What does the Division of School Audits do?

Click on the following link for a Division Overview.

What can I expect during my first year?

We audit Arizona’s school districts to analyze how more dollars can be directed to the classroom from other activities. You will be assigned to a project team possibly conducting an audit on-site at a school district, or other areas of the State, or working on a special study at the Auditor General’s offices. Therefore, you may be working in the Phoenix office, the metropolitan area, or other areas of the State. Our division is a unique blend of individuals with various backgrounds, such as accounting, public administration, business administration, and education. Because the projects and audits we perform require a combination of these varied backgrounds and skill sets, you will put into practice a range of research and analysis techniques, such as interviewing district personnel, analyzing accounting data, or observing a district’s food service or other operations. You will also attend a variety of classes throughout the year, which may include new staff training, audit process training, and computer training. To provide you with guidance on office procedures and ensure that your questions are answered, when you begin you will be paired with another more experienced division member.

How is the division structured?

The Division of School Audits has a staff of 30 employees, including a director, managers, and seniors, and level II and level I auditors. Staff work on project teams guided by a manager. Projects include school district performance audits or special state-wide studies, focusing on topics such as classroom spending or school district administrative costs. Primarily, staff work on one project at a time; however, there will be periods where you may work on concurrent projects.

What are the division's basic qualifications?

Because our school district audits and other projects require various skills and abilities, we hire individuals from a variety of different backgrounds, including applicants with degrees in accounting, public administration, business administration, and education. At a minimum, applicants interested in the Division of School Audits should be willing to travel 5-10% of the time and have one of the following:

• A bachelor's degree in Accounting with 24 completed semester hours of accounting and a minimum 3.0 GPA in accounting classes. Students within a year of graduation will also be considered.

• A master's degree in a field emphasizing analytical skills, research, and organization of data. Students within a year of completing their master's degree will also be considered.

• A bachelor's degree in a field emphasizing analytical skills, research and organization of data, and at least 1 year of experience in performance auditing, program evaluation, financial auditing, consulting, or related experience.

• A working knowledge of Windows, word processing, spreadsheet, and database software.

How and when will I be evaluated?

To provide you with an understanding of what is expected of you and to give you feedback on your performance, you will be evaluated on a quarterly basis during your first year with the Office. Each subsequent year, you will be evaluated semi-annually. Evaluations will be completed by someone for whom you have primarily worked during the evaluation period. You will also have the opportunity to complete a professional development plan each year, and division managers and seniors will work with you to help you achieve your professional goals.