Executive Director

Government Accountability Office

$170K — $200K *
Education, Government & Non-Profit
Less than 5 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • U.S. citizenship required
  • Ability to obtain a top-secret security clearance
  • Minimum one year of specialized experience at GS-14/GS-15 level or equivalent
  • Certified Public Accountant (CPA) preferred
  • Experience with executive core qualifications (ECQs) required

Responsibilities

  • Manage development of federal accounting standards
  • Oversee Board operations and administrative actions
  • Implement directions from the Board
  • Lead professional accounting and administrative staff
  • Ensure compliance with Federal Advisory Committee Act
  • Coordinate efficient Board meetings

Benefits

  • Comprehensive federal employee benefits package
  • Eligibility for benefits varies by position type
  • Access to a range of benefits for you and your family
  • Opportunities for professional development
  • Support for improving efficiency of the Federal government
Full Job Description
Summary

The GAO is part of the Legislative Branch of the Federal government. As such, all positions are in the excepted service. Applicants employed by other federal excepted service agencies who do not have status gained in the competitive service must apply to announcement number FASAB-26-DE-[redacted] Delegated Examining for consideration. This position is located in the Government Accountability Office. As an Executive Director you will be responsible for the overall administration of the FASAB.

Duties

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As a Executive Director ES-0510-00 your typical work assignments may include the following:

  • Managing the development of accounting standards and principles for the federal government.
  • Overseeing all administration actions related to the Board's operations.
  • Implementing and carrying out the directions of the Board.
  • Leading and developing the Board's senior professional accounting staff and administrative staff.
  • Assuring that all matters related to the Board and its operations are handled effectively and in accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act.
  • Working with the chair of the Board to ensure efficient and effective Board meetings.


Requirements

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Conditions of employment

You must meet all qualification requirements before the announcement closes.

1. You must be a U.S. citizen

2. You may be required to submit a financial disclosure statement.

3. You must be suitable for federal employment.

4. Registered for Selective Service, if applicable. (www.sss.gov).

5. You must be able to obtain a top-secret security clearance.

6. A SES probationary period maybe required. Each new career appointee in the SES must serve a 1-year SES probationary period before the appointment becomes final. Individuals given career appointments in GAO's SES system under GAO's executive interchange agreement with OPM are not required to serve a new SES probationary period. In addition, any employee who has not completed an SES probationary period at the time of an appointment based on the interchange agreement is required to complete the SES probationary period in the new position.

7. You must meet the education and specialized experience by the closing date of this announcement to be considered.

8. This is not a bargaining unit position.

Qualifications

Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs):

The ECQs assess executive experience and potential. They measure whether you have the executive skills needed to succeed in a variety of Senior Executive Service positions. ECQs can be submitted outside of the resume as additional documentation. Please address the following ECQs listed below.

The Executive Core Qualifications are required for entry to the Senior Executive Service. Narrative based ECQ's are required to be submitted as supporting documentation.

*NOTE* For current SES applicants or applicants who have previously held an SES appointment, ECQs can be resume based.

For applicants who has never held an SES appointment, narrative based ECQ's are required to be submitted as supporting documentation.


The required ECQ's to be addressed are listed below.

  • Leading Change: This core qualification involves the ability to bring about strategic change, both within and outside the organization, to meet organizational goals. Inherent to this ECQ is the ability to establish an organizational vision and to implement it in a continuously changing environment.
  • Leading People: This core qualification involves the ability to lead people toward meeting the organizations vision, mission, and goals. Inherent to this ECQ is the ability to provide an inclusive workplace that fosters the development of others, facilitates cooperation and teamwork, and supports constructive resolution of conflicts.
  • Results Driven: This core qualification involves the ability to meet organizational goals and customer expectations. Inherent to this ECQ is the ability to make decisions that produce high-quality results by applying technical knowledge, analyzing problems, and calculating risks.
  • Business Acumen: This core qualification involves the ability to manage human, financial, and information resources strategically.
  • Building Coalitions: This core qualification involves the ability to build coalitions internally and with other federal agencies, state and local governments, nonprofit and private sector organizations, foreign governments, or international organizations to achieve common goals.


Minimum Qualifications:

The Senior Executive Service (SES) appointments require one year (52 weeks) of specialized experience at the next lower band/grade at the GS-14/GS-15 level, PE band level III, PT band levels III and IV, MS band levels I and II, Senior Executive Service, Senior Level (SL), or equivalent in the Federal Service, or comparable private/public sector.

This position is Certified Public Accountant CPA preferred.

Technical Qualifications: All applicants must meet the Mandatory Technical Competency and Executive Core Qualification requirements listed above to be eligible for consideration. Eligibility will be based on a clear demonstration that the applicants training, and experience are of the scope, quality, and level of responsibility sufficient to successfully perform the duties and responsibilities of this executive position.

TQ1: Comprehensive knowledge of and experience with financial accounting and reporting concepts and principles.

TQ2: Experience effectively communicating technical problems and solutions to audiences such as members of boards, Administration officials, Congressional staff, and citizens.

TQ3: Experience assembling and leading a diverse team of individuals to solve business or research issues.

TQ4: Experience contributing to accounting or auditing standards development, such as drafting proposed standards, responding to exposure drafts, serving on task forces, or participating in deliberations.

Education

This position has a basic education requirement:

  1. Degree: accounting; or a degree 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. (The term "accounting" means "accounting and/or auditing" in this standard. Similarly, "accountant" should be interpreted, generally, as "accountant and/or auditor.")
    OR
  2. 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
    3. 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.


Additional information

Update your resume so it meets new resume requirements

Starting on September 27, 2025, federal agencies will only accept resumes up to two pages in length to comply with the Merit Hiring Plan. USAJOBS will not allow you to upload or build resumes longer than two pages, and you will need to update the resumes in your profile before applying to a job.

What is required in the resume?

Resumes submitted for federal jobs are required to have:

  • Contact Information-your name and the best way to contact you.
  • Relevant work experience-Job experience should include employer name, job title, start and end dates (month/year), the number of hours worked per week and descriptions that explain how your previous work experience relates to and helps you meet the required qualifications in the GAO job announcement to which you are applying.
  • Education, certifications or licensures-If the job announcement requires any education, certifications or licensures, make sure you include the required information on the resume.


For more information on the how to check the resume for the new 2-page requirement, please go to the Help Center or click the link : USAJOBS Help Center - Update your resume now so it meets new resume requirements

Travel and relocation expenses will not be paid for by the GAO.

If a current GAO employee is selected for this position the selectee may remain in their current duty location.

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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

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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.

Review our 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.

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