Mike Foley
Republican
Auditor of Public Accounts P26
Job Description
How office affects the voter
Even though the office is often called State Auditor, the real name is Auditor of Public Accounts. This state officer’s job is to see that the some 2500 units of government are audited. This position was created when the state began in order to verify that those units of government are spending money for the intended purposes. The auditor therefore can give the taxpayer great confidence that someone is checking up on government spending.
Duties and Responsibilities
State statutes require that every local government entity, whether NRD or school board, city, village, county, state department of revenue, etc., etc. to be audited every year. Private CPA firms can be tasked to do the job, and they provide their reports to the Auditor of Public Accounts. An audit verifies the accuracy of the financial statements of the entity. They check to see if the noted expenses are allowable for that particular entity, again according to statutes. Game and Parks Commission and the State Patrol have permission to buy guns, others don’t. Since only samples from the entity’s books are chosen to check, it is possible that something could be missed. Frequently concerned citizens call in to report when they think an audit may need to be checked. The Auditor can decide if the Auditor’s office will do an audit, or check on an audit done by a CPA firm. Typically, with each new auditor elected, the staff in the office remain the same, but the new auditor has the authority to select a whole new team if he/she desires. The Auditor usually hires recent accounting graduates who learn alongside the seasoned CPA’s on the team. Usually about 40 accountants and CPA’s work at the direction of the auditor. The Auditor is responsible for managing the budget determined by the Legislature with nearly all of it going to personnel costs. The Auditor has no authority over the agencies unless criminal activity is found, but that is reported to the appropriate law enforcement agency – whether attorney General, State Patrol, County Attorney, etc. It is up to the agency to fix errors if the Auditor gives a bad report. Note: The Auditor’s office is audited by the State Department of Revenue. Other fiscal responsibilities may be assigned by the governor or at the request of the Legislature.
See Complete DescriptionJob Description
How office affects the voter
Even though the office is often called State Auditor, the real name is Auditor of Public Accounts. This state officer’s job is to see that the some 2500 units of government are audited. This position was created when the state began in order to verify that those units of government are spending money for the intended purposes. The auditor therefore can give the taxpayer great confidence that someone is checking up on government spending.
Duties and Responsibilities
State statutes require that every local government entity, whether NRD or school board, city, village, county, state department of revenue, etc., etc. to be audited every year. Private CPA firms can be tasked to do the job, and they provide their reports to the Auditor of Public Accounts. An audit verifies the accuracy of the financial statements of the entity. They check to see if the noted expenses are allowable for that particular entity, again according to statutes. Game and Parks Commission and the State Patrol have permission to buy guns, others don’t. Since only samples from the entity’s books are chosen to check, it is possible that something could be missed. Frequently concerned citizens call in to report when they think an audit may need to be checked. The Auditor can decide if the Auditor’s office will do an audit, or check on an audit done by a CPA firm. Typically, with each new auditor elected, the staff in the office remain the same, but the new auditor has the authority to select a whole new team if he/she desires. The Auditor usually hires recent accounting graduates who learn alongside the seasoned CPA’s on the team. Usually about 40 accountants and CPA’s work at the direction of the auditor. The Auditor is responsible for managing the budget determined by the Legislature with nearly all of it going to personnel costs. The Auditor has no authority over the agencies unless criminal activity is found, but that is reported to the appropriate law enforcement agency – whether attorney General, State Patrol, County Attorney, etc. It is up to the agency to fix errors if the Auditor gives a bad report. Note: The Auditor’s office is audited by the State Department of Revenue. Other fiscal responsibilities may be assigned by the governor or at the request of the Legislature.
Requirements for the position
Must be a registered voter.
Other information
The Auditor candidate must possess integrity, intelligence (including discernment, essentially professional skepticism) and independence. The Auditor must be free of political influences. The Auditor is not required by statute to be a CPA or even an accountant, but to hold respect in the office, it’s best to have some business training.
Term of office
Term of office is 4 years, with no term limits.
Partisan?
Candidates are nominated by their party in a primary election.
When election is held
Every four years along with other state officers.
Links
See State Statutes 84-304 through 305.02, 84-311 through 84-316, 84-321 through 84-323
How office affects the voter
Even though the office is often called State Auditor, the real name is Auditor of Public Accounts. This state officer’s job is to see that the some 2500 units of government are audited. This position was created when the state began in order to verify that those units of government are spending money for the intended purposes. The auditor therefore can give the taxpayer great confidence that someone is checking up on government spending.
Duties and Responsibilities
State statutes require that every local government entity, whether NRD or school board, city, village, county, state department of revenue, etc., etc. to be audited every year. Private CPA firms can be tasked to do the job, and they provide their reports to the Auditor of Public Accounts. An audit verifies the accuracy of the financial statements of the entity. They check to see if the noted expenses are allowable for that particular entity, again according to statutes. Game and Parks Commission and the State Patrol have permission to buy guns, others don’t. Since only samples from the entity’s books are chosen to check, it is possible that something could be missed. Frequently concerned citizens call in to report when they think an audit may need to be checked. The Auditor can decide if the Auditor’s office will do an audit, or check on an audit done by a CPA firm. Typically, with each new auditor elected, the staff in the office remain the same, but the new auditor has the authority to select a whole new team if he/she desires. The Auditor usually hires recent accounting graduates who learn alongside the seasoned CPA’s on the team. Usually about 40 accountants and CPA’s work at the direction of the auditor. The Auditor is responsible for managing the budget determined by the Legislature with nearly all of it going to personnel costs. The Auditor has no authority over the agencies unless criminal activity is found, but that is reported to the appropriate law enforcement agency – whether attorney General, State Patrol, County Attorney, etc. It is up to the agency to fix errors if the Auditor gives a bad report. Note: The Auditor’s office is audited by the State Department of Revenue. Other fiscal responsibilities may be assigned by the governor or at the request of the Legislature.
Requirements for the position
Must be a registered voter.
Other information
The Auditor candidate must possess integrity, intelligence (including discernment, essentially professional skepticism) and independence. The Auditor must be free of political influences. The Auditor is not required by statute to be a CPA or even an accountant, but to hold respect in the office, it’s best to have some business training.
Term of office
Term of office is 4 years, with no term limits.
Partisan?
Candidates are nominated by their party in a primary election.
When election is held
Every four years along with other state officers.
Links
See State Statutes 84-304 through 305.02, 84-311 through 84-316, 84-321 through 84-323