Internal Controls Auditor

About the role

Join the CPSC as our Internal Controls Auditor and play a pivotal role in our mission of protecting families across America! Be the driving force for accountability-leading A-123 assessments, conducting risk-based testing, and shaping corrective actions that safeguard mission-critical decisions agency-wide.

Partner with senior leadership and the Risk Manager to strengthen governance and ensure integrity across financial reporting and operations.

What you will do

• This position is located at the agency level within the Office of Financial Management, under the direction of the Chief Financial Officer.
• The incumbent leads the agency's internal controls program, working independently and in partnership with the agency's Risk Manager to strengthen the organization's control environment, ensure compliance with federal internal control standards, and provide management with reliable assurance over financial and operational processes.
• Duties include, but not limited to, the following: Serves as the agency's principal expert for financial and operational internal controls, leading the ongoing evaluation, continuous implementation, and improvement of the agency's internal control program, including testing the design and operating effectiveness of controls across financial and operational processes.
• Leads the development of substantive risk assessments and risk-based testing plans aligned with OMB Circular A-123, Appendix A, Management of Reporting and Data Integrity Risk, and Appendix C, Requirements for Payment Integrity Improvement, to determine which processes to test and to inform testing frequency for operations and financial reporting cycles, strengthening financial reporting, data integrity, and payment integrity.
• Conducts A-123 assessments and issues formal written results, including assessments of compliance with established policies and procedures, and recommends corrective actions and operational improvements that drive accountability and operational efficiency.
• Oversees corrective action planning, monitoring, and tracking; serves as the EXFM administrator of the audit corrective action database and reviews management responses for adequacy and timeliness.
• Oversees the annual Statements of Assurance process and contributes to the Agency Financial Report by developing content related to internal controls, assurance, and regulatory compliance.
• Serves as the agency's audit liaison, communicating with the OIG and external auditors when applicable; acts as Contracting Officer's Representative (COR) Level II; and collaborates with the agency's Risk Manager as a technical authority on the Risk Management Council.
• Works independently as a self-starter and forward-thinking leader, exercising sound judgment to lead the internal controls program and partner effectively with agency stakeholders on enterprise risk management priorities.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• This is a Public Trust Position.
• Employment in this position requires a background investigation.
• If you are selected and cannot meet the criteria requirement for the pre-employment waiver and/or a favorable suitability determination within a reasonable period of time due to disclosed or undisclosed background issues, the employment offer may be withdrawn.
• If you are a male born after December 31, 1959 you must certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System, or are exempt from having to do so under the Selective Service Law.
• Please see *** for more information.
• Selectees will be required to complete a "Declaration of Federal Employment", (OF-306), prior to appointment and the appropriate background investigation forms to determine suitability for Federal employment.
• False statements or responses on these forms can jeopardize your employment opportunity and subject you to disciplinary action, including removal from Federal service.
• The selectee will be required to complete a Personal Identity Verification (PIV) process that requires two forms of identification from the I-9 Form.
• We will compare information provided on the I-9 Form to records available from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
• The system confirms employee's identity and eligibility to work in the United States.
• Learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities.
• As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period (depending on your status) during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest.
• In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider: your performance and conduct; the needs and interests of the CPSC; whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the CPSC or the Government; and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.
• Upon completion of your probationary period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Education

Mandatory Education Requirement.

All applicants must meet one of the following requirements to qualify: A.

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 B.

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.

There is no substitution for specialized experience at this grade level.

You MUST provide transcripts to support your educational claims.

Unofficial transcripts are acceptable during the application process. Official transcripts will be required upon appointment. All materials must be submitted by the closing date of this announcement.

All education claimed by applicants will be verified.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated based on how well you meet the qualifications listed in this vacancy announcement. Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents), your responses on the application questionnaire, and your responses to all assessments required for this position.

If you meet the minimum qualifications, you will be rated on the extent and quality of experience and education relevant to the duties of the position by a Subject Matter Expert (SME).

You will be assessed on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics): Attention to Detail Customer Service Decision Making Flexibility Influencing/Negotiating Integrity/Honesty Interpersonal Skills Learning Reasoning Self-Management Stress Tolerance Teamwork Based on agency resources, a subset of those submitting complete application packages and completing the online assessment will move on to the next phase of the process.

Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration. Cheating on an assessment may also result in your removal from consideration.

To preview the application questionnaire, click the following link: *** RESUME: All applicants are required to submit a resume limited to two (2) pages (i.e., 1 page that is double-sided or 2 pages that are one-sided each) showing all relevant experience.

CTAP/ICTAP candidates will be eligible for selection priority if it is determined that they have exceeded the minimum qualifications for the position by attaining at least a "well qualified" rating (Rating of at least 90 out of 100).

Please ensure that your resume contains specific information such as position titles, beginning and ending dates of employment for each position, average number of hours worked per week, salary, duties performed for each position, and if the position is/was in the Federal government, you should provide the position series and grade level/pay band.

