OCA is seeking candidates who want to engage in public service and who can draw upon their significant experience in auditing the financial statements of, providing advisory services to, or working for public companies. Candidates must be able to adhere to the highest ethical standards in supporting the Commission's mission. Candidates should have an understanding of, and an ability to analyze and succinctly explain, policy or practice matters affecting public companies that are associated with either (or both) of the following:
The application or implementation of accounting standards or corporate reporting by domestic and/or foreign public companies.
The application or implementation of auditing, quality control, and independence standards related to the audits of the financial statements of domestic and/or foreign public companies or broker-dealers filing reports with the SEC.
Typical Duties:
Serves as an expert resource for SEC staff engaged in developing and preparing guidance on a variety of complex accounting, auditing, and/or other corporate reporting issues arising from interpretation and application of statutes administered by the assigned office.
Identifies, analyzes, and provides guidance on unique and novel program issues associated with the application of statutes, laws, rules, and regulations.
Provides management with new information and predictive advice concerning various alternative courses of action in resolving exceedingly complex accounting problems.
Plans, evaluates, coordinates, and integrates activities with other staff elements and functions.
Develops procedures and processes for use of advanced computer and/or analytical tools for analysis.
Assist with the annual Management Assurance process, and continuously evaluates internal controls related to business processes.
Prepares, presents, and defends controversial subject matter and studies.
Responsibilities:
During the two year term of the fellowship, the successful candidates may:
Participate in teams assigned to study and develop rule proposals under federal securities laws;
Assist OCA in administering Commission oversight with respect to accounting, auditing, and other professional standard-setting bodies;
Participate in consultations from public companies, auditors, and audit committee members on accounting, auditing, internal control over financial reporting, independence, and reporting matters.
Application procedures are specific to this vacancy announcement. Please read all the instructions carefully. Failure to follow the instructions may result in you not being considered for this position.
Supplementary vacancies may be filled in addition to the number stated in this announcement.
This position has promotion potential to the SK-16.
TRIAL PERIOD: This appointment may require completion of a two-year trial period.
SECURITY CLEARANCE: Entrance on duty is contingent upon completion of a pre-employment security investigation. Favorable results on a Background Investigation may be a condition of employment or selection to another position.
DRUG TESTING: This position may be subjected to drug testing requirements.
PERMANENT CHANGE OF STATION (PCS): Moving/Relocation expenses are not authorized.
DIRECT DEPOSIT: All Federal employees are required to have Federal salary payments made by direct deposit to a financial institution of their choosing.
This position is in the collective bargaining unit.
This position is eligible to request telework in accordance with the SEC's telework policy.
Qualifications
All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement.
Qualifying experience may be obtained in the private or public sector. 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. Qualifying education must have been obtained from an accredited college or university recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
BASIC REQUIREMENT: All applicants must possess the following
Degree: Accounting; 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. (The term "accounting" means "accounting and/or auditing" in this standard. Similarly, "accountant" should be interpreted, generally, as "accountant and/or auditor.") --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; --or--
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.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENT: In addition to meeting the basic requirement, applicants must also meet the minimum qualification requirement.
SK-16: Applicant must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to the SK-14 level. Specialized experience includes at least one of the following:
Experience applying or implementing accounting standards or corporate reporting by domestic and/or foreign public companies (areas of specialty may include, but are not limited to, accounting topics such as revenue recognition; leases; and financial instruments). -- or --
Analyzing, implementing, or applying auditing, quality control, and independence standards related to the audits of the financial statements of domestic and/or foreign public companies or broker-dealers (areas of specialty may include, but are not limited to, development and implementation of audit policy and methodology; auditing accounting estimates, including fair value; auditing internal control over financial reporting; and advancing the use of technology and data to improve audit quality).
Education
You MUST provide transcripts or other documentation to support your educational claims. Unless otherwise stated: (1) official or unofficial transcripts are acceptable, or (2) you may submit a list with all of your courses, grades, semester, year, and credit for the course. All materials must be submitted by the closing date of the announcement.
FOREIGN EDUCATION: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. For further information, visit: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html
IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR SURPLUS OR DISPLACED FEDERAL EMPLOYEES: Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) is available to individuals who have special priority selection rights under this plan. Individuals must be minimally qualified for this position to receive consideration for special priority selection. CTAP eligibles will be considered minimally qualified if they meet the minimum requirements for this position.
