🟢 Status: OPEN – Open Continuous through Dec 31, 2026 | Sacramento CA · Washington DC · Atlanta GA · Chicago IL · Kansas City MO · New York NY · Philadelphia PA · San Juan PR · Dallas TX | Source: USAJOBS.gov
Job Overview
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Job Title | Auditor (Performance) |
| Agency | Office of Inspector General |
| Department | U.S. Department of Education |
| Announcement # | OIG-HQ-2026-0018 |
| Pay Scale & Grade | GS-7/9 |
| Salary Range | $50,460 – $80,243 per year |
| Locations | Washington, DC (primary); also Sacramento CA, Atlanta GA, Chicago IL, Kansas City MO, New York NY, Philadelphia PA, San Juan PR, Dallas TX |
| Work Schedule | Full-time |
| Appointment Type | Permanent |
| Service Type | Competitive Service |
| Promotion Potential | GS-13 |
| Security Clearance | Other (High Risk) |
| Drug Test | Not Required |
| Who May Apply | US Citizens — Open to the Public |
| Closing Date | December 31, 2026 (Open Continuous) |
| USAJOBS Link | Click Here to Apply |
Auditor (Performance) Jobs 2026 — U.S. Department of Education, Office of Inspector General | Apply USAJOBS
ED OIG — the independent watchdog office charged with rooting out fraud, waste, and abuse across the Department of Education — is hiring for federal auditor jobs at the GS-7 and GS-9 levels across nine cities nationwide. This gs-0511 auditor jobs 2026 opening is open continuous through December 31, 2026, meaning the agency pulls qualified applicant lists every 30 days and keeps hiring as vacancies come up rather than running a single hard-deadline cycle. If you’ve been hunting for entry level federal auditor jobs that don’t require years of prior government experience, this one’s built for exactly that: a Superior Academic Achievement GPA, relevant coursework, or even a year of graduate education can qualify you at the GS-7 level.
The role sits with Audit Services, OIG’s team responsible for examining how billions of dollars in federal education funding actually gets used — from K-12 grant programs to federal student aid. With promotion potential up to GS-13 and a mission that touches real outcomes for students and taxpayers, this is a strong on-ramp into department of education oig jobs for anyone curious about how to become a federal auditor.
About the Role
OIG calls itself “America’s watchdog” for good reason — this office runs the audits, investigations, and cybercrime work that keeps Department of Education programs honest. As a Performance Auditor, you’d join one of three teams: Internal Operations Oversight (DC-based, handling ED-wide contracts and Congressional requests), Elementary and Secondary Education Oversight, or Higher Education Oversight — the team digging into federal student aid programs specifically.
This is federal auditor jobs no experience territory in the best sense: at GS-7, you’re in an entry-level role learning to plan audits, analyze data, assess internal controls, and write up findings. At GS-9, you step into a developmental capacity with more independent responsibility for the same kind of work. Either way, you’re contributing to investigations that have uncovered multimillion-dollar fraud schemes and shaped some of the country’s most important education laws.
“We’re America’s watchdogs – hard-earned tax dollars that fund ED programs should be used as intended by law.” — ED Office of Inspector General
Key Duties & Responsibilities
- Participate in planning and design of Audit Services projects
- Complete evaluation, research, and data analysis activities
- Assess data quality, reliability, risk, and internal control design
- Prepare written work products: interview write-ups, document reviews, spreadsheets, summaries, exhibits
- Contribute to audits of K-12, special education, and higher education programs (at GS-9, with greater independence)
- Develop conclusions and reporting elements tied to project objectives
- Coordinate with team members across Internal Operations, Elementary/Secondary, or Higher Education oversight teams
- Support investigations into suspected fraud by schools, colleges, contractors, and ED program participants
- Apply auditing standards, procedures, and government-wide audit methodology
Qualifications & Requirements
Minimum Qualifications
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| Education | Degree in auditing or related field (business administration, finance, public administration, accounting); federal jobs accounting degree route is the most direct path |
| OR Combination | 4 years of performance auditing experience + CPA/CIA certification or 15 semester hours in auditing/accounting |
| GS-7 Specialized Experience | 1 year equivalent to GS-5, OR 1 year graduate education, OR bachelor’s with Superior Academic Achievement (3.0+ GPA) |
| GS-9 Specialized Experience | 1 year equivalent to GS-7, OR master’s degree, OR 2 years graduate education, OR J.D./LL.B |
| Citizenship | U.S. Citizen required |
| Background Check | Required; financial disclosure agreement required |
Career Ladder & Salary by Grade
| Grade | Salary Range | Level | Requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-7 | $50,460 – $65,000/yr* | Entry-level | 1 year GS-5 experience OR SAA bachelor’s OR 1 yr graduate ed |
| GS-9 | $61,700 – $80,243/yr* | Developmental | 1 year GS-7 experience OR master’s degree |
| Up to GS-13 | Higher, locality-adjusted | Full performance | Promotion potential built into this announcement |
*Approximate range split for reference; locality pay varies by duty station.
