GAO supports the Congress in meeting its constitutional responsibilities to legislate, appropriate, and oversee the Federal government for the benefit of the American people. GAO, commonly referred to as the investigative arm of Congress, or the congressional watchdog, is independent and nonpartisan. GAO assists Congress in making informed decisions by providing information on policy and program issues, as well as by providing recommendations to make government more effective and responsive.
Summary
GAO supports the Congress in meeting its constitutional responsibilities to legislate, appropriate, and oversee the Federal government for the benefit of the American people. GAO, commonly referred to as the investigative arm of Congress, or the congressional watchdog, is independent and nonpartisan. GAO assists Congress in making informed decisions by providing information on policy and program issues, as well as by providing recommendations to make government more effective and responsive.
This opportunity is ONLY OPEN to qualified full-time or part-time GAO employees on permanent appointments. This procedure will be conducted under the processes outlined in GAO Order 2335.8.
Band IIB staff apply mastery of audit and evaluation design and implementation to highly complex tasks, assignments, and projects having problems or issues not susceptible to treatment by generally accepted methods. With the supervisor providing administrative direction, Band IIB employees have full responsibility for planning and carrying out projects and assignments. Completed work is considered authoritative and normally accepted without significant change. Assignments require the resolution of critical problems affecting the work of other experts or major aspects of GAO programs, engagements, or other activities. As a technical authority, the Band IIB employee must frequently interpret nonspecific guidelines and develop applications to specific assignments. Duties of Band IIB staff involved in engagement execution include, but are not limited to the following:
Takes a lead role in conducting logical access controls assessments that requires detailed technical testing and verification of controls in complex, diverse and interconnected network environments at organizations of audit interest. Controls assessments include but are not limited to a working knowledge and understanding of penetration testing tools and techniques, software applications including web-based systems, boundary protection, system and network protection, identification and authentication, authorization, cryptography, audit and monitoring, and configuration management.
Supports teamwork, collaboration, and coordination in planning and timely execution of information systems general and application controls assessments. This includes involvement in the engagement design, data collection, analysis, message development, and drafting segments of products that are technically accurate, complete and appropriately targeted to the product audience.
Conducts analysis of complex data collection efforts and documents results in accordance with auditing standards that identify the scope of work performed and logically supports conclusions and recommendations reached.
Supports the operation and maintenance of hardware and software that include Windows and Linux/Unix-based systems, applications and databases, as well as various network components including firewalls, proxies, wireless network devices, routers and switches.- Presents results orally and in writing to technical and managerial audiences both internal to GAO and at external agencies.
Reviews and assesses the operation and maintenance of hardware and software, as well as, various network components and makes recommendations for improvement.
You must meet all qualification requirements by the effective date of promotion.
Must be a current GAO employee on a permanent appointment.
Job locations are based on agency needs. Generally, you will remain in your current official duty station (ODS) if selected. However, based on agency needs, you may be offered a position in a different location and if you accept, your ODS will change.
Qualifications
Basic Requirements: Applicants must have IT-related experience demonstrating each of the four competencies listed below:
Attention to Detail
Customer Service
Oral Communication
Problem Solving
AND
Band IIB
Must be a full-time or part-time GAO employee on a permanent appointment. In addition, employees must have a minimum of 52 weeks of GAO experience, equivalent to at least the next lower band level (PE-IIA, PT-II, PT-III, PA-II, MS-I) in a position focused on conducting research, quantitative and qualitative analysis, or program evaluations by May 18, 2025 (effective date of promotions).
In addition to meeting the requirements listed above, ALL applicants must meet the following 2 selective placement factors:
(1) Extensive experience and demonstrated abilities in analyzing key aspects of automated information systems, such as development, acquisition, testing, operation, and maintenance.
(2) Extensive experience and demonstrated abilities in analyzing elements of one or more of the following information technology domains: information security, enterprise architecture, information management, investment management, and telecommunications.
Education
This job does not have an education qualification requirement.
Additional information
For information on the number promotion opportunities by team, please see the GAO-wide Notice published and distributed (via email) earlier this month.
