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State of Washington Classified Job Specification

ASSISTANT STATE AUDITOR 4

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ASSISTANT STATE AUDITOR 4
Class Code: 156D
Category: Financial Services


Definition

This is the senior, specialist, and/or lead level of the series.

Positions conducting Financial and Compliance Audits:

Positions function as an auditor-in-charge of the largest and/or most complex financial and compliance audits of local and state government entities. Under general direction, assumes responsibility for planning, conducting and documenting a risk based audit. Audits at this level include, but are not limited to, larger local city and county jurisdictions with multiple staff assigned, entities operating under special regulations and funding sources such as PUD’s and Housing Authorities, entities with extensive compliance and reporting requirements or entities requiring complex computer system audits.

Positions conducting Performance Audits:

Leads smaller performance audits that cover a limited number of agencies or programs and utilize reliable data that is readily available. Responsible for overall audit planning through final audit presentation.

OR

Independently conducts sections of large performance audits under the direction of a senior or principal performance auditor. Audits involve multiple agencies or levels of government, have several layers of applicable laws or regulations, and require significant research to obtain the necessary data.

Positions conducting IT Audits:

Independently conducts sections of large or complex IT audits, assessments, applications and general control system reviews or data analysis projects which may involve multiple state agencies, local governments or levels of government.

Typical Work

Positions conducting Financial and Compliance Audits:

Plans, organizes, assigns duties, and directs work activities of lower level auditors; develops audit plans;

Monitors budgets for all audits within area of responsibility;

Reviews audit work papers to ensure that completed work meets agency standards, that work performed by team members is accurate and complete, that audit evidence is sufficient and appropriate, and that the conclusions align with the audit objective(s);

Develops and writes audit reports; reviews draft audit reports;

Conducts difficult or sensitive entrance/exit conferences or interviews with personnel of agencies audited; recommends changes which will improve financial records, systems, procedures, and controls, or which will bring auditee into legal compliance; assists auditee in implementing changes;

Conducts complex fraud, citizen complaint, or other investigations;

Responds to requests for information from the press, public, Legislature, and state/local governments;

Presents formal training to staff and customers;

Analyzes and interprets accounting and auditing standards, as well as federal, state, and local requirements;

Positions conducting Performance Audits:

Develops audit plans with clearly defined objectives, scope, and methodology, including audit steps, procedures, task assignments, and time estimates;

Leads in the collection and examination of audit evidence; Reviews defined audit plan to determine if modifications are needed to address changing circumstances based on the audit work completed; 

Reviews audit work papers to ensure that completed work meets agency standards, that work performed by team members is accurate and complete, that audit evidence is sufficient and appropriate, and that the conclusions align with the audit objective(s);

Provides on the job training and ongoing feedback to team members to develop their audit skills;

Makes routine decisions during an audit, communicates audit progress to the Principal or Senior Performance Auditor on a regular basis, and also communicates audit results to management of the audited agency throughout the audit;

Determines the accuracy, validity, and reliability of data obtained from auditees;

Oversees financial analyses, budget and performance measures reviews, and management information systems reviews.

Positions conducting IT Audits:

Assists lower level auditors define the data and analyses needs in order to complete the audit assignment;

May lead audits and projects that include other IT audit staff;

Acquires the understanding of the audit objectives and interrelations with other state/ local government systems;

Develops complex custom databases, common system databases, and associated processes using SSIS;

Ensure design of databases, queries and extracts completed by staff auditors comply with agency and team standards and adequately address audit objectives; 

Identifies the scope and audit methodologies, leading practices, industry standards to develop testing strategies to address the IT audit objectives;

Conducts application and general control reviews, common system reviews, and centralized testing for sections of large or complex IT audits;

Leads meetings with clients for audits of leading security practices and/or state standards;

Evaluates IT environments, security, systems, processes to identify risk and measure related program impact, implementation of controls, effectiveness, and efficiency;

Reviews audit documentation prepared by project team and technical vendors for quality, completeness, accuracy, and compliance with governmental audit standards;

Identifies and develops audit resources, findings, results, reports and recommendations.

Legal Requirement(s)

There may be instances where individual positions must have additional licenses or certification.  It is the employer's responsibility to ensure the appropriate licenses/certifications are obtained for each position.

Desirable Qualifications

Positions conducting Financial and Compliance Audits:

Bachelor's degree with a major in accounting or other related field which included 10 semester hours or 15 quarter hours of college level accounting;

AND

One year of professional experience as a journey level auditor auditing governmental entities.  Auditing experience in a specialty area may be required for some positions.

Positions conducting Performance Audits:

Master's degree in business, public administration, public policy, political science, statistics, economics, law, social science or other related field;

AND

At least two years of progressively responsible experience conducting performance audits, evaluations of government agencies and programs, or the equivalent.

Positions conducting IT Audits:

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in business, public administration, statistics, computer science, information systems or other related field;

AND

Two years of audit experience with at least one of those years in IT Auditing.

Class Specification History

Establishment; adopted November 13, 2014, effective November 16, 2014.
Salary adjustment adopted 11/9/2017, effective 1/1/2018; previously range 62, professionals.
Revised definition, typical work and desirable qualifications adopted 6/13/2019; effective 6/14/2019.