External Audit Advisor

Job Location:

Office of Inspector General (OIG)
2200 North Central Avenue, Phoenix, Arizona 85003

 

Salary: $75,000.00 – $87,000.00

Grade: 23

Closing Date: July 31, 2023

 

Would you like to be part of an amazing team that makes Arizona stronger by helping Arizonans reach their full potential through temporary assistance for those in need, and care for the vulnerable? The Arizona Department of Economic Security (DES) is looking for individuals that are committed to service, community, and teamwork. To learn more about DES please visit des.az.gov ; or click on the link  here  to view ‘Our DES’ video. Come Join the DES Team!

The Auditor 4 (External Audit Advisor) is responsible for assisting key department staff including preparing for external audits, responding to active audits, and implementing audit recommendations. Under the direction of the Chief Auditor, this position will track all external audits, consult division liaisons that are responsible for preparing for and responding to external audits applicable to their respective divisions, and provide updates to the Director’s Audit Advisory Workgroup. This position occasionally performs complex audits independently in line with audit standards.

This position may offer the ability to work remotely, within Arizona, based upon the department’s business needs and continual meeting of expected performance measures.

The state of Arizona strives for a work culture that affords employees flexibility, autonomy, and trust. Across our many agencies, boards, commissions, many State employees participate in the State’s Remote Work Program and are able to work remotely in their homes, in offices, and in hoteling spaces. All work, including remote work, should be performed within Arizona unless an exception is properly authorized in advance.

 

Essential Duties and Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Consults division liaisons. Attends liaisons’ regularly scheduled Community of Practice meetings to help ensure divisions are preparing for and best responding to external audits. Advises divisions on how to identify, assess, and monitor risks using principles from Internal Control and Enterprise Risk Management frameworks.

 

• Educates division staff on external audit processes, consults with division liaisons to ensure divisions are timely and adequately responding to audit requests, reviews divisions’ draft audit responses and corrective action plans to ensure plans are appropriate and entirely address the audit recommendations. Prepares and presents summaries to executive and senior leadership.

 

• Tracks all external audits. Establishes and maintains tools that can be accessed at any time by DES executive and senior leadership to track all ongoing and upcoming external audits, and to analyze the implementation status of divisions’ action plans that address audit recommendations.

 

• Provide updates to the Director’s Audit Advisory Workgroup (Workgroup). Attends regularly scheduled Workgroup meetings to provide a high-level overview of agency-wide external audit activity, including analysis of outstanding audit recommendations, and to serve in an advisory capacity when the Workgroup invites division liaisons to Workgroup meetings. Prepares and presents executive-level summaries.

 

• Serves as DES liaison to Arizona’s General Accounting Office (GAO). Provides GAO with requested information including official corrective action plans in response to the Auditor General’s Single Audit findings, and responses/documentation required by federal agencies.

 

• Conducts audits. As needed, independently conducts audits to assess how divisions manage external audits.

 

Knowledge of:

• Internal and external auditing concepts, techniques, methods, and procedures with particular emphasis on government auditing.

 

• Internal control frameworks, including works published by the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO), the Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA), and the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO).

 

• Auditing standards, including the GAO’s Government Auditing Standards (i.e. Yellow Book) and the IIA’s International Standards for the Professional Practice of Internal Auditing (i.e. Red Book).

 

• Risk management as it relates to the audit field (including COSO’s Enterprise Risk Management—Integrated Framework).

 

• Continuous improvement principles, such as those in the Arizona Management System

 

Skill in:

• Communicating effectively and accurately, orally and in writing, including helpful summaries and tactful feedback to executive and senior leadership, with communications being correct, complete, clear, concise, and compelling.

 

• Effectively prioritize and manage multiple priorities and timely complete tasks.

 

• Using risk management principles to advise division liaisons and executive leadership.

 

• Thinking critically, analyzing qualitative and quantitative data, and using structured problem solving.