If you have an approved Flexible Work Agreement (FWA) and you are selected for promotion, you must complete and submit a new flexible work application for approval. Your new flexible work arrangement will be reviewed and decided based on Agency policy governing these arrangements. Additionally, you may have a 90-day waiting period to submit an arrangement changing your ODS to a different locality area.
BARGAINING UNIT STATUS: This position is included in the bargaining unit.
If you would like to apply for Specialist, Analyst, and/or National Security Analyst promotion opportunities (ARM, DCM, HSJ, IAT, NRE, IT Analyst, Financial Auditor, etc.), you must submit a separate application directly to the appropriate announcement for each Specialist, Analyst, and/or National Security Analyst position for which you wish to be considered.
This position is a moderate risk public trust position with possible upgrade to a Secret or Top Secret or SCI clearance depending on the type of engagement the employee will be assigned to within the mission teams.
REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION: GAO provides reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees with disabilities. To request accommodation, please email ReasonableAccommodations@gao.gov.
The U.S. Government Accountability Office's policy is to provide equal employment opportunity for all regardless of race, religion, color, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, age, disability, genetic information, sexual orientation, or gender identity.
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 qualification requirements stated above, a panel of team managers will assess your qualifications along with those of other candidates who are deemed eligible for the position. The rating panel (BQ panel) will establish a ranked list of candidates from which the panel chair, in consultation with the panel, identifies those candidates who are best-qualified. Complete the online questionnaire and follow all instructions carefully, as incomplete answers, errors, or omissions may affect your consideration. Your application will be invalid if you fail to include a narrative reply to any vacancy question(s) that requires further explanation, or your reply is see resume. You must provide narrative answers in the space provided.
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.
Band IIB
You must submit your resume and application (completed vacancy questions) online through USAJOBS. HCO will provide all performance appraisal ratings data at the Band IIA or equivalent level to the panel for the period between 10/15/22 to 10/14/24.
To apply for this position, you must complete the online application and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below.
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 résumé 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/.
If you are unable to apply online, please contact William Washington at washingtonw@gao.gov or 4046791881 by 4 p.m. on the closing date of the announcement.
For technical issue with USAJOBS: Please refer to the USAJOBS help page.
Government Accountability Office
Human Capital Office
441 G Street NW
Washington, DC 20548
US
Next steps
3/26/25: BQ results to applicants. Employees who are deemed best qualified may apply for promotion opportunities in other teams during Phase 2. The Phase 2 announcements will be posted on GAO's intranet through the "Annual Promotion Opportunities" link.
3/27/25 - 4/17/25: Managing Directors may conduct interviews on BQ applicants resulting from Phase 1 (if desired).
4/11/25 - 4/17/25: Managing Directors may conduct interviews of Phase 2 BQ applicants (if desired).
5/05/25 - 5/06/25: Managing Directors make promotion offers.
5/18/25: Effective date of promotions.
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
Band IIB
You must submit your resume and application (completed vacancy questions) online through USAJOBS. HCO will provide all performance appraisal ratings data at the Band IIA or equivalent level to the panel for the period between 10/15/22 to 10/14/24.
To apply for this position, you must complete the online application and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below.
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 résumé 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/.
If you are unable to apply online, please contact William Washington at washingtonw@gao.gov or 4046791881 by 4 p.m. on the closing date of the announcement.
For technical issue with USAJOBS: Please refer to the USAJOBS help page.
Government Accountability Office
Human Capital Office
441 G Street NW
Washington, DC 20548
US
Next steps
3/26/25: BQ results to applicants. Employees who are deemed best qualified may apply for promotion opportunities in other teams during Phase 2. The Phase 2 announcements will be posted on GAO's intranet through the "Annual Promotion Opportunities" link.
3/27/25 - 4/17/25: Managing Directors may conduct interviews on BQ applicants resulting from Phase 1 (if desired).
4/11/25 - 4/17/25: Managing Directors may conduct interviews of Phase 2 BQ applicants (if desired).
5/05/25 - 5/06/25: Managing Directors make promotion offers.
5/18/25: Effective date of promotions.
Fair and transparent
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