Documents you must provide

• Your package must be complete and submitted in the manner specified in this section.
• Packages that are submitted in any other manner without prior approval from the agency point of contact will not be considered.
• A complete application includes: 1.
• Completed USA Hire Assessment(s); and 3.
• Submission of any required documents (such as unofficial transcripts).
• Please note that if you do not provide all required information, as specified in this announcement, you may not be considered for this position (or may not receive the special consideration for which you may be eligible).
• Your resume must clearly demonstrate, in two pages or less, how your skills and experiences align with the "Qualifications" section and support your questionnaire responses.
• We cannot assume required experience based on your work or academic history.
• If your resume exceeds two pages, only the first two will be reviewed.
• You may use the USAJOBS Resume Builder or upload your own resume.
• If uploading, you are responsible for ensuring it includes all required information and is organized so we can match the following to each position - we will not make assumptions: Job title Employer name Employment dates (MM/DD/YYYY) Hours worked per week (full-time assumed; part-time prorated) Detailed duties, accomplishments, skills, responsibilities, and supervisory details (if applicable) Series and grade or equivalent (for federal positions, if applicable) Do not include a photograph or video of yourself, or any sensitive information (age, date of birth, marital status, social security number, etc.) on your resume or cover letter.
• We will not access web pages linked on your resume or cover letter to determine your qualifications.
• Current Federal Employees: If you are a current you must submit a copy of your most recent SF Form 50, Notification of Personnel Action, that shows: (1) permanent or career-conditional tenure (codes 1 or 2, in block 24), and (2) position occupied in the competitive service (code 1, in block 34).
• To be considered as a competitive eligible candidate, the SF-50 must show the highest grade level or promotion potential level applicant has attained competitively and grade must be equivalent or higher than the grade for which applying.
• Indicate on your application the highest permanent grade you have held; if this grade is different from your current grade, submit a copy of an additional SF-50 showing this grade.
• Reinstatement: If you are a former federal employee (separated from Federal service for at least 1 year) and you want to be considered as a non-competitively eligible for reinstated to a higher grade or full performance level than which you left federal employment, then you MUST provide a copy of your separation SF-50 (the "position occupied" block on the SF-50 should show a "1" and your "tenure" block should show a "1" or "2") AND your most recent performance appraisal that you received from your federal employment which shows at least a fully successful rating.
• Veterans' Preference (If Applicable) - If claiming veterans' preference, you must submit a copy of your DD-214 (Member 4 copy), or other official documentation from a branch of the Armed Forces or the Department of Veterans Affairs showing dates of service and type of discharge.
• Ten-point preference eligibles must also submit an Application for 10-point Veteran Preference, SF-15, along with the required documentation listed on the back of the SF-15 form.
• For more information on veterans' preference view FedsHireVets.
• CTAP/ICTAP eligibles must annotate your questionnaire to reflect that you are applying as a CTAP/ICTAP eligible and you must submit appropriate documentation (such as: a copy of the agency notice, your most recent performance rating, and your most recent SF-50 noting current position, grade level, and duty location).
• If you are eligible for special hiring authority, please indicate this when you apply, and submit the supporting documentation for proof of eligibility for the special hiring authority, such as disability, Peace Corps service, Interchange Agreement, etc. Other documents identified in this announcement.
• All supplemental documents must be submitted electronically before the closing date of this vacancy announcement.
• You have two choices for submitting your supplemental documents:1.
• Download from your USAJOBS account; or2.
• Upload your file(s) Failure to submit required documents, based upon how you apply, may result in loss of consideration due to an incomplete application package.
• It is your responsibility to ensure all required documents have been submitted.
• Official documents are not required at the time of application, copies are sufficient.
• If selected, official documentation must be submitted prior to appointment.

Benefits

CPSC offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes: paid vacation, sick leave, 11 paid holidays per year, life and health insurance, Long Term Care insurance, dental and vision insurance, flexible spending account program, and retirement savings and investment plan similar to 401(k) (Thrift Savings Plan).

CPSC also offers a broad array of work-life flexibilities and services to employees such as, flexible work schedules, transit subsidies, fitness center, and employee assistance and wellness programs.

What to expect next

You will receive an email after the vacancy closes acknowledging receipt of your application and after a qualifications determination has been made. To view CPSC's Anti Human Trafficking Code of Conduct.

Additional information

CPSC provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities on a case-by-case basis. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process, please contact the Human Resources Specialist listed in this vacancy announcement.

Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application.

Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case-by-case basis.

If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, based on your adjudication decision.

You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments if you received the link after the close of the announcement.

To determine if you need a RA, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments. (***). Payment of relocation expenses is not authorized.

All the information you provide will be verified by a review of the work experience and/or education as shown on your application, by checking references and through other means, such as the interview process. Any exaggeration of your experience, false statements, or attempts to conceal information may be grounds for not hiring you or for firing you after you begin work.

Additional selections may be made through this vacancy announcement. As a condition of employment, the selectee must reside in the local commuting area of the duty station listed in this announcement. Proof of residence may be required.

Must meet the criteria requirement for the pre-employment waiver and/or a favorable suitability determination within a reasonable period of time, otherwise the employment offer may be withdrawn. CPSC headquarters employees (Bethesda, MD) will be relocating to 441 G Street NW, Washington, DC. This position will transition to the new location upon completion of the move.

The transition is expected to be completed by the end of 2026. Applicants should be aware that acceptance of this position includes the requirement to report to the new location once the relocation is finalized.