Principal Performance Auditor

Full Job Description

THIS POSITION IS INTERNAL ONLY

At the State Auditor’s Office, we work together to make a difference in how our state government operates.

With 15 offices statewide, we are looking for innovative, talented people to join our team to help us continue our important work. Get to know us!

We take pride in serving various governments and the people of Washington State.

Learn more about who we are and what we do on social media, using the hashtag #WeAreSAO and on our website at https://sao.wa.gov/about-sao/what-we-do.

Our Culture: We are committed to building and maintaining a workplace environment that is collaborative and supports all employees as we effectively carry out the agency’s mission.

This includes ensuring inclusion and equity throughout the agency, while embracing the individual differences of our employees and clients.

We believe that diverse perspectives and backgrounds are fundamental to doing our best work.

The Washington State Auditor’s Office (SAO) prides itself in offering flexible schedules and a hybrid work environment that helps our staff balance work and life.

About Performance Audit

Performance audits independently examine the performance and management of government programs and policies, seeking solutions to improve government services for all Washingtonians. SAO’s performance auditors often work at the forefront of public policy, conducting a wide variety of program evaluations and management reviews. Over time, our auditors develop knowledge about many areas of state government, from health care and education to transportation and financial management. As a result, staff gain broad exposure to policymakers and executives throughout state and local government.

Requirements

Principal Performance Auditor: ($134,160)Principal auditors report to the Assistant Director of Performance Audit.

Principal auditors typically manage several teams of auditors who are assigned a performance audit.

Principal auditors are responsible for ensuring performance audits meet Generally Accepted Government Auditing Standards and are conducted efficiently and effectively.

This includes providing constructive feedback to the team, supporting the team lead in managing individual audit projects, addressing personnel issues, and helping with hiring decisions.

It also includes reviewing audit plans to ensure they will meet audit objectives and all applicable audit standards, monitoring and reviewing audit work, and reviewing the final audit report.

They also serve as formal coaches for the team's less experienced auditors, helping them with their development goals and conducting their performance evaluations.

Principal auditors serve on the division’s management team to help make a variety of strategic decisions, improve the division’s audit procedures and processes, and resolve personnel and project related issues.

Qualifications

Successful Candidate Profile
SAO is seeking candidates who can:

• Be consistently curious and inquisitive
• Summarize and synthesize information
• Efficiently and effectively analyze data
• Produce timely work that satisfies project deadlines
• Develop clear audit plans that effectively address the audit objectives
• Set clear expectations and provide clear guidance and feedback to team members
• Actively manage audit projects to ensure they are completed on time and are high quality
• Foster a positive, challenging, cooperative, and inclusive team environment
• Be an effective coach that helps facilitate growth of team staff
• Play an active role in improving the team’s audit process

Principal Performance Auditor Position Requirements:

Option 1 – Requires:

• A bachelor's degree.
• A minimum of three (3) years of experience conducing performance audits, evaluations of government agencies and programs, or the equivalent.
• Must have a deep understanding of performance auditing including relevant auditing standards and audit methodologies.

Option 2 – Requires:

• At least six (6) years of professional work experience, which includes a minimum of three (3) years performing performance audits, evaluations of government agencies and programs, or the equivalent.
• Must have a deep understanding of performance auditing including relevant auditing standards and audit methodologies.

Option 3 – Requires:

Any equivalent combination of education and relevant experience as note above.

Position Preferences
Successful performance auditors come from many backgrounds. We give preference to applicants who demonstrate strong critical thinking skills and those who have strong communication and time management skills, the ability to build effective working relationships, and a strong interest in continued professional development.

We also give preference to applicants who have strong project management skills, organizational and political savvy, excellent writing and verbal skills, and who are effective people managers able to cultivate a safe, productive, professional, and enjoyable work environment.

Additional Information

To apply, please submit:

1. Your completed application, including responses to the supplemental question;
2. Your letter of interest specifically addressing how you meet the qualifications listed in the announcement; and
3. Your current resume

Degrees awarded outside the United States must include a credential evaluation report.

If you are a US veteran and would like to apply for Veteran's Preference, attach a copy of Form DD214 military record showing honorable discharge.

You may direct questions to the applications unit at careers@sao.wa.gov. The Office of the Washington State Auditor is an equal opportunity employer.

Persons with a disability, who need assistance in the application or testing process, or who need this announcement in an alternative format, may call or via the telecommunications relay service by dialing 7-1-1.

The Office of the Washington State Auditor is committed to building a team with a variety of backgrounds, skills and ideas in order to best carry out the agency’s mission today and in the future.

This includes ensuring every member of our team feels valued and supported. We encourage you to join us!