State Auditor Selection Process

TOPIC: State Auditor Selection Process OFFICE: Auditor STATE: CO DATE: 01/27/11 QUESTION / ISSUE: The Colorado Office of the State Auditor is beginning the search process for a new State Auditor. In Colorado, the State Auditor is an appointed position (not elected) and we would like to know how other offices with appointed State Auditors have conducted their selection process in the past.

1. Was your search limited to internal candidates; or was it extended externally at the local, state or national level?

2. What specific recruiting methods were used? Please include specific newspapers, recruiting or professional websites that resulted in the best response from candidates? Did you use a head hunter or search firm?

3. What other information can you share regarding the selection process that we should consider?

State Comments Alabama In Alabama, the Chief Examiner (which is equivalent to other states’ State Auditor) is appointed to serve a 7-year term by a joint legislative committee. This 12- member committee is comprised of five members elected by the House of Representatives and five members elected by the Senate. The President of the Senate is the Chairman and the Speaker of the House of Representatives is the Vice-chairman. The Chief Examiner is selected with “special reference to his/her training, experience, capacity and fitness for the duties as executive and administrative head of the Department of Examiners of Public Accounts” and that he/she be a resident citizen of the state of Alabama, a qualified voter and at least 35 years of age. Florida The Auditor General selection process for Florida is conducted by the Joint Legislative Auditing Committee, to which the Auditor General reports. While our office is not involved in the search in any way, I will try to answer your questions to the best of my ability.

1. Extended externally – no specified limit as to where the candidates originated. 2. I believe that the news media was the primary outlet. I do not believe that head hunting agencies were used. 3. The candidates’ resumes were reviewed by the Joint Legislative Auditing Committee, which ultimately interviewed selected candidates for the position during a public committee meeting. Idaho Idaho has an appointed state auditor within the Legislative Services Office (previously the Legislative Auditor before a reorganization back in the mid 1980’s). The audit function is a division within the Office and the Manager (state auditor) is selected by the Director of the Office with no formal confirmation process required.

The current Manager was appointed in January 2007 and the application process was open to all interested individuals, but it was very apparent that the best candidates were those with extensive experience in government auditing. Furthermore, the three finalists as selected by an independent panel organized by the Director were audit team managers within the audit division. A few applications were received from individuals from the private sector, but I’m not aware of anyone from another government audit shop that submitted an application.

I believe that Robert Half Inc. was used to assist in the search as well as announcements placed in both the state government’s job opening website and the statewide newspaper (“The Statesman”).

State Auditor Selection Process 1 State Comments Perhaps this effort should have included something in the NASACT/NSAA webpage or similar trade site (GASB?) and a direct announcement/mailing to government audit shops within the state and surrounding states. These are probably your best sources for finding the skill set to do the job.

We are somewhat fortunate in having a “succession” plan that is built on the premise that any of the four audit team managers is qualified and capable of doing the Division Manager/State Auditor function, and that we embrace the team approach. Kansas When we last searched for a Post Auditor (in 1991), we put ads in the Wall Street Journal, AGA magazine, and maybe a couple of other national publications. As I recall (and I worked here but wasn’t involved in the search process then), we got hundreds of applications that had to be winnowed down by somebody. In the end, our Committee hired the second in command to be the new director.

So this time, we advertised only on websites and by email, targeting our ad only to potentially interested and qualified people in the audit community. Maybe we went too far: this time we only got three responses. Once again, in the end, our Committee hired the second in command to be the new director.

Please see the advertisements attached. We got one application from Florida, one from a local-government auditor in the Kansas City area, and one from the then- Deputy. Michigan In Michigan, the last Auditor General 'search' was conducted in 1989, resulting in the selection of the current Auditor General. The AG serves an 8 year term and has been reappointed twice, so the next search could be much different than it was 21 years ago.

However...

The Office of the Auditor General in Michigan is part of the legislative branch of state government, and for the search in 1989 the Legislature established a search procedure.

For the search in 1989, the Legislature created a search Committee comprised of Legislators from the Senate and House of Representatives. This Committee then created a "subcommittee", comprised of private sector financial experts (members of CPA firms, financial managers from local governments, etc.), and select members of the Legislature.

The subcommittee placed ads in major media outlets, including the Wall Street Journal, to solicit candidates, and then subsequently conducted initial interviews of the applicants.

Based on their initial interviews, the subcommittee made recommendations to the Legislative search committee. The Legislative search committee then interviewed the recommended candidates, and through several interviews narrowed their preference to one candidate.

Final appointment of the Auditor General in Michigan is through a concurrent resolution by the Legislature. Therefore, the Legislative search committee introduced a concurrent resolution for appointment in the House, and subsequently in the Senate, resulting in the appointment of the Auditor General. Montana The MT Legislative Auditor (me) is Statutorily a two-year appointment, subject to re- appointment each even numbered year.

