U.S. Army Audit Agency: Career Opportunities: FAQ

The basic qualification requirement for an entry-level position is a bachelor’s degree or higher in accounting. Candidates with a bachelor’s degree or higher in a related field such as business administration, finance, or public administration, also meet the minimum qualifications if the degree includes or is supplemented by 24 semester hours in accounting or auditing. The 24 hours may include up to 6 hours in business law. Candidates may also qualify based on a combination of education and experience.

What will my duties and responsibilities consist of as an entry-level auditor?

Entry-level auditors work under the supervision and direction of a higher level auditor. Trainees work as part of an audit team and perform a variety of tasks that facilitate the efforts of the team. They apply conventional audit and consulting techniques to complete assignments; gain experience in practical application of accounting principles and procedures; and acquire basic knowledge of internal auditing standards, procedures, and techniques. This experience ultimately leads to greater responsibility for the overall planning and conduct of audit assignments.

In the first 6 months, auditors are usually assigned to a smaller portion of the overall audit and are provided with day-to-day assistance by an experienced member of the audit team. As auditors learn the audit process and demonstrate the ability to perform assignments successfully, they’re given more responsibility and increasingly complex tasks.

Do I have to join the military? Is there a mandatory requirement to move – like in the military?

Neither prior nor future military service is a requirement for the position.

Auditors in the Agency are civilian employees and aren’t required to relocate after initial employment. Generally, once you’re selected and have accepted a position at a particular field office within the Agency, that location will remain your official duty location unless you request a transfer or are selected for a competitive promotion at another location.

Where is the Agency located?

We have 20 offices in the continental United States. We also have offices in Hawaii, Germany, South Korea, and Alaska. Our headquarters (referred to as the Operations Center) is located in Fort Belvoir, VA. A map showing the office locations and office addresses can be found here.

Who will be my supervisor?

As a new auditor, you’ll be assigned to an Audit Supervisor and a Program Director. Auditors-in-Charge are responsible for the day-to-day execution of engagements and the engagement team. The Auditor-in-Charge works for an Audit Supervisor who oversees several engagements at a time and reports directly to the Program Director for the functional area (division). Occasionally, on larger engagement teams, an experienced auditor will aid the Auditor-in-Charge in providing you with on-the-job training and mentoring.

How will you rate my performance?

On-the-job performance is assessed on a continual basis and all employees are given feedback on their strengths and areas in which they can improve. Continual feedback is given throughout the audit process via daily discussions with the Auditor-in-Charge and reviewer’s comments (resulting from review of working papers). Formal feedback occurs semi-annually and annually for all employees. For most new employees, formal feedback is provided via performance assessments every 90 days in the first year only.

How can I expect to advance in your organization?

An auditor’s career progression within the Agency follows an established career path. An auditor’s career usually begins at Level I or Level II (depending on the applicant’s qualifications). New auditors enter a career program designed to train them to successfully perform assigned audit tasks and progress to the journey-grade level of Auditor.

Based on the level when hired, auditors may progress from the entry level to Auditor level in 3 to 4 years. Promotions up to the Auditor level are non-competitive — staff auditors do not compete against each other for promotion. Instead, auditors have to perform well against their performance standards. Promotions to senior auditor positions are competitive.

Will I have to travel?

Due to the nature of the auditing profession, we need to go where our clients are located. The Agency’s client is the Department of the Army. The Army, like any large, international corporation, has activities located throughout the country and overseas.

Travel varies by office, team, and even audit engagement. Therefore, it’s difficult to provide a precise estimate of the amount of travel required for the position. At times, auditors may be required to travel up to 80 percent of the time (this includes both local travel and over-night). Local travel entails commuting to a nearby audit site and returning home each day. Over-night travel is typically 1 to 2 weeks in length but can vary depending on job requirements, the proximity of audit sites to the auditors’ assigned office, and the costs of transportation.

What type of training can I expect in my first year?

On-the-job training is an extensive part of the auditor career development program. New auditors are assigned to various types of audits and consulting engagements and are given close supervision to make sure they learn audit techniques and understand audit standards and consulting standards.

During your first 3 months with the Agency, you’ll attend the Basic Audit Course. This 2-week course is geared to the duties and responsibilities of new auditors and outlines each phase of the audit process. The course also includes an overview of the organization of the Army, professional auditing standards, audit scheduling and planning, problem solving, statistical sampling, briefing and interviewing techniques, assessing reliability of computer-generated data, preparing findings and recommendations, the reporting process, and continuing professional education requirements.

During your first year with the Agency, you’ll also receive a statistical sampling correspondence course. This course discusses various sampling methods, when each is appropriate, and outlines the standards that govern sampling.

What other types of training will I receive as my career progresses?

As you progress through your career, you’ll attend various training courses designed to develop and foster skills needed to perform effectively at your level. A few are listed below:

The Basic Communications Course is a 1-week course that assists auditors in developing oral and written communication skills as well as audit-specific writing techniques. Techniques for interviewing and briefing audit results are further covered as part of this course.
The Intermediate Auditor School is a 1-week course that focuses on developing the skills needed by second and third year auditors to function effectively. Topics covered include planning the audit and assessing risk; developing audit steps; developing an audit area; writing findings; and including graphics in audit reports.
The Advanced Auditor School is a 1-week course that focuses on skills needed by senior auditors. It provides detailed instructions on the Planning, Execution, and Reporting phases of the audit. It also includes instruction on managing and leading junior auditors.

The Agency also offers a number of long-term training opportunities:

The Syracuse University Army Comptrollership Program is a 14-month graduate program that provides students with a Master’s Degree in Business Administration and a Master’s Degree in Public Administration. The program curriculum combines business and public administration principles, theories, and concepts with Defense and Army resource management practices.
The Army Management Staff College is the Army's premier leadership, management, and decision-making education institution. The academic program stresses critical thinking and active learning to develop Army managers into the Army leaders of tomorrow.
The Agency also offers tuition reimbursement for college courses. This information is discussed below under tuition reimbursement program.

