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Career News | Feb. 6, 2023

Understanding the Qualifications for a DCAA Position

By DCAA Staff Writer

You found a DCAA position listed on USAJOBS and are ready to apply.  But, how do you know if you are qualified? The easiest way is to carefully review the "Qualifications" section of the job opportunity announcement to see if you meet the criteria listed under “Basic Requirements.”

The next step is to ensure the information you provide on your resume clearly describes how you qualify for the position, showcasing your education and any relevant experience.  Your resume and supporting documentation must demonstrate that all required qualifications are met.  If your application package fails to communicate the necessary qualifications, it will not be referred to the hiring manager(s). 

Making your Education Count

DCAA entry level auditor jobs have mandatory requirements for education. These are non-negotiable and are set by the Office of Personnel Management. These requirements are listed in the job opportunity announcement under “Qualifications, Basic Requirements.” For all entry level auditor positions, some college-level education is needed.  In most cases, a college degree is required.  Be sure to upload all relevant transcripts. If you attended a foreign educational institution, you must also upload a copy of your certified foreign credential evaluation.  It may also be helpful to list the classes you've taken that meet each coursework requirement under the education section of your resume.

Getting Credit for your Experience

Listing and describing all relevant auditing experience may qualify you for a higher salary than you would receive with education alone. DCAA welcomes entry-level candidates but also values relevant work experience. Showcase your experience by effectively associating the work you’ve done in the past with the duties listed in the job announcement.  Be explicit about what your experience includes by using straightforward terms using the language in the USAJOBS specialized experience section as your guide.  Don’t be afraid to elaborate as much as you need to.  Unlike private sector job applications, there is no need for brevity or creative formatting. It’s far more important to focus on content. DCAA strongly recommends using the USAJobs Resume Builder tool, which helps you list your work history in a uniform, Federal government-friendly format.

Examples of Experience

As an example, a year of specialized experience may include working as a trainee accountant or auditor performing relatively simple audit steps and tasks such as examining routine financial documents, preparing simple summaries and schedules, and organizing work paper files.  If you performed these tasks, you would list the experience on your resume, including the dates of employment (month/year, at the very least), how many hours worked per week and identify the employer. The USAJobs resume tool will walk you through each step.  Here are some other relevant audit tasks: conducting evaluations, examinations, or other fact-finding studies and preparing draft audit reports. While we recommend using words from the job opportunity announcement on your resume, we do not recommend that you copy/paste or quote verbatim. 

While it can be confusing, our recruitment team is here to help you navigate the application process. If you have questions you can check our website or contact our recruitment team at recruitment@dcaa.mil.