State Auditor Selection Process 2 State Comments 1. Because we had a number of qualified candidates in-house, the process stayed internal. Historically we have always had a ‘hire at entry, promote from within’ philosophy. The average years of service for our retirees exceeds 27 years with the office. I had over 21 years with the office when I interviewed for the position three years ago. 2. The Legislative Audit Committee formed a bi-partisan appointment sub- committee. The sub-committee requested resumes and letters of reference, prior to selection for interviews with the sub-committee. Sub-committee made a recommendation to the full Audit Committee for official appointment. New Jersey New Jersey's State Auditor is a Constitutional Position appointed by and confirmed by a joint session of the Legislature.

1. The search was a national search conducted by a committee established by the Legislative Services Commission. The Commission is a bi-partisan group of 16 members equally representing both political parties and both houses of the Legislature. The search committee included several legislative directors and the former State Auditor. 2. Recruiting methods included national newspapers, industry publications and a job search website. A head hunter firm was not used. 3. The search committee reviewed possible candidates’ resumes and cover letters for their qualifications and requirements and narrowed the field down to several selections for interview. They conducted the interviews of these candidates and made recommendations to a group of Legislators representing the Legislative Services Commission, who in turn interviewed the search committee’s selection. Upon their recommendation to the Legislative Services Commission, the Commission made the recommendation to the full Legislature. The candidate is then voted upon and appointed by a joint session of the Legislature. Ohio The State Auditor is an elected position. Oklahoma The State Auditor and Inspector is an elected position. Oregon The elected Secretary of State appoints the Director of the Oregon Audits Division. That person decides on how to conduct the selection process. A previous Secretary of State conducted a national recruitment and other appointments have been promotions from within the office, or within state government. I received a phone call from the Secretary of State to recruit me after I announced I was leaving my position with the City of Portland. South Carolina The South Carolina State Auditor’s Office asked me to respond to your inquiry about the State Auditor Selection Process. My Office, the South Carolina State Office of Human Resources, has conducted an executive search for the state auditor position. The search was conducted on a national basis. Specific advertising was placed with: 1. SC Association of CPAs 2. www.cpa2biz.com 3. Jobs in the Money 4. State Government Jobs 5. website 6. National Assoc of State Auditors, Comptrollers and Treasurers – NASACT 7. National Association of Local Government Auditors 8. Association of Government Accountants 9. Government Finance Officers Association 10. National Conference of State Legislatures NCSL Virginia The Auditor of Public Accounts is an elected by the General Assembly to serve a 4 year term and can only be removed from office for committing a felon, mental incapacity or malfeasance. The term of office starts February 1 and if the General

State Auditor Selection Process 3 State Comments Assembly does not elect an auditor the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission can appoint an interim appointee until the next General Assembly term begins.

1. The General Assembly’s Joint Rules committee appointed a sub-committee, which conducted a search the last search limited the search to state and local candidates. However, had time permitted, the sub-committee would have conducted a national search. 2. The last time, the General Assembly selected an auditor, they used newspapers and notification to member, professional groups and others. I would believe in today’s environment, they would expand the search.

State Auditor Selection Process 4

Rick Riggs

From: [email protected] on behalf of Bob Boerner [[email protected]] Sent: Saturday, June 19, 2010 10:12 PM To: [email protected] Subject: Kansas Legislative Post Auditor

Legislative Post Auditor State of Kansas

The Kansas Legislature is seeking highly qualified candidates for the position of Legislative Post Auditor. The Legislative Post Auditor is appointed by and serves under the direction of the Legislative Post Audit Committee. In consultation with the Committee, the Post Auditor plans, directs, organizes, and manages the work of the 22 staff of the Legislative Division of Post Audit. The Division primarily conducts performance audits of the effectiveness and efficiency of government agencies. In addition, the Legislative Post Auditor is responsible for contracting with private firms for the annual audit of the State’s financial statements and audit work conducted under the Single Audit Act.

In the course of conducting or contracting for performance and financial-compliance audits, the Legislative Post Auditor and the Legislative Division of Post Audit assist the Legislative Post Audit Committee and the Legislature in carrying out their oversight responsibilities by gathering and analyzing information concerning the various branches, departments, agencies, and institutions of the State of Kansas, as well as local units of government and other entities receiving State moneys. In the discharge of the duties of the Legislative Division of Post Audit, the Legislative Post Auditor is responsible for managing Division operations, working with the Legislative Post Audit Committee and the Legislature, working with agency officials and other groups, promoting good government, and exhibiting professionalism and leadership.

The successful candidate must be a person of extensive experience and recognized qualification in the field of performance auditing and governmental fiscal procedures.

People interested in applying should send a cover letter, resume, and names and contact information for at least three professional references, no later than June 30, 2010, to:

CONFIDENTIAL TO BE OPENED BY ADDRESSEE ONLY Jeff Russell Director, Legislative Administrative Services State Capitol, 300 SW 10th St. Topeka, KS 66612

Alternatively, applications may be emailed to Mr. Russell at [email protected].

Questions regarding the position may be directed to Mr. Russell at 785.296.2391, or by email at the above address.

EOE

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