[Anonymous]

So I’ve heard of DCAA but don’t know much about them? What can you tell me about them? It seems like a good solid federal job.

[msgolds]

I work for DCAA and can vouch for them. It's a great entry-level audit job, great training, and excellent benefits. They'll reimburse your testing fees for up to two attempts per section and pay for a review course. They'll also reimburse tuition for a Masters program. The work varies a lot depending on what region you're in and what size contractors you wind up working with, but essentially we provide audit services to government agencies regarding Contracts and Contract Proposals to DoD agencies. You learn a great deal about government contracting, which is a unique set of knowledge in general. There are lots of opportunities for upward mobility, especially in your first few years. I started out there as an intern when I was in college, went full-time after I graduated. Just got a promotion after my first year that came with a $10,000 raise.

BEC - 90 PASSED
FAR - 84 PASSED
AUD - 93 PASSED
REG - 84 PASSED

I DID IT!!!!

Using Becker Self-Study

"If we were put here to carry a great weight, then the very things we hate are here to build those muscles."

[Anonymous]

@msgolds what would you estimate the “culture” is like? uber competitive? lots of overtime? My goal is to get out of public. I just am not interested in 80 hour work weeks and a guilt trip when I do take vacation time anymore.

I don't have any audit experience. I do have a master's, some tax experience and am working on the exam.

Wow, good job on the promotion & raise!

[msgolds]

A lot of people who come to work here moved from public for the same reasons you just mentioned. I do not think the culture here is very competitive, at least not until you get to the Senior / Managerial level. Generally, people are very willing to help you out.

I don't think lacking audit experience will hurt you, because the types of audits we perform are very unique… no other organization does what we do. The manager who interviewed me said: “Come here with accounting knowledge, we'll teach you the audit part of it.” I won't say you never need to work overtime: I've had to put it in before for demand assignments, but it's very rare. Sometimes overtime pay is granted, but more often than not you are granted “credit hours” which allows you to take leave for any overtime for work in future periods. Typically, I put in 8 hours a day, five days a week, and have plenty of time to go home and study. There is some travel, usually for training. Otherwise, you would be working primarily locally by either being stationed permanently at a contractor or working at a mobile office with smaller contractors.

BEC - 90 PASSED
FAR - 84 PASSED
AUD - 93 PASSED
REG - 84 PASSED

I DID IT!!!!

Using Becker Self-Study

"If we were put here to carry a great weight, then the very things we hate are here to build those muscles."

[mla1169]

Never worked for DCAA but I have been on the receiving end of several audits. Msgolds is correct that it is really a “Niche” type of work, and if you ever chose to switch over to working for industry you'd be an exceptionally valuable commodity to a lot of defense type contractors and subcontractors. The DCAA auditors in general have seemed more “laid back” than the financial auditors from the big 4, in my personal experience.

FAR- 77
AUD -49, 71, 84
REG -56,75!
BEC -75

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[Anonymous]

Good information thanks 🙂 I'm definitely open to learning and don't mind occasional OT. It sounds like interesting work honestly. The OT at the place where I'm at is intense and the pay and benefits don't justify it. Life is too short to work yourself to death for a firm that doesn't respect your effort.

[Anonymous]

It's pretty much exactly what you said. A good solid federal job. 40 hours a week, you set your own schedule, you can work from home, pension for retirement, not very stressful, excellent job security, it's light travel (mostly for training) and you're pretty much guarenteed to be making $75k in 2 or 3 years (depending on your education level when you started). I know they are hiring now. Takes 6 months to get a phone call when you apply but after you interview getting in isn't difficult.

Good luck.

[makinthemagic]

I just got an offer from DCAA in Fremont, CA. I'm scheduled to start on 1/28. Everything here sounds consistent with what I've found elsewhere. Anyone have any specific info on DCAA-Fremont or any recommendations for living in the Bay area?

