Assistant External Audit Avisor

DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC SECURITY

Your Partner For A Stronger Arizona.

DES works with families, community organizations, advocates and state and federal partners to realize our collective vision: A thriving Arizona.

DES serves more than 3 million Arizonans. Our Mission is to strengthen individuals, families, and communities for a better quality of life.

ASSISTANT EXTERNAL AUDIT AVISOR

Job Location:

OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL
Internal Affairs
1789 West Jefferson Street, Phoenix, Arizona 85007

Posting Details:

Salary: $75,000 – $87,000 

Grade: 23

Closing Date: April 3, 2025

Job Summary:

Would you like to be part of an amazing team that helps Arizonans thrive? At the Department of Economic Security (DES) we strengthen individuals, families, and communities for a better quality of life. DES is looking for individuals who 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 DES, Office of Inspector General (OIG) is seeking an experienced and highly motivated individual to join our team as an Assistant External Audit Advisor. This role supports the department's external audit monitoring process by helping the External Audit Advisor. The Assistant Advisor assists department personnel with managing requests in ongoing external audits, preparing for upcoming audits, and putting recommendations from previous audits into practice. This position may perform complex financial audits in accordance 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, and 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.

Job Duties:

Essential Duties and Responsibilities include but are not limited to:
• Coordinates the fulfillment of Single Audit requests between external auditors and division staff. Prepares or reviews major Single Audit deliverables, including Corrective Action Plans (CAPs), the Summary Schedule of Prior Audit Findings (SSPAF), and the Fraud Representation Letter.
• Advises DES staff on handling Single Audit requests and audit findings, utilizing federal compliance and financial accounting expertise, and maintains tools for tracking audits and audit requests.
• Assists in facilitating DES personnel preparation for upcoming audits and may conduct audits to assess compliance with external audit requirements.
• Assists the External Audit Advisor in providing requested information to Arizona’s GAO.
• Represents DES at Single Audit and other external audit entrance and exit meetings, and attends updates as needed.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities (KSAs):

Knowledge of:
• Concepts, techniques, methods, and procedures of external auditing, with a particular emphasis on government compliance and financial auditing.
• Uniform Guidance and Compliance Supplement (2 CFR Part 200 Subpart F and Appendix XI)
• Accounting standards, including Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB).
• Auditing standards, including the GAO’s Government Auditing Standards (i.e. Yellow Book).
• Risk management as it relates to the audit field (including COSO's Enterprise Risk Management—Integrated Framework).
• Continuous improvement principles

Skills In:
• Effectively and accurately communicating to executive and senior leadership, including providing helpful summaries and constructive feedback, ensuring correct, complete, clear, concise, and compelling communications.
• Prioritize and manage multiple priorities and timely complete tasks.
• Risk management principles to advise division liaisons and executive leadership.
• Critical thinking, 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 those with 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.

Selective Preference(s):

This ideal candidate for this position will have:
• 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.
• Three years’ experience as an external financial auditor in Arizona State government.
• Certified Public Accountant (CPA) or other certification such as CIA, CFE, CIGA, and/or CGAP.

Pre-Employment Requirements:

• This position may require driving or the use of a vehicle as an essential function of the job to conduct State business, then the following requirements apply: Driver’s License Requirements. 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).

• 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.

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

Benefits:

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
• Paid Parental Leave-Up to 12 weeks per year paid leave for newborn or newly-placed foster/adopted child (pilot program).
• 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.

Learn more about the Paid Parental Leave pilot program here. 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 Shannon Anguiano at 480-876-0851 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 480-876-0851 or OODHRStaffing@azdes.gov. Requests should be made as early as possible to allow sufficient time to arrange the accommodation.

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