Position Overview
The Office of General Counsel (OGC) is responsible for providing expert advice of counsel and legal representation to DCPS' Chancellor, Central Office, principals, and other school-based staff to help ensure that all DCPS students, regardless of background or circumstance, receive a world-class education that prepares them for success in college, career, and life. Major practice areas in OGC include: General Practice, which includes FOIA, FERPA, policy and ethics, Labor and Employment, and Special Education due process litigation under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004 (IDEA). Additionally, the office includes the Labor Management and Employee Relations (LMER) team and the Compliance division.
The Labor Management & Employee Relations (LMER) work group is responsible for supporting DCPS on a wide range of employee relations matters, including but not limited to: ensuring compliance with EEO laws; facilitating the proper implementation of progressive discipline; assisting employees with workplace problems; collaborating with unions to resolve issues and address concerns; working with managers to ensure compliance with all laws, regulations, and policies; scheduling meditations and hearings to address grievances; investigating allegations of misconduct by employees, contractors, and volunteers; and conducting background investigations to determine suitability for DCPS employment and service providers.
The Compliance division is made up of the Internal Audit, Special Education Compliance, Risk Management, and Comprehensive Alternative Resolution and Equity (CARE) teams. The Compliance division works closely with various federal and district agencies, including but not limited to the Department of Education, Office of the Inspector General, Office of the District of Columbia Auditor, Office of the State Superintendent of Education, Office of Human Rights, Office of the Chief Financial Officer, and Metropolitan Police Department on an as needed basis. The division receives concerns and complaints from students, parents, and third parties and provides effective and equitable resolution to issues raised, conducts internal audits of DCPS programs, and oversees the management of all audits of DCPS conducted by external entities. The division is also responsible for identifying and mitigating risks and working and collaborating to ensure safety. The Compliance team’s mission is to work with all Schools and Central Services departments to ensure that operations and programming are compliant with applicable DCPS, District, and federal laws, regulations, and policies.
The Compliance division is made up of the Internal Audit, Special Education Compliance, Risk Management, and Comprehensive Alternative Resolution and Equity (CARE) teams. The Compliance division works closely with various federal and district agencies, including but not limited to the Department of Education, Office of the Inspector General, Office of the District of Columbia Auditor, Office of the State Superintendent of Education, Office of Human Rights, Office of the Chief Financial Officer, and Metropolitan Police Department on an as needed basis. The division receives concerns and complaints from students, parents, and third parties and provides effective and equitable resolution to issues raised, conducts internal audits of DCPS programs, and oversees the management of all audits of DCPS conducted by external entities. The division is also responsible for identifying and mitigating risks and working and collaborating to ensure safety. The Compliance team’s mission is to work with all Schools and Central Services departments to ensure that operations and programming are compliant with applicable DCPS, District, and federal laws, regulations, and policies.
The Specialist, Audits (Auditor) is expected to support the mission of the Compliance division by seeking to identify and mitigate instances of waste, fraud, and abuse within the agency through program reviews, investigation of complaints, and ongoing interaction with external regulatory agencies and/or bodies. This individual will conduct performance-based audits, reviews, and investigations of internal operations, school programs, and functions within DCPS and lead team audit projects. The Specialist, Audits will complete other related duties as assigned.
This position has been designated as Protection Sensitive. Pursuant to section 410 of Chapter 4 of the D.C. Personnel Regulations; in addition to the general suitability screening, individuals applying for or occupying protection sensitive positions are subject to the following checks and tests: Criminal background check; Sex Offender Registry check; Pre-employment drug and alcohol test; Traffic record check (as applicable); Reasonable suspicion drug and alcohol test; and Post-accident or incident drug and alcohol test.
The Specialist, Audits (Auditor) will report to the Manager, Audits.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
The below statements are intended to describe the general nature and scope of work being performed by this position. This is not a complete listing of all responsibilities, duties, and/or skills required. Other duties may be assigned.
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Conducts performance audits, evaluations, and reviews of activities related to the detection of waste, fraud, and/or abuse within DCPS programs, including the development of recommendations which will improve the economy, efficiency, and effectiveness of DCPS programs.
Analyzes work related to technical programs, operations, and administrative functions of a broad nature, including determining the impact of delaying the implementation of various administrative systems or DCPS improvements.
Develops standardized audit, review, and evaluation programs to respond to various recurring audit requests from DCPS managers and individual school principals.
Assists in the design of audit and evaluation programs that meet changing industry standards due to changes in laws, policies, and/or procedures from the district and federal government, and within DCPS.
Conducts a variety of investigations of complaints filtered through DCPS from various external regulatory agencies.
Conducts interviews of individuals, internal or external to DCPS, on issues related to pending audits, reviews, or investigations.
Prepares draft and external reports, reviews, and briefing papers for recommendations and conclusions which are fully supported by evidence gathered and analyzed based on relevant statues, regulations, policies, procedures, and other documentation.
Reviews and/or prepares working papers and schedules to summarize evidence gathered from interviews, observations, printed data, information, and records in accordance with generally accepted government auditing standards, principles, and practices.
Periodically provides testimony in district court(s) on facts and conclusions made resulting from audits and/or investigations conducted.
Qualifications
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Bachelor's degree and three to five years of related work experience.
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Master’s degree in Business Administration, Public Administration, Accounting, or related field preferred.
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Certified public accountant, certified internal auditor, or certified fraud examiner certification preferred.
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Previous experience in the K-12 education sector a plus.
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Previous experience in compliance activities, including formal internal or external audits required.
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Excellent fact-finding, analysis, and problem-solving skills.
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Experience with investigative and resolution approaches.
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Strong oral and written communication skills required.
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Experience with Excel and other Microsoft software tools.
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STUDENTS FIRST: We recognize students as whole children and put their needs first in everything we do.
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COURAGE: We have the audacity to learn from our successes and failures, to try new things, and to lead the nation as a proof point of PK-12 success.
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EQUITY: We work proactively to eliminate opportunity gaps by interrupting institutional bias and investing in effective strategies to ensure every student succeeds.
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EXCELLENCE: We work with integrity and hold ourselves accountable for exemplary outcomes, service, and interactions.
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TEAMWORK: We recognize that our greatest asset is our collective vision and ability to work collaboratively and authentically.
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JOY: We enjoy our collective work and will enthusiastically celebrate our success and each other.
We are an equal opportunity employer and are committed to creating an inclusive, accessible workplace. We welcome and encourage applications from individuals with disabilities. Accommodation and/or application assistance is available upon request at all stages of the application and employment process. To request accommodation, please contact [email protected].
