Student Cooperative - Office of Audit (Paid)

Are you currently enrolled in a college or graduate program and seeking a valuable opportunity while you study?

The Office of Audit within the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General is looking for passionate and driven students for our Student Cooperative program. These opportunities will support multiple directorates in:

• Bethesda, MD
• Carol Stream, IL
• Denver, CO
• Warrendale, PA
• Woburn, MA

Bring your skills and voice to our team!

IMPORTANT NOTE: This announcement is open from Wednesday, February 25, 2026 through Tuesday, March 17, 2026 or when fifty (50) applications have been received.

Open to U.S. Citizens who are students currently enrolled full or part-time in an accredited college or university program, classified or academically ranked by semester hours as a Sophomore, Junior, Senior or Graduate student with a graduation date no sooner than May 2027.

About the Office of Audit

The USPS OIG' s Office of Audit conducts and supervises objective, independent audits and reviews of U.S. Postal Service and Postal Regulatory Commission programs and operations to:

• Prevent and detect fraud, waste, and misconduct;
• Promote economy, efficiency, effectiveness, and program integrity;
• Keep the Board of Governors, Congress, Postal Regulatory Commission, and Postal Service management informed of problems, deficiencies, and corresponding corrective actions;
• Foster transparency through timely and well-messaged reports to a myriad of stakeholders.
• Learn more about our audit process here.

About Our Directorates

The Network Operations Directorates audit the Postal Service's processing, transportation, and delivery operations.

The Contracting & Supply Management Directorate oversees the Postal Service's contracting efforts to determine if costs are being effectively and efficiently controlled by current purchasing policies, initiatives, and practices.

The Finance & Pricing Directorate Examines the efficiency and effectiveness of financial controls, financial reporting, cash management, liquidity, and other areas of financial risk at the Postal Service.

The Retail & Infrastructure Directorate audits the Postal Service's retail network and operations. It also assesses the Postal Service's infrastructure, including the strategic planning, acquisition, management of its facilities, transportation logistics, and vehicle fleet.

The Mail Safety & Security Directorate aims to protect the sanctity of the mail and promote program integrity, efficiency, and effectiveness within the US Postal Service and U.S. Postal Inspection Service.

The Strategic Initiatives & Performance Directorate audits high-impact operations, focusing on peak performance periods, election mail processing, and oversight of the Postal Regulatory Commission.

The Audit Services Directorate provides guidance and support to the Office of Audit, including budgeting, contracting, audit policies, quality assurance, data analysis, statistical sampling, audit reporting, training, strategic planning, project administration, and coordination with other OIG components.


About the Student Cooperative Position

The student cooperative will gain valuable experience by contributing to audits and projects. A student cooperative:

• Performs specialized administrative duties with continuing responsibility for projects, questions, or problems related to a review/project. Each assignment typically consists of a series of related actions or decisions prior to final completion.
• Addresses a wide variety of problems or situations common to the segment of the program or function to which the employee is assigned. Decisions or recommendations are based on the development and evaluation of information that comes from various sources.
• Identifies and studies factors or conditions and determines their interrelationships as appropriate to the defined area of work.
• Takes or recommends actions that are consistent with the objectives and requirements of the program or functions.
• Recognizes the dimensions of the problems involved, collects the necessary information, establishes the facts, and takes or recommends action based upon application or interpretation of established guidelines.
• Provides applicable oral and written support for briefings and other related products.
• Adapts and interacts well in situations that involve diverse team and work dynamics.

Position Compensation

These positions are being advertised at the Administrative Band level, equivalent to a GS-05. The hourly pay range for these positions is $20.25/hour to $26.99/hour. Authorized locality is included in this range for all geographic area locations. Learn more about locality specifics by visiting: OPM's General Schedule (GS).

The following are the base hourly pay rates for students, categorized by year of study:

• Sophomore students earn $16.73 per hour, plus additional locality pay.
• Junior and Senior students earn $17.78 per hour, plus additional locality pay.
• Graduate or Law students earn $20.15 per hour, plus additional locality pay.

Position Minimum Requirements

You must meet all minimum requirements listed below.

• Degree/Major Requirement: Students must be currently enrolled in an auditing, accounting, or related field (see below list of related degrees) full or half-time in an accredited college or university program, classified or academically ranked by semester hours as a Sophomore, Junior, Senior or Graduate student graduating no sooner than May 2027 (must submit transcripts stating current enrollment status, GPA, and in good standing.)
• GPA Requirement: Must be in academic good standing as defined by the college or university, earning at least a 2.75 GPA on a 4.0 GPA scale.
• Work Location Requirement: Students must report in person to the USPS OIG duty station to which they are assigned.
  • During the academic semester: 10-30 hours per week
  • During school breaks: Up to 40 hours per week (with management approval)
• Systems Experience: Must have experience with computer software applications such as Microsoft Office, Office365, Word, Excel, etc.