Career Paths at GAO - Analysts

The majority of the people at GAO who are engaged in mission work are analysts. The analyst at GAO plans and conducts reviews of multi-agency programs and the internal operations of individual agencies. Subject areas include the entire spectrum of federal activities, including health care, housing and urban development, tax policy and administration, national security and international relations, financial management, and natural resources and the environment.

Typically, an analyst works as part of a team conducting in-depth research on a study requested by the Chairman or Ranking Minority Member of a congressional committee or subcommittee, or performing a study that GAO has been mandated by legislation to conduct. This work is demanding, time bound, and important. Analysts must have advanced methodological and research skills and must excel at documenting the work they do, writing the results and the findings, and presenting the work to audiences ranging from their team members to congressional staff or Members. The hallmarks of our work are accuracy, objectivity, and integrity.

An analyst is expected to support and promote collaborative efforts to achieve mission requirements; satisfy client needs; meet common goals; and comply with GAO policies, generally accepted government audit standards and other requirements. An analyst is also expected to promote teamwork; communicate openly and candidly; participate fully in discussions; employ techniques for problem-solving and decision-making; and ensure that the principles of equal opportunity are properly observed. Initially, an analyst will be supervised closely by a more senior analyst, but as he or she gains experience, supervision decreases until the supervisor needs only to review the analyst's work to ensure that objectives have been met and GAO policies have been followed. Entry analysts are assigned to GAO's Professional Development Program (PDP).