Internal Control and Compliance Analyst (MA 4)

State of Washington•Thurston County – Olympia, WA

20d•Hybrid

About The Position

At the Department of Commerce, we are seeking an Internal Control and Compliance Analyst (MA 4) to join our team. This role is crucial for strengthening internal controls, responding to audits, understanding compliance requirements, and improving processes that protect state and federal funding. The position offers exposure to a wide range of audits and the opportunity to work with staff across a diverse agency. Day-to-day tasks include coordinating audit requests, reviewing documentation, tracking audit issues, attending meetings, researching requirements, assisting with internal control documentation, and helping program staff understand compliance expectations. New analysts will have opportunities to shadow experienced professionals. The position also supports federal reporting monitoring, including work related to 2 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 200.521 Management Decisions, ensuring internal controls are documented, compliance expectations are clear, and issues are tracked and addressed promptly. Key objectives include ensuring internal controls and compliance processes for state and federal funding are identified, documented, and operating effectively; providing department-wide support for internal control, compliance, audit liaison, and federal reporting monitoring; supporting programs with practical guidance on compliance, risk areas, corrective actions, and process improvements; and providing analysis and recommendations to update agency policies and procedures. Candidates within the Olympia region are strongly encouraged to apply. This position includes required occasional in-person meetings at the Commerce Headquarters Office in Olympia. Candidates outside Washington state may also apply if they plan to relocate to the Olympia region before the first day of employment.

Requirements

Any combination of eight (8) total years of experience, which could be gained by a combination of relevant education beyond high school equivalency and/or professional-level experience in accounting or business administration or related field of study.
Minimum of Three (3) years of substantial professional-level experience that must include professional experience in 4 or more of the following: Assisting in complex engagements or projects, External audit knowledge and experience, Internal control identification and application, Project planning and objective setting, Developing work plans, Data gathering, analysis, and verifying evidence, Providing technical advice and/or training, Conducting research, Analyzing and concluding on policies, laws, rules or regulations, Conducting business analysis and developing requirements, Leading business projects, Managing business operations, Business policy development.
Minimum of three (3) years of substantial professional-level experience that must include professional experience in the following: internal or external governmental audit experience applying professional standards, theory, methodology, tools and techniques, specifically risk-based planning; designing objectives, scope and strategies; risk assessment and control design; data/evidence gathering and analysis.
Drafting responses to audit results and preparing reports.
Current knowledge of and experience with professional auditing standards; o Generally Accepted Auditing Standards (GAAS) o Generally Accepted Governmental Auditing Standards (GAGAS) o Committee of Sponsoring Organizations (COSO)
Intermediate skills with Microsoft programs such as MS Excel, MS Word, and MS Powerpoint.
Managing or monitoring federal grants, federal programs, and or federal policy for an organization.
Understanding of current Title 2 Code of Federal Regulations.
Strong interpersonal skills including relationship building, problem solving, and teamwork.
Ability to communicate clearly and accurately, and to work effectively with staff, other divisions and stakeholders.
Ability to anticipate questions and problems and the impact of potential changes, respond quickly, and accurately assess when to engage others.
Ability to effectively balance and prioritize multiple tasks and handle and maintain confidential and sensitive material.
Excellent/demonstrable communication skills – oral, written, and listening to provide advanced-level communication to the department’s managers, divisions, program managers, and other state agency representatives.
Ability to provide consultation to division, program managers, and external stakeholders regarding office operations.
Must demonstrate good judgment, ethics, integrity, sense of responsibility, loyalty to the agency, flexibility, values customer service.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited college or university with a major in accounting or business administration or related field of study.
Licensed Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE), Certified Internal Auditor (CIA), or Certified Government Auditing Professional (CGAP).
Current understanding of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles, Government Auditing Standards, and the Institute of Internal Audit Professional Standards and Uniform Guidance.

Responsibilities

Provide technical analysis and awareness of federal compliance requirements, guidance, state laws, Commerce policies and best practices to form recommendations and work directly with program staff and Commerce leadership to implement internal controls and strengthen compliance.
Perform internal control reviews of program functions to identify and document key controls and offer guidance to staff on identified key controls and other internal control processes.
Consult on multiple projects concurrently, managing time effectively, requiring minimal supervision in the execution of assistance provided to the Internal Control Officer.
As assigned, complete the development and/or recommend corrective action plans, and monitor the implementation and effectiveness of those key changes.
Collaborate in making recommendations to program staff and management to improve the monitoring and oversight of grant recipients, contractors, and federal subrecipients.
Consult with Commerce staff on topics such as fiscal monitoring including expenditure review and payment, award recipient monitoring, and risk assessments.
Provide facilitation and consultation during audits, monitoring, and reviews by external entities, regulators, or other funding or oversight organizations to ensure key controls are designed and working effectively and the Department is in compliance with applicable laws and policies.
Ensure external audits are supported, tracked, managed, and responded to appropriately to organize reporting to leadership and reporting to external parties.
As assigned, coordinate day-to-day activities of external audits at Commerce, including working with auditors to schedule appropriate staff for meetings, obtaining program-specific information, identifying key processes and responsibilities to ensure external audits are professionally addressed within professional audit standards.
Support external audits by attending meetings, entrance and exit conferences, and taking notes to share with internal stakeholders and the Internal Control Officer.
Assist in working with program staff to respond to deficiencies reported and communicate needs and requests of external auditors to assist program staff with understanding how to implement internal controls and facilitate compliance.
Keep detailed records, track documents, and manage requests for information, including audit status reports, transactions tested, information provided by grantees, testing samples and selections, deficiencies reported, database information system and general ledger system controls, audit requests for information, assistance requested by program staff, and recommended corrective actions.
Build and maintain positive and supportive relationships while ensuring internal controls are in place and ensuring compliance with laws and policies.
Use professional judgment and knowledge of agency processes, risks, audit, and standards to apply to internal programs to effectively advise and support agency staff and leadership through these engagements.
Perform federal reporting monitoring, including identification of applicable subrecipients receiving federal funds, reviewing and verifying their federal audit submission status in the Federal Audit Clearinghouse, and identification of Commerce-funded findings issued.
Monitor and evaluate corrective action plans and provide guidance and direction with approval from the Internal Control Officer or delegate.
Serve as a consultant to management who leads manager’s special projects relevant to internal controls and federal reporting monitoring.
Advise on and update policies and procedures related to the Internal Control Office owned processes, including internal control, compliance requirements, and audit processes and standards.
Provide guidance and recommendations for policies and procedures in all Commerce divisions, departments, units, and programs as necessary.
Other Duties as Assigned
Assist team with Federal Reporting Monitoring as needed.