Bec 4/11/11 91
Aud 7/11/11 75
Reg 8/31/11 80
Far 5/24/11 86
Ethics - 98
California Licensed CPA
Illinois Registered CPA

[Thekid2576]

makinthemagic, how long did it take for you to get hired on from the date of the application?? I've applied, and I am just curious how long the hiring process takes. I am seeing different lengths of time. I have applied, think I am extremely qualified, and the applications page just says received… Really would like to hear something soon..

[K_Sunshine5]

Hi Thekid. I actually just received a tentative offer with DCAA. I applied at the end of March and got a call about 4 weeks ago for a phone interview. A week after, I had an in person interview. It is now about 2 and a half weeks after the in person interview and I am going through the offer/paperwork process. So far, it's been about 3 months. The paperwork and security/background check is what usually takes a while one the interviews are done so I'm expecting to receive a start date in the next month or two. Hope this helps!

FAR: 65, 77!
AUD: 72, 72, 80!
REG: 64, 84!
BEC: 83!
Ethics: 98!

Delaware CPA as of May 23, 2014 at 10:43am EST.

"She believed she could, so she did."

[mena je twa]

Ksunshine.

Whats the website where i can apply to? Also, does it help if you know someone in the inside? or they are open to hiring people from outside too? were you referred by someone from the inside? or you just applied. Thanks

Licensed CPA, Texas - 2012

[jdwalton19]

http://www.usajobs.gov – you'll have to create an account. The federal hiring process is quite a bit different than public. If you need help, let me know.

I've been a federal employee for the last 7 years.

FAR - MAY - 84
AUD - AUG - 88
REG - AUG - 92
BEC - Dec - 82

KY Licensed!

Yaeger

[kcuster87]

I've worked at DCAA for 5 years now, and I can vouch for all that has been said. I came in as an entry-level auditor right out of college making roughly $40,000 and now make $90,000 as a supervisory auditor.

Coming out of college I had the option to work 80+ hours a week at a public accounting firm or to work in a place where I could save my fellow taxpayers money while still maintaining an actual work-life balance. What finally sold me was when the guy who recruited me presented what I would truly be taking home in my paycheck for each hour I worked (40 hour work weeks vs. 80+ hours), and it doesn't take a rocket scientist to realize that per hour we take home much more than most public accounting auditors. Plus, you actually have time after work and on the weekends to study for the CPA exam, and there really is no such thing as “busy season” at DCAA.

Here are a few weblinks with more information about working at DCAA:

https://www.dcaa.mil/career.html

https://www.facebook.com/DefenseContractAuditAgency

REG- 84 (Expires 8/27/2014)
AUD- 98 (Expires 10/3/2014)
BEC- 75
FAR- 8/26/2014

"Don't dream it. Be it." - Dr. Frank-N-Furter (Rocky Horror Picture Show)

[Skynet]

Da Cool Accountants Association.

Don't know much about them, but heard it is like a fraternity where once you get in you get supercool decoder rings.

AUD - 90
BEC - 78
FAR - 84
REG - 87

World Domination Plan

Phase I : Pass CPA Exams - Complete
Phase II : Megan Fox - In Progress
Phase III : Megan Fox & Scarlett Johansson Lingerie Pillow Fight
Phase IV : Form the new Charlie's Angels with Megan Fox, Scarlett Johansson, & Gal Gadot
Phase V : TBD

BEC : 78
REG : 87
FAR : 84
AUD : 90

World Domination Plan

Phase I : Pass CPA Exams - Complete
Phase II : Megan Fox - Initiated
Phase III : Bring back 8-Tracks
Phase IV : Megan Fox & Scarlett Johansson Lingerie Pillow Fight
Phase V : TBA

[K_Sunshine5]

Thanks for your input, kcuster! It's great to hear a story like that. That's what I'm looking to do once I'm in. I'm going in as a GS9 which is awesome. I'm hoping to work my way up in the next couple years 🙂

FAR: 65, 77!
AUD: 72, 72, 80!
REG: 64, 84!
BEC: 83!
Ethics: 98!

Delaware CPA as of May 23, 2014 at 10:43am EST.

"She believed she could, so she did."

[Author]

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