💡 Note: This is one of the more accessible federal auditor jobs on the market right now — the gs-7 auditor jobs nationwide entry point accepts new grads through the Superior Academic Achievement provision, so you don’t need prior federal experience to qualify.
Other Requirements
- May require background clearance and fingerprint check
- Selective Service registration required for males 18+
- Subject to a probationary or trial period
- Verification that you have not defaulted on any ED-funded or guaranteed student loan
Salary & Benefits
| Benefit | Details |
|---|---|
| Base Salary | $50,460 – $80,243/year (GS-7/9) |
| Recruitment/Relocation Incentives | May be eligible, with signed service agreement |
| Student Loan Repayment | May be eligible as a recruitment incentive |
| Paid Time Off | 26 days vacation + 13 sick days/year |
| Federal Holidays | 11 paid federal holidays |
| Health Insurance | FEHB |
| Dental & Vision | FEDVIP |
| Retirement | FERS |
| TSP (401k) | 5% government matching |
| Paid Parental Leave | 12 weeks |
| Life Insurance | FEGLI |
| Family-Friendly Leave | Excused leave for parent/teacher conferences, annual health screenings, community volunteer service |
How to Apply
- Create a USAJOBS.gov account if you don’t already have one.
- Build your federal resume using the USAJOBS resume builder — limit to 2 pages, 10-point font minimum, demonstrating education, experience, training, and accomplishments relevant to auditing.
- Upload required documents: your resume and an unofficial transcript showing your degree, major, GPA, and completion date (this position has a positive education requirement).
- Click “Apply Online” and complete the vacancy questionnaire, attaching all required documents.
- Complete the online assessment — a Monster Competency Based Assessment evaluating Oral Communication, Writing, Problem Solving, Teamwork, and Attention to Detail, among other competencies.
- Submit before the next consideration date — applicant lists are pulled every 30 days, so applying earlier in a cycle improves your odds of early review.
- Track your status in USAJOBS — you’ll be notified at three stages: application received, eligible/qualified determination, and final disposition.
⚠️ Important: This is an open continuous announcement running through December 31, 2026 — you can apply at any point, but applicant lists are pulled roughly every 30 days, so don’t wait if you’re ready now. Apply directly at USAJOBS.gov.
Veterans’ Preference
Veterans’ preference applies to this announcement: veterans’ preference eligibles are ranked ahead of qualified non-preference eligibles within each category, and those with a compensable service-connected disability of 10% or more are placed at the top of the Best Qualified category (with an exception for scientific/professional GS-9+ positions). To claim preference, submit your DD-214 showing character of discharge, or — for those separating within 120 days — a certification of expected discharge, plus an SF-15 if claiming 10-point preference. Veterans interested in resume or interview prep can email careers@ed.gov to schedule a counseling session. If you’re a current/former federal employee or eligible under VEOA, Schedule A, or another special hiring authority, a concurrently advertised merit promotion announcement (OIG-HQ-2026-0017) may apply to you instead.
About the U.S. Department of Education Office of Inspector General
ED OIG is an independent oversight office charged with promoting economy, efficiency, and effectiveness across Department of Education programs and operations through audits, investigations, and other oversight activities. The office has built a reputation as a federal leader in audit work, fraud investigation, and cybercrime detection tied to education funding — work that’s resulted in real changes to federal education law and protected billions in taxpayer dollars meant for America’s students and schools.
FederalJobsAlert.us is an independent job notification website. This listing is sourced from USAJOBS.gov for informational purposes only. Always verify the latest details and apply directly at usajobs.gov/job/866124100. We are not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education, its Office of Inspector General, or any US government agency.
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