City of Austin - JOB DESCRIPTION

City Auditor

Under direction of City Council, this position directs comprehensive internal auditing activities including financial audits, performance audits, and other initiatives to improve City operations for all City departments.

1. Oversees departmental activities including identifying long-range audit issues, final quality review of audit reports, budget preparation, staff recruiting and development, implementation of approved audit recommendations, and improvement to internal systems and procedures.
2. Examines City operations to identify opportunities to reduce costs; increase efficiency, quality, and effectiveness; and improve management of a City function, program, service, or policy. Determines the cause of an inefficient, uneconomical, or ineffective function, program, service, or policy.
3. Establishes audit policies and procedures consistent with government auditing standards established by the Comptroller General of the United States and applicable law and regulation.
4. Reviews and verifies reports or plans from the City Manager in response to an audit recommendation.
5. Consults with and obtains advice from the City Attorney, reports suspected violations, and notifies the appropriate chief prosecuting authority when violations are criminal.
6. Submits an annual audit plan to the council for review and comment through the Council Audit and Finance Committee.
7. Identifies the scope of each audit conducted including the department, organization, service, program, function, and policy to be audited; and each potential audit objective to be addressed. Requests amendments independently or at the request of the Council Audit and Finance Committee or the City Manager.
8. Initiates, conducts, or expands the scope of an audit or investigation in cases of fraud, abuse, or illegality. Notifies the Council Audit and Finance Committee of action taken. Distributes results of special audits.
9. Prepares draft audit reports for each audit and delivers the report to the City Manager, files a final audit report with the Council and the City Manager, and retains a copy in the City Auditor’s Office as a permanent record.
10. Communicates directly with the Council Audit and Finance Committee and the Council, attends Council Audit and Finance Committee meetings, and regularly meets with Council.

Responsible for the full range of supervisory activities including selection, training, evaluation, counseling, and recommendation for dismissal.

• Knowledge of performance and financial auditing, public administration, and public financial and fiscal practices.
• Knowledge of auditing techniques and evaluation processes.
• Knowledge of government audit standards for financial and performance audits.
• Knowledge of City practices, policies, and procedures.
• Knowledge of supervisory and managerial techniques and principles.
• Skill in oral and written communications.
• Skill in handling multiple tasks and prioritizing.
• Skill in using computers and related software applications.
• Skill in data analysis and problem solving.
• Ability to quickly recognize and analyze irregular events.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective communication and working relationships with City employees and the public.

• Graduation with a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework in Business, Accounting, Public Administration, or in a field related to the job, plus eight (8) years of experience coordinating and directing audit activities in a governmental environment, including four (4) years of experience which were in a supervisory or managerial capacity.
• Graduation with a Master’s degree from an accredited college or university in a field related to the job may substitute for one (1) year of non-managerial experience.

Certified Public Accountant or Certified Internal Auditor.