 

• Documenting and/or enhancing written procedures.

 

• Implementing strategic planning, including creating useful performance indicators.

 

Ability to:

• Establish and maintain highly effective and collaborative working relationships, including internal leadership and external auditors.

 

• Conceptualize complex information to determine key points, make sound decisions based on available data, and recommend appropriate courses of action.

 

• Continually take initiative by proactively identifying opportunities for internal improvement, regularly supporting and building on others’ ideas, and taking full ownership of tasks.

 

• Perform detailed work with a high degree of accuracy.

 

• Maintain high ethical standards.

 

• Help establish agency policy and guidelines.

 

The ideal candidate for this position will have:

Three years experience as both an external and internal auditor in Arizona State government. Master’s degree from an accredited institution in accounting, finance, public administration, public policy, or similar field emphasizing analytical skills, research, writing, and organization of data. Certifications such as CFE, CGAP, CIA, CIGA, and/or CPA. Working knowledge of AuditBoard software.

 

Pre-Employment Requirements:

• Successfully pass background and reference checks; employment is contingent upon completion of the above-mentioned process and the agency’s ability to reasonably accommodate any restrictions.

 

• If this position requires driving or the use of a vehicle as an essential function of the job, then the following requirements apply. Any employee operating a motor vehicle on State business must possess and retain a current, valid class-appropriate driver’s license, complete all required training, and successfully pass all necessary driver’s license record checks. The license must be current, unexpired, and neither revoked nor suspended. Employees who drive on state business are subject to driver’s license record checks, must maintain acceptable driving records, and must complete all required driver training. An employee who operates a personally owned vehicle on state business shall maintain the statutorily required liability insurance (see Arizona Administrative Code (A.A.C.) R2-10-207.11).

 

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution in accounting, finance, public administration, public policy, or similar field emphasizing analytical skills, research, writing, and organization of data.

 

• Three years of experience as a government auditor or closely related field.

 

• All newly hired State employees are subject to and must successfully complete the Electronic Employment Eligibility Verification Program (E-Verify).

 

The Arizona Department of Economic Security offers a comprehensive benefits package to include:

• Affordable medical, dental, life, and short-term disability insurance plans
• Participation in the Arizona State Retirement System (ASRS) and long-term disability plans
  10 paid holidays per year
• Vacation time accrued at 4.00 hours bi-weekly for the first 3 years
• Sick time accrued at 3.70 hours bi-weekly
• Deferred compensation plan
• Wellness plans
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Stipend Opportunities
• Infant at Work Program
• Rideshare and Public Transit Subsidy
• Career Advancement & Employee Development Opportunities
• Flexible schedules to create a work/life balance

By providing the option of a full-time or part-time remote work schedule, employees enjoy improved work/life balance, report higher job satisfaction, and are more productive. Remote work is a management option and not an employee entitlement or right. An agency may terminate a remote work agreement at its discretion.

For a complete list of benefits provided by The State of Arizona, please visit our benefits page

 

Retirement:

State employees are required to participate in the Arizona State Retirement System (ASRS), the State sponsored retirement contribution plan and the Long-Term Disability (LTD) program after a 27-week waiting period. The ASRS defined benefit plan provides for life-long income upon retirement. You will also have the option to participate in a voluntary deferred compensation program to take advantage of tax-deferred retirement investments.

On, or shortly after, your first day of work you will be provided with additional information about the available insurance plans, enrollment instructions, submission deadlines and effective dates.

 

Contact Us:

For questions about this career opportunity, please contact Yolanda Knori at (480) 435-0897 or OODHRstaffing@azdes.gov.

The State of Arizona is an Equal Opportunity/Reasonable Accommodation Employer. Persons with a disability may request a reasonable accommodation such as a sign language interpreter or an alternative format by contacting Yolanda Knori at (480) 435-0897 or OODHRStaffing@azdes.gov. Requests should be made as early as possible to allow time to arrange the accommodation.