Key Occupations at the EPA Office of Inspector General

Auditors

Auditors at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Office of Inspector General examine whether EPA programs are efficiently and effectively accomplishing their objectives.  They also examine the presentation of EPA’s financial statements and costs claimed by EPA contractors and assistance agreement recipients.  Auditors seek to detect and prevent fraud, waste and abuse; and they coordinate with investigators on addressing issues that may reflect criminal conduct.

An auditor’s work is designed to promote the transparency and accountability of Federal resources and results in the following areas: 

‒ Improvements to environmental and related administrative programs;

‒ Opinions on whether financial statements accurately reflect EPA’s financial condition,

‒ The recovery of costs inappropriately claimed by those receiving EPA funds; and

‒ The referral of potentially criminal activity.

Auditors may recommend revisions to law, regulations, policies and procedures in order to correct conditions found during their work.

Program Analysts

Program analysts at EPA OIG work in multi-disciplinary teams to evaluate the effectiveness, efficiency and impacts of Federal government programs and operations, as well as the impacts of State and local government programs.  They evaluate critical environmental problems to improve decision making and develop recommendations designed to assess, interpret or significantly enhance Agency outcomes.  Program analysts apply methodologies and design strategies to maximize innovation, identify new issues and promote an increased understanding of EPA activities.

Criminal Investigators

Criminal investigators plan and conduct investigations relating to alleged or suspected violations of criminal laws.  These positions require knowledge of investigative techniques and the ability to apply the laws of evidence, the rules of criminal procedure and relevant court decisions.

Criminal investigators at EPA OIG must be able to recognize, develop and present evidence that can reconstruct events, sequences and time elements.  They also need to be able to establish relationships, responsibilities, legal liabilities and conflicts of interest in a manner that meets the requirements for presentation in legal hearings and court proceedings.  Criminal investigators carry firearms and  testify in a variety of legal hearings and court proceedings.

Information Technology Specialists

Information Technology (IT) specialists administer, develop, deliver, manage and support EPA’s information technology systems and services.  IT specialists apply their knowledge of IT principles, concepts and methods in areas such as data storage, software applications and networking.

At EPA OIG, IT specialists are also involved in areas such as applications software; data management; the Internet; network services; operating systems; and systems administration, systems analysis and  systems security.  They also provide customer support.  IT specialists perform data mining and analysis for OIG staff members who are performing audits, evaluations and investigations.