Summary

The Data Analytics Specialist (Audit) within Office of Audit's Contracts & Supply Management directorate, located in:

• Arlington, VA
• Bethesda, MD
• Carol Stream, IL
• Denver, CO

Duties

About Our Directorate:

The Contracts & Supply Management directorate oversees major Postal Service contracting efforts to determine if costs are being effectively and efficiently controlled by current purchasing policies, initiatives, and practices. In addition, the mission of Supply Management is to provide, innovative, efficient, and sustainable supply chain and material management solutions with our business partners, suppliers, and stakeholders in supporting the mission and business needs of the Postal Service. To that end, the directorate issues audit reports about contracting, purchasing, and supply management programs.

About the Position: The Data Analytics Specialist in the Office of Audit (Auditor Specialist), serves as the authoritative resource for the agency in the area of data analytics in auditing. As an expert technical authority for an auditing function, the specialist is responsible for leading data analytics and enhanced reporting activities of the directorate and deputy area subject matter areas.

You will serve as project leader and technical expert. Overall responsibilities include performing and managing the day-to-day technical and subject matter area activities to execute the audit and/or strategic project. As a successful candidate, you will have relevant experience in the following areas:

Key Responsibilities

• Serve as the agency's authoritative technical resource in audit-related data analytics, modeling, business intelligence, and enhanced reporting.
• Lead and manage day-to-day technical activities for audit and strategic projects, ensuring analytical tasks and subject matter work are executed effectively.
• Prepare audit plans, proposals, and guidelines for comprehensive examinations of major functional areas.
• Produce clear, accurate, timely reports and written products that present complex issues in accessible language and distinguish fact from opinion.
• Complete thorough analyses requiring minimal supervisory revisions.
• Actively contribute to team discussions and collaborative decision-making.

Data Analytics

• Develop and coordinate innovative data analytic strategies where no policy exists, addressing emerging audit and business needs.
• Plan, organize, and implement data model, data analytics, and enhanced reporting requirements involving major uncertainties in method, interpretation, or approach.
• Lead, schedule, and monitor analytics to ensure alignment with organizational needs and compliance with professional standards.
• Study and integrate findings from multiple audit efforts to define audit targets, develop criteria, or create new analytic approaches for use by auditors.
• Work with internal and external stakeholders to enhance data models that reflect changes in business requirements, operations, and new datasets.
• Monitor industry best practices, emerging techniques, and advanced tools relevant to data modeling, analytics, and subject matter areas.
• Conduct outreach and training for users on enterprise data model processes, methodologies, and analytic results.
• Use data analysis outputs to develop audit leads and fraud referral leads, and partner with directorate staff on enhanced reporting activities.

Audit Project

• Plan and conduct analytic and audit steps, and identify issues and develop approaches that result in measurable dollar savings or significant non-financial benefits to the Postal Service.
• Communicate analytic results, findings, conclusions, and recommendations clearly and effectively to all levels of internal and external stakeholders.
• Influence adoption and approval of analytic solutions, data models, and reporting mechanisms.
• Present complex issues clearly and concisely so that stakeholders understand findings and recommended actions.
• Collaborate with internal management and leadership to shape data analytic strategies and audit approaches.

The duties and responsibilities associated with this position may vary based upon the agency's needs at the time of hire. The preceding description of major duties and responsibilities is only intended to give applicants a general overview of the expectations.

Compensation: The USPS OIG is an Excepted Service agency, uses a Pay Banding system, which is equivalent to the Federal GS scale. Grade and salary determinations will be made based upon a candidate's education and professional experience.

This position is being advertised at the Specialist Band level, equivalent to a GS-14. The salary range for this position is $140,239.00 - $187,093.00. The salary figures include locality pay. For locality table specifics, visit: OPM's General Schedule (GS).

Requirements

Conditions of employment

• Must be a U.S. citizen.
• Must be able to pass a drug screening.
• Must be able to pass a background investigation.
• Must be able to obtain and maintain a Moderate Background Investigation (MBI) clearance.
• Must be able to obtain and maintain a government-issued credit card.
• May be required to successfully complete a 12-month probationary period.

Qualifications

Position Minimum Qualifications (Mandatory)

You must meet all the minimum qualifications listed below.

Professional Experience (Mandatory)

• Four (4) years of professional, full-time experience conducting performance audits, evaluations, or similar oversight work performed in accordance with GAGAS at an OIG or similar audit organization. Experience must include applying specialized data analytics methods and tools to support audits, evaluations, or similar work, including statistical testing, visualization, and anomaly detection. Your resume must reflect where, when, and how you gained this experience.

