Senior Internal Auditor (Open and Promotional)

Salary : $119,620.80 - $149,531.20 Annually
Location : County of San Mateo, CA
Job Type: Regular
Job Number: E093Z
Department: Controller's Office
Opening Date: 03/10/2025
Closing Date: 3/24/2025 11:59 PM Pacific
Bargaining Unit: 35

Description

The Controller's Office of the County of San Mateo seeks applicants with experience in internal auditing, risk assessment, and business process analysis for the advanced-level position of Senior Internal Auditor.

THE CONTROLLER'S OFFICEThe Controller's Office mission is to promote the County's operational effectiveness and ensure its financial transparency and integrity by providing quality accounting, audit, and financial reporting services.THE INTERNAL AUDIT DIVISIONThe Division works to ensure County assets and reduce risks. This is accomplished by conducting independent operations and internal control audits to assist County management to improve operations and reduce risks related to the County's programs, functions, and information systems. Audits are conducted in accordance with the Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA) guidelines.

The qualified candidate will have:

• A four-year degree or an advanced degree from an accredited college or university, with a major or concentration in accounting, finance, business administration, or related field.
• Certified Public Accountant, Certified Information Systems Auditor, or Certified Internal Audit certificates (highly desirable).
• A minimum of four years of responsible professional experience conducting complex audits, compliance reviews, and internal control assessments in accordance with professional auditing standards.
• One year of experience as supervisor or project leader.
• Extensive experience in the application of auditing and accounting principles and best practices in operational and business process analysis.
• Experience in performing audits of information (IT) systems and related processes.
• The ability to perform well when working independently and in teams.
• The ability to complete audit projects independently.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Excellent research skills.
• The ability to work on several projects simultaneously with minimal direction or oversight.
• A desire to constantly learn about the County departments' various functions and the services provided.
• The ability to interact with the public, staff, and management on all levels in a professionally cordial and confident manner.
• Experience in information systems and software applications such as the Microsoft applications, data analysis tools, TeamMate for auditing, etc.

The qualified candidate will be responsible for:

• Completing audit projects independently in a comprehensive manner.
• Performing risk assessments of operations, business processes/procedures, and internal controls.
• Identifying and communicating issues and developing recommended internal control procedures and solutions to address business risks and improve operational effectiveness.
• Providing objective analyses, reviewing internal controls, and developing and making recommendations to improve internal controls and effectiveness of business operations.
• Ensuring audit findings, analysis, and recommendations are well supported with proper documentation and evidence.
• Developing audit programs and testing procedures relevant to risks and testing objectives.
• Obtaining and reviewing evidence ensuring audit conclusions are well-supported and documented.
• Communicating assigned tasks to engagement team in a clear and concise manner.
• Developing effective working relationships with auditees.

Note: The eligible list generated from this recruitment may be used to fill future extra-help, term, unclassified, and regular classified vacancies.
Examples Of Duties

Duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Prepare clear, concise, and complete data analyses, audit reports, and audit work papers.
• Supervise lower-level staff engaged in conducting operational, financial, compliance, and IT component audits and contract reviews.
• Conduct internal audits of County departments, divisions, and agencies.
• Conduct reviews of County contractors' compliance with contract and other regulatory requirements.
• Prepare or direct the preparation of audit and financial analysis reports.
• Provide technical support to external auditors and governmental program auditors.
• Conduct research of best practices.
• Perform related duties or special projects as assigned.

Qualifications

Experience and Education:
Any combination of education and experience that would likely provide the required knowledge and skills is qualifying. A typical way to qualify is:
Education: Graduation from a four year college or university in accounting, finance, business administration, economics or a closely related field.
Experience: One year of journey level internal auditing experience.

Special Requirement:

• Successful completion of twelve semester units of college level accounting course work.

Knowledge of:

• Basic supervisory principles and practices.
• Auditing standards and procedures.
• Principles and practices of government accounting, auditing and budgeting.
• Principles and practices of business data processing and analysis, particularly related to the processing of accounting information.
• Applicable laws regulating public financial activities and operations.
• Principles of public finance.

