Assistant State Auditor 1 (Olympia)

State of Washington • Thurston County – Olympia, WA

1d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Assistant State Auditor 1 is the entry level of the Washington State Auditor’s Office in-training program for staff with little audit experience. The role supports local government accountability, financial, and federal grant compliance audits across a wide range of public entities. Most work is performed in teams at governmental entities, with classes, on-the-job training, and review and feedback provided to help new auditors build skills and advance to the next level.

The position is on Team Olympia, which serves entities in Thurston, Grays Harbor, Lewis, and Pacific Counties. Team Olympia aims to partner with entities to increase trust in government through efficient, high-quality audits, useful recommendations, collaboration, and strong communication. The work environment is hybrid, combining onsite, in-office, and remote work. Onsite duties can involve occasional daily and overnight travel to client locations. Employees should expect to be onsite regularly at the Olympia office during initial onboarding and training; telework opportunities are limited until staff progress further in their careers.

Requirements

• Option 1: Bachelor’s degree with a minimum of three college-level accounting courses.
• Option 2: Four years of business or relevant experience, including at least one year in accounting or auditing; experience may substitute for education.
• Option 3: An equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.
• Relevant experience is defined as experience in accounting, auditing, finance, banking, or financial investigations.
• Demonstrated written and verbal communication skills.
• Time and project management skills.
• Understanding of accounting concepts and principles as they relate to auditing.
• Critical-thinking and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to build effective working relationships and collaborate as part of a team.
• Applicants must submit a completed application, complete responses to all supplemental questions, and a resume and cover letter addressing how their education and experience relate to the position’s key competencies.
• Applicants using a degree awarded outside the United States must include a credential evaluation report.
• Applicants seeking Veteran’s Preference must attach a DD214 showing qualifying discharge.

Responsibilities

• Conduct accountability, financial, and single (federal grant compliance) audits of local government entities as part of a team.
• Collaborate with government entities and colleagues to produce efficient, high-quality audits.
• Provide meaningful recommendations that entities can understand.
• Build positive working relationships through communication, education, and mutual respect.
• Participate in classes, on-the-job training, and work-product review and feedback to develop audit skills.
• Travel occasionally to client locations for onsite audit work, including daily and overnight travel.

Benefits

• Comprehensive health and wellness benefits package.
• Paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays.
• Growth and development opportunities, including 80+ hours of training each biennium.
• Educational and professional certification reimbursements.
• Flexible schedules and a hybrid work environment.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level