Organizational Location: This position is with the Department of Homeland Security, within U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Trade, Trade Regulatory Audit, (TRA) located in: Miami, FL Detroit, MI Newark, NJ Dallas, TX Laredo, TX Location Preference: You may select only two locations where you would be willing to work. Remote work is NOT an option.

The Pathways Program is designed to provide students enrolled in a wide variety of educational institutions, from high school to graduate level, with opportunities to work in agencies and explore Federal careers while still in school and while getting paid for the work performed. Students who successfully complete the program may be eligible for conversion to a permanent position in the civil service. This position starts at a salary of $31,512.00 (GS-03 ,Step 1) to $45,982.00 (GS-04, Step 10).

Positions with known promotion potential do not guarantee promotion, nor is the promise of promotion implied. Your promotion potential will ultimately be determined by your qualifications and will be initiated at management's discretion.

Typical job duties include:

• Applying conventional audit techniques under the guidance of a supervisory auditor or higher-level auditor in charge to complete fundamental and relatively uncomplicated audits or portions of more complicated audits.
• Serving as a student trainee/trainee, assigned to senior managers and auditors in charge, in the performance of auditing and accounting function.
• Performing a variety of assigned tasks designed to provide on-the-job training and experience in auditing Importers and other trade related entities through the practical application of generally accepted government auditing standards and TRA policy and procedures.
• Preparing automated audit documentation in the form of documents, spreadsheets, pivot tables, charts, etc., to provide sufficient and appropriate evidence to support audit findings.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this position
• Males born after 12/31/1959 must be registered with Selective Service
• Primary U.S. residency for at least three of the last five years (additional details below)
• You may be required to pass a background investigation
• CBP follows the DHS Drug-Free Workplace Plan for drug testing procedures
• Must be at least 18 years old
• Proof of student status must be submitted with the application
• As an employee of CBP, you will be joining a workforce that is dedicated to accomplishing our mission while maintaining the trust of our Nation by strictly adhering to all government ethics standards. Your conduct will be subject to the ethics rules applicable to all Executive Branch employees, and to CBP employees specifically, as well as the criminal conflict of interest statutes. Once you enter on duty, these rules include obtaining approval for outside employment or business activity, to ensure such employment or business activity is not prohibited and does not interfere or conflict with performance of your official duties. Please review further details via the following link.

Qualifications

You must be a student who has been accepted for enrollment or who is currently enrolled and seeking a degree, diploma or certificate in a qualifying educational institution on a full or half-time basis (half-time is defined by the educational institution in which the student is enrolled).

AND:

GS-03: Completion of one (1) academic year of post-high school study. One year of full-time academic study is defined as 30 semester hours, 45 quarter hours, or the equivalent in a college or university, or at least 20 hours of classroom instruction per week for approximately 36 weeks in a business, secretarial, or technical school.

GS-04: Completed 2 full academic years of post-high school study or an associate's degree. Two years of full-time academic study is defined as 60 semester hours, 90 quarter hours, or the equivalent in a college or university.

You must meet all qualification requirements, including education if applicable to this position, subject to verification at any stage of the application process by 03/18/2024.

The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must authorize employment offers made to current or former political appointees. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES or Presidential Appointee employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the Human Resources Office.

Background Investigation: U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is a federal law enforcement agency that requires all applicants to undergo a thorough background investigation prior to employment in order to promote the agency's core values of vigilance, service to country, and integrity. During the screening and/or background investigation process, you will be asked questions regarding any felony criminal convictions or current felony charges, the use of illegal drugs (e.g., marijuana, cocaine, heroin, LSD, methamphetamines, ecstasy), and the use of non-prescribed controlled substances including any experimentation, possession, sale, receipt, manufacture, cultivation, production, transfer, shipping, trafficking, or distribution of controlled substances. For additional information, review the following links: Background investigation and the e-QIP process.

Bargaining Unit: This is a bargaining unit covered position, represented under the National Treasury Employees Unions- NTEU. For local chapter contact information see Chapter Websites - National Treasury Employees Union - NTEU.

Residency: There is a residency requirement for all applicants not currently employed by CBP. Individuals are required to have physically resided in the United States or its protectorates (as declared under international law) for at least three of the last five years. If you do not meet the residency requirement and you have been physically located in a foreign location for more than two of the last five years, you may request an exception to determine if you are eligible for a residency waiver by meeting one or more of the following conditions:

• Working for the U.S. Government as a federal civilian or as a member of the military
• A dependent who was authorized to accompany a federal civilian or member of the military who was working for the U.S. government
• Participation in a study abroad program sponsored by a U.S. affiliated college or university
• Working as a contractor, intern, consultant or volunteer supporting the U.S. government

Schedules: Positions can be filled on full-time and part-time basis. Part-time schedules are typically 16 to 32 hours per administrative workweek, prearranged on a scheduled tour of duty.

Trial Period: The entire period served under the Internship Program counts as the participant's trial period.

Grade Point Average (GPA) Requirement: Pathways students are required to maintain a minimum GPA of 2.0 for undergraduate studies or lower program, and a minimum GPA of 3.0 for a master's program or higher program.

Conversions: Interns may be non-competitively converted from the internship program to a term or permanent position in the competitive service within 120 days following successful completion of all their educational requirements in accordance with section 5 CFR 362.204 given there is an available position; however, conversion is not mandatory or guaranteed.If converted, this position will likely fill a Auditor, GS-0511-03/04 position. Please note the Auditor position has a basic requirement outlined below which must be met at the time of conversion:

1.Degree: Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a bachelor's or higher degree in accounting, auditing, or 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. Transcript must include date degree was awarded or conferred.
OR
B. A 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
OR
2. A certificate as a 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 non-conformance to the requirement of 24 semester hours in accounting, the applicant's education, training, and experience fully meet the specified requirements.


Education

Please see the Qualifications and Required Documents sections for more information.