Education Requirement (Mandatory)

• Degree in auditing or in a related field (see below list for acceptable fields) such as business administration, public administration, or technically related. (Transcripts Required)

OR

• A combination of education and experience - four (4) years of professional, full-time experience conducting performance audits, evaluations, or similar oversight work, or an equivalent combination of performance auditing experience, college-level education, and training that provided professional auditing knowledge. The applicant's background must also include one of the following:
  
  • Certified Internal Auditor (CIA) or a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) OR
  • Completion of a degree with at least fifteen (15) semester hours in accounting or auditing. (Transcripts Required)

Related Degrees (Optional/Acceptable Fields)

Business-Related Fields

• Auditing, Accounting, Business Administration, Economics, Statistics/Mathematics, Finance, International Business, Management, Marketing, Organizational Behavior/Psychology, etc.

Government-Related Fields

• Criminal Justice, Political Science, Public Administration, Public Policy, Law, Public Relations/Communications, etc.

Technical Fields

• Data Science/Analytics, Computer Science, Engineering, Cybersecurity, Human Resources, Information Technology, Journalism/Investigative Reporting, Logistics, Contract/Supply Chain Management, etc.

Desirable Qualifications (Optional)

• Advanced degree.
• Experience with federal or organizational contract data, such as familiarity with integrating contract data from multiple sources (e.g., financial, procurement, or vendor systems), and knowledge of fraud risk models and techniques.
• Proficiency in data analytics tools or programming languages such as Python, SQL, R, ACL, or similar platforms, with a strong ability to apply programming skills for advanced data analysis and visualization to enhance audit processes and decision-making.
• Familiarity with data environments, such as working within cloud computing and analytics platforms (e.g., Azure, Databricks), and with large-scale, relational databases.

Professional Certifications (Optional)

• Certified Public Accountant (CPA)
• Certified Internal Auditor (CIA)
• Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE)
• Other relevant audit or data analytical certification(s)

Evaluation Factors | How you will be evaluated:

You must have the experience, knowledge, and skills as listed in each of the evaluation factors listed below. Include your major accomplishments relevant to the position requirements and factors in your resume.

• Mastery of a professional knowledge of the theories, concepts, principles, and practices of auditing, evaluation, or similar work sufficient to conduct difficult assignments involving interfaces and inter-relationships between and among programs, functions, policies, and various issues.
• In-depth data analytics knowledge and ability to develop and apply unique or extensive data analysis techniques and methods in support of audit or similar projects.
• Skill in addressing problem resolutions that involve a number of organizational entities and complex data; developing creative recommendations to controversial problems; and conducting examinations that require an integrated analysis of intricate and complex agency activities and data. Mature judgment to develop thoughtful and constructive responses which lead to positive program plans and actions by the employee.
• Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing.

Failure to demonstrate that you meet all the evaluation factor requirements as listed above will result in a score of zero (0), an ineligible status, and you will not be referred for further consideration.

Education

Education must be accredited by an institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

Applicants can verify accreditation here: www.ed.gov.

Special Instructions for Candidates with Foreign Education:

Education completed outside the United States must be deemed equivalent to that gained in U.S. education programs. You must submit all necessary documents to a private U.S. credential evaluation service to interpret equivalency of your education against courses given in U.S. accredited colleges and universities.

For further information visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

Additional information

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

Benefits

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.

Position Level & Compensation

• USPS OIG is an Excepted Service agency and uses a Pay Banding system equivalent to the Federal GS scale.
• This position is at the Specialist Band level, equivalent to a GS-14.
• Salary range for this position is $140,239.00 - $187,093.00, including locality pay for all announced locations. For locality table specifics, visit: OPM's General Schedule (GS).
• Grade and salary are determined upon candidate's education and professional experience.
• Fair Labor Standards Act (FSLA) status: Exempt (non-exempt employees are entitled to overtime pay; exempt employees are not).

Comprehensive Benefits

• USPS and OIG employees transitioned from Federal Employee Health Benefits (FEHB) Program to the Postal Service Health Benefits (PSHB) Program effective January 01, 2025.
• Learn more about the PSHB Program by visitinghttps://www.opm.gov/healthcare-insurance/pshb/.
• Health, dental, vision, life, long-term care insurance, and Flexible Spending Account (FSA) options are available.
• Three-tiered retirement benefits plan under the Federal Employee Retirement System (FERS), including Thrift Savings Plan (TSP), Basic Benefit Plan, and Social Security.
• Visit the USPS OI