Reasonable Accommodation: If you are an applicant who needs a reasonable accommodation for disability to participate in the application process at the SEC, submit the form for Reasonable Accommodation for Participation in Job Application Process here. Please be sure to submit your request at least 5 business days in advance of the date you need the requested accommodation.
Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Information for SEC Job Applicants: Federal EEO laws protect all applicants from discrimination on the following bases: race, color, sex (not limited to conduct which is sexual in nature, includes pregnancy, gender identity, sexual orientation, transgender status), age (40 and over), religion, national origin, disability, genetic information, retaliation for participating in the EEO process or opposing discrimination. Applicants who believe they have been discriminated against on any EEO basis can seek recourse through the SEC's administrative complaints process. To be timely, an individual must enter the EEO process within 45 days from when they know (or should have known) of the alleged discrimination. Click here for additional information.
SEC COMPENSATION PROGRAM: The overall salary range listed above is provided for informational purposes as it represents the full range that is applicable to current employees in this occupation/grade; however, a selectee's initial pay is always set below the maximum rate of the range. Please click here for additional information.
The Fair Chance Act prohibits specific inquiries concerning an applicant's criminal or credit background unless the hiring agency has made a conditional offer of employment to the applicant. An applicant may submit a complaint, or any other information, to the agency within 30 calendar days of the date of alleged non-compliance by contacting the Legal and Policy Office in the Office of Human Resources at ElliottT@sec.gov.
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
How you will be evaluated
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
If you meet the minimum qualifications stated in the vacancy announcement, we will compare your resume and supporting documentation to your responses on the occupational questionnaire. Your resume must support your responses to the occupational questionnaire. After review of your application materials, if you are determined to be minimally qualified, you will be referred to the selecting official.
Applicants will be evaluated on the following competencies:
Auditing, Reasoning, and Technical Competence
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
You must provide a complete Application Package, which includes:
Required: Your responses to the Occupational Questionnaire.
Required: Your complete and comprehensive resume that includes a complete history of your work experience and the applicable employment dates with months and years. To determine if you qualify for this position, OHR will review your work history that is relevant to the specific position for which you applied. If you are selected for this position, OHR will review your complete work history to establish your starting salary. Note: Your resume must directly address the definition of specialized experience listed in the qualification section of this announcement and must NOT contain pictures. Information on how your resume will be used for pay setting purposes can be found here.
Required: At least two letters of recommendation from non-relatives.
Required: An eight to ten page essay (single-spaced) that you have prepared on your own, the content of which directly relates to a current accounting, auditing, or corporate reporting topic that either affects or may in the future affect financial reporting by public companies in the U.S. capital markets or broker-dealers registered with the SEC. Your essay will include an executive summary section focused on the key recommendations made in the essay. The executive summary should not exceed one page, and it should be included in the overall page count. Your essay will include your identification of the accounting, auditing, or corporate reporting topic, consideration of the associated policy level issues, and the applicant's specific recommendations and will exclude lengthy or excessive quotations from accounting or auditing literature. References to such literature, where necessary, will suffice. You are encouraged to select any current accounting, auditing, or corporate reporting topic in which you possess expertise.
Required, if applicable: Veteran's documentation (DD-214, member 4 copy or other documentation containing dates of service and character of discharge.)
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
To apply for this position, you must complete the online application and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section above.
A complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on the closing date of the announcement to receive consideration.
To begin, click Apply to access the online application. You will need to be logged into your USAJOBS account to apply. If you do not have a USAJOBS account, you will need to create one before beginning the application.
Follow the prompts to select your resume and/or other supporting documents to be included with your application package. You will have the opportunity to upload additional documents to include in your application before it is submitted. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process.
After acknowledging you have reviewed your application package, complete the Include Personal Information section as you deem appropriate and click to continue with the application process.
You will be taken to the online application which you must complete in order to apply for the position. Complete the online application, verify the required documentation is included with your application package, and submit the application.
To verify the status of your application, log into your USAJOBS account (https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login), all of your applications will appear on the Welcome screen. The Application Status will appear along with the date your application was last updated. For information on what each Application Status means, visit: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/how-to/application/status/.