Is there a tuition reimbursement program?

Auditors are encouraged to pursue advanced degrees that are mission-related. Reimbursement of tuition and books for undergraduate- and graduate-level programs may be provided by the Agency under certain circumstances. Reimbursement of courses for some degree programs are subject to supervisory approval and completion of the course with a grade of "C" or better for undergraduate coursework and "B" or better for graduate coursework. The reimbursement percentage is set at the beginning of each fiscal year and is dependent upon availability of funds.

Additionally, the DOD Graduate Level Financial Management Program (GLFMP) provides DOD civilians an opportunity to participate in another graduate education program. The GLFMP offers students an opportunity to attend Troy State University for a Master’s Degree in Public Administration with a concentration in financial management or business management. The Department of Defense pays for the cost of the program.

Does the Agency assist employees in obtaining professional certifications?

The Agency encourages auditors to obtain professional certifications. These include the following certifications: Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Certified Management Accountant (CMA), Certified Internal Auditor (CIA), and the Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA). The agency provides full reimbursement for self-study courses taken to prepare for these examinations and authorizes excused time to sit for exams. In accordance with public law, any fees associated with taking certification examinations or obtaining certificates cannot be paid by the government--they must be borne by the employee.

What are my options for moving to different locations and divisions within the Agency?

Employees can request transfers to other locations after 1 year of service. These requests are filled based upon availability of open positions at the requested location. Relocation expenses for approved transfers may be reimbursed to the employee if the move is in the best interest of the government.

What are the advantages of working for the U.S. Army Audit Agency?

Recently, we surveyed our Agency and the most common reason cited by employees was the variety of work the Agency performs and the opportunity for overseas assignments. Other reasons cited frequently were: flexible work schedules, training opportunities, exceptional leadership and being part of the Army family.

What will my starting salary be?

Starting salaries vary by level and location. OPM has salary charts showing locality adjustments. If you have previous Federal service or other qualifying work experience and/or education, you may qualify to be paid at a higher rate than listed.

Is there a flexible work schedule?

The Agency offers employees two main work schedule options--a Standard Workweek or an Alternative Work Schedule. A standard workweek is 8 hours per day, 5 days per week, Monday through Friday. Alternative work schedules include flexitour and compressed work schedule options. Flexitours are 40-hour work schedules with fixed variable starting and stopping times Monday through Friday. This allows employees to arrive at and depart from work at different set times throughout the week. Compressed schedules are those by which employees may, by working longer hours, complete the biweekly basic work requirements in less than 10 workdays. This can be accomplished by two methods:

5/4-9 Compressed Plan. This schedule covers a 2-week pay period during which the employee works eight 9-hour-days and one 8-hour-day, with one day off scheduled anytime during that biweekly pay period. The employee's regular day off and 8-hour day will remain the same for each pay period.
4/10 Compressed Plan. This option allows employees to work 10-hour days four days a week, with two regular days off scheduled during the biweekly pay period. The employee's regular day off will remain the same for each week. Employees may not select a different day off each week of the pay period (for example, Friday for the first week and Monday for the second week).

Can you describe your benefits package? For example, can you tell me about your retirement plan and how much vacation time I’ll earn in my first year?

There are many excellent benefits available to Federal employees. Federal employees:

Participate in the Thrift Savings Plan, a retirement savings and investment vehicle for Federal employees. The Thrift Savings Plan offers Federal civilian employees the same type of savings and tax benefits that many private corporations offer their employees under ''401(k)'' plans. You can contribute up to 15 percent of your salary to a Thrift Savings Plan account. With government automatic and matching contributions, your total retirement contribution can be as high as 20 percent of your salary. You can invest contributions in a variety of funds or divide contributions among funds. Retirement benefits are also portable.
Earn substantial vacation time during their first year and throughout their career. In your first 3 years, you’ll accumulate 13 days of paid vacation time per year. As you progress through your career, the amount of vacation time you’ll earn will increase to 20 days (year 4 through 14) and 26 days (after your 15th year). Vacation time can be used as accrued or carried to subsequent years, with a maximum carryover of 30 vacation days per year.
Earn up to 13 workdays of paid sick leave annually. This leave can be used for personal or family sick leave.
Receive 10 paid holidays annually (New Years, Martin Luther King Day, Washington's Birthday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Columbus Day, Veteran’s Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas).
Choose from a variety of private health insurance plans. The government pays a portion the premium related to each plan (premiums paid vary but can be as high as 75 percent).
May work either compressed or flexible schedules (for a more detailed discussion of compressed or flexible work schedules, please see the question above on flexible work schedules).

Our web site contains a short synopses of benefits and links to other web sites that provide more detailed information.

As a civilian employee, will I be able to use the facilities on Army installations (the gym, the commissary, etc.)?

Civilian employees are generally permitted to use the gym, the officer’s club, and the golf course. However, within the United States the post commissary and exchange (PX) are for military personnel and dependents only.

Who makes the final decision on whether I will be hired?

For each field office, the Agency will designate a “Selecting Official,” who will make the final determination on all candidates. The selecting official is usually the Managing Auditor of the field office filling the vacancy. Once a selection is made, our Human Resources Office will notify all candidates of their selection.

If I was interviewed at a job fair/other event, should I expect to be interviewed again?

You may be contacted again later in the application process for a second interview. Selecting officials have several options for determining whether applicants possess the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to perform the duties required for an entry-level auditor position. Conducting second interviews is one of these options and shouldn’t be viewed as unusual in the selection process.

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