Pathways Recent Graduate (Financial Auditor)

This is a recent graduate opportunity under the DOT Pathways Program. Appointment is in the excepted service not-to-exceed one (1) year. Upon successful completion of the one year developmental program, the position may be converted into the competitive service as a term or permanent (career/career conditional) employee. Conversion is not guaranteed and is based on the needs of the agency. If converted, the full performance level of the position will be GS-13.

The work of this position primarily involves program audits and congressional testimony. The incumbent, a professional auditor trainee, works with a team leader in a developmental capacity, to determine the effectiveness and efficiency of organizations, programs, and activities applicable to financial and information technology systems programs. The audits may cover the relevance or appropriateness of program objectives; the extent to which a program achieves a desired level of results; factors inhibiting satisfactory performance; alternatives for carrying out the program; the adequacy of management controls; and the validity and reliability of reported program effectiveness.

The incumbent applies professional accounting and auditing knowledge, standards, and principles in performing an objective and systemic examination of pertinent information and documentation such as records, management reports, management controls, and policies and practices affecting the outcomes and results of financial and information technology systems programs. The incumbent researches pertinent laws, legislative history, regulations, contracts, and management controls to ascertain the purpose, scope, and objectives of the assigned program or function; the manner in which the program or function is conducted; and the nature and extent of management authority and responsibility for the program or function. As a member of an audit team, the incumbent assists in all phases of audit work - planning the audit, conducting the audit, and preparing the final product.

The incumbent assists higher level auditors and/or analysts with examining and testing (using statistical and/or judgmental sampling) records and management controls to determine the degree of efficiency, economy, and effectiveness of assigned programs. The incumbent conducts all assigned phases of the audit in accordance with Generally Accepted Government Auditing Standards (GAGAS). The standards require the incumbent to study and evaluate the existing system of internal control to determine the level of system reliability; determine those audit procedures required to answer audit objectives in view of the system reliability; and obtain sufficient reliable evidence through inspection, observation, inquiries, and confirmation to provide a reasonable basis for an opinion regarding the program under examination. These tasks are performed under the direction of a higher-level auditor/analyst.

The incumbent assists higher-level auditors/analysts in conducting interviews with employees of the program or activity under review. The incumbent also prepares working papers using Pentana, interview summaries, and briefing materials covering findings for use by team members. This position may also be required to research and assemble supporting documentation for use in the preparation of congressional testimony.

Long distance travel for moderate periods of time is required for this position.

Conditions of employment:

• U.S. citizenship
• This position is subject to a background investigation
• Submit complete application online by 11:59 PM EST on the closing date
• Males born after 12-31-1959 must be registered for selective service
• Must sign recent graduates program participant agreement
• Recent graduates who have completed, within the previous two years, a qualifying associates, bachelors, masters, professional, doctorate, vocational or technical degree or certificate from a qualifying educational institution.
• Veterans unable to apply within two years of receiving their degree, due to military service obligation, have as much as six years after degree completion to apply.
• Degree must be conferred with a cumulative GPA of 2.7 or higher.
• Applicants must meet qualifications by June 30, 2023

Minimum qualifications for GS-07:

Specialized experience: One year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-5 level in the federal service. Specialized experience includes assisting higher level staff with performing auditing, accounting, or finance-related work; preparing portions of work papers using automated software; conducting, or participating in interviews; attending meetings to observe and learn interviewing and presentation techniques; and, providing assistance to higher level staff with researching laws, regulations, guidelines, and procedures.

OR

Education: Completed one full academic year of graduate education in 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 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.

OR

Superior academic achievement: You possess a degree that is qualifying for this position that meets the criteria for eligibility under the superior academic achievement provision through one of the following methods. No more than 10% of academic credit can be based on pass/fail or similar non-traditional grading systems.

• 3.0 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ("B" or better) as recorded on the official transcript, or as computed based on 4 years of education, or as computed based on courses completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum
• 3.5 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ("B+" or better) based on the average of the required courses completed in the major field or the required courses in the major field completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum.

(Grade-point averages will be rounded to one decimal place. For example, 2.95 will round to 3.0 and 2.94 will round to 2.9)

• Upper 1/3 ranking in graduating class (you must submit proof with your application)
• National scholastic honor society. Membership in a freshman honor society cannot be used to meet the requirements of this provision. (You must submit proof with your application)

Minimum qualifications for GS-09:

Specialized experience: One year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-7 level in the federal service. Specialized experience includes assisting higher level staff with performing auditing, accounting, or finance-related work; preparing portions of work papers using automated software; conducting, or participating in interviews; attending meetings to observe and learn interviewing and presentation techniques; and, providing assistance to higher level staff with researching laws, regulations, guidelines, and procedures.

OR

Education: 2 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a master's degree or master's or equivalent graduate degree in 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:

1. Twenty-four semester hours in accounting or auditing courses of appropriate type and quality. This can include up to 6 hours of business law;
2. A certificate as Certified Public Accountant or a Certified Internal Auditor, obtained through written examination; or