Office of the Chief Accountant
100 F Street NE
Washington, DC 20549
US
Next steps
You will be notified of your application status through USAJOBS at four points during the hiring process, as applicable. You can check the status of your application by accessing the USAJOBS website at http://usajobs.gov/ and clicking on "Track Your Online Application."
By submitting your application, you are certifying the accuracy of the information contained in your application. If you make a false statement in any part of your application, you may not be hired, you may be terminated after you begin work, or you may be fined or jailed. After making a tentative job offer, we will conduct a suitability/security background investigation. You will be required to submit official documentation before appointment. The agency will then verify the information provided on your application (i.e., degree, Veterans' Preference, certification of disability, etc.).
Inquiries about the PAF program may be addressed to Ms. Katie Driessen in OCA at (771) 209-1131 or driessenka@sec.gov or Ms. Dana Cretu in OCA at (771) 209-1146 or cretuda@sec.gov.
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
You must provide a complete Application Package, which includes:
Required: Your responses to the Occupational Questionnaire.
Required: Your complete and comprehensive resume that includes a complete history of your work experience and the applicable employment dates with months and years. To determine if you qualify for this position, OHR will review your work history that is relevant to the specific position for which you applied. If you are selected for this position, OHR will review your complete work history to establish your starting salary. Note: Your resume must directly address the definition of specialized experience listed in the qualification section of this announcement and must NOT contain pictures. Information on how your resume will be used for pay setting purposes can be found here.
Required: At least two letters of recommendation from non-relatives.
Required: An eight to ten page essay (single-spaced) that you have prepared on your own, the content of which directly relates to a current accounting, auditing, or corporate reporting topic that either affects or may in the future affect financial reporting by public companies in the U.S. capital markets or broker-dealers registered with the SEC. Your essay will include an executive summary section focused on the key recommendations made in the essay. The executive summary should not exceed one page, and it should be included in the overall page count. Your essay will include your identification of the accounting, auditing, or corporate reporting topic, consideration of the associated policy level issues, and the applicant's specific recommendations and will exclude lengthy or excessive quotations from accounting or auditing literature. References to such literature, where necessary, will suffice. You are encouraged to select any current accounting, auditing, or corporate reporting topic in which you possess expertise.
Required, if applicable: Veteran's documentation (DD-214, member 4 copy or other documentation containing dates of service and character of discharge.)
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
To apply for this position, you must complete the online application and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section above.
A complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on the closing date of the announcement to receive consideration.
To begin, click Apply to access the online application. You will need to be logged into your USAJOBS account to apply. If you do not have a USAJOBS account, you will need to create one before beginning the application.
Follow the prompts to select your resume and/or other supporting documents to be included with your application package. You will have the opportunity to upload additional documents to include in your application before it is submitted. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process.
After acknowledging you have reviewed your application package, complete the Include Personal Information section as you deem appropriate and click to continue with the application process.
You will be taken to the online application which you must complete in order to apply for the position. Complete the online application, verify the required documentation is included with your application package, and submit the application.
To verify the status of your application, log into your USAJOBS account (https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login), all of your applications will appear on the Welcome screen. The Application Status will appear along with the date your application was last updated. For information on what each Application Status means, visit: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/how-to/application/status/.
Office of the Chief Accountant
100 F Street NE
Washington, DC 20549
US
Next steps
You will be notified of your application status through USAJOBS at four points during the hiring process, as applicable. You can check the status of your application by accessing the USAJOBS website at http://usajobs.gov/ and clicking on "Track Your Online Application."
By submitting your application, you are certifying the accuracy of the information contained in your application. If you make a false statement in any part of your application, you may not be hired, you may be terminated after you begin work, or you may be fined or jailed. After making a tentative job offer, we will conduct a suitability/security background investigation. You will be required to submit official documentation before appointment. The agency will then verify the information provided on your application (i.e., degree, Veterans' Preference, certification of disability, etc.).
Inquiries about the PAF program may be addressed to Ms. Katie Driessen in OCA at (771) 209-1131 or driessenka@sec.gov or Ms. Dana Cretu in OCA at (771) 209-1146 or cretuda@sec.gov.
Fair and transparent
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