Skill/Ability to:

• Plan, assign, direct, review, and evaluate the work of others.
• Review and approve budgeted hours for work assignments.
• Train staff in work procedures.
• Audit a variety of internal documents, procedures, and reports.
• Review, analyze, balance, interpret and reconcile financial reports and transactions.
• Ensure that all applicable regulations and directives are followed.
• Ensure proper authorization and documentation of various financial and operations transactions.
• Evaluate and develop auditing and accounting system procedures.
• Prepare clear, concise, and complete data analyses, audit reports, and audit work papers.
• Exercise sound independent judgment.
• Perform accurate mathematical and statistical calculations and analysis.
• Maintain accurate records and files.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with team members, auditees, and others with whom you interact at work.

Application/Examination

Open & Promotional. Anyone may apply. Current County of San Mateo and County of San Mateo Superior Court of California employees with at least six months (1040 hours) of continuous service in a classified regular, probationary, or extra-help/limited term position prior to the final filing date will receive five points added to their final passing score.

Responses to the supplemental questions must be submitted in addition to our regular employment application form. A resume will not be accepted as a substitute for the required employment application and supplemental questionnaire.

The examination process will consist of an application screening based on the candidates' application and responses to the supplemental questions (weight: pass/fail). Candidates who pass the application screening may be invited to a panel interview (weight:100%). Depending on the number of applicants, an application appraisal of education and experience may be used in place of other examinations or further evaluation of work experience may be conducted to group applicants by level of qualification. Applicants meeting the minimum qualifications are not guaranteed advancement through any subsequent phase of the examination. All examinations will be given in San Mateo County, California and applicants must participate at their own expense.

IMPORTANT: Applications for this position will only be accepted online. If you are currently on the County's website, you may click the "Apply" button. If you are not on the County's website, please go to http://jobs.smcgov.orgto apply.

TENTATIVE RECRUITMENT SCHEDULE
Final Filing Date: Monday, March 24, 2025, by 11:59 PM PST
Application Screening: March 25 - 28, 2025
Civil Service Panel Interviews: April 8 and/or 9, 2025

About the County
San Mateo County is centrally located between San Francisco, San Jose, and the East Bay. With over 750,000 residents, San Mateo is one of the largest and most diverse counties in California and serves a multitude of culturally, ethnically, and linguistically diverse communities.

The County of San Mateo, as an employer, is committed to advancing equity in order to ensure that all employees are welcomed in a safe and inclusive environment. The County seeks to hire, support, and retain employees who reflect our diverse community. We encourage applicants with diverse backgrounds and lived experiences to apply. Eighty percent of employees surveyed stated that they would recommend the County as a great place to work.
San Mateo County is an equal opportunity employer committed to fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion at all levels.

Analyst: Sedrick Dixon (03102025) (Senior Internal Auditor - E093)
Please visit for a complete listing of all benefits for this classification.
Benefits are offered to eligible employees of the County of San Mateo. All benefits are subject to change.
NOTE: Employees hired on or after January 1, 2013 may be subject to new Pension Reform retirement laws.
As an additional benefit, the County offers extensive training and development programs designed to improve skills and enhance career opportunities. Most programs are offered on County time at no cost to you.
County employees are also covered by the federal Social Security system and earn benefits for retirement based on salary and time worked.
01

IMPORTANT: Applicants for this position are required to submit responses to the supplemental questions below. Your responses should provide detailed information about your background and experience related to this position. This information will weigh heavily in the application screening by the subject matter experts and will also be used in the selection process. Please answer the questions completely, paying attention to multi-part questions. While being thorough and detailed, also be concise. Your use of precise language, clarity of expression, attention to detail, proper use of grammar, and the ability to follow instructions will be considered in the evaluation process. A resume will not be accepted as a substitute for your responses. I have read and understand this information?

• Yes
• No

02

Considering the last few years of your audit experience, list and describe the areas in which you have worked, such as operational audits, performance audits, compliance, internal controls, IT audit experience, etc.
03

Describe an audit you performed that included significant financial or operational audit findings. Provide brief details regarding your role on the project including the objective(s) and methods used to identify the issues. In addition, discuss the findings and include specific details regarding any effective recommendations.
04

Describe your biggest accomplishment in writing audit reports. Provide a specific example of a significant report you authored and include its purpose, the recipient(s), the issues covered, the general format, and why you consider this your most significant report.
05

Our Audit team is very dynamic, and the work is fast-paced. Although some of the work will be collaborative, you will also be expected to work independently. Please describe the type of work you have performed with limited or no supervision. In addition, describe the type of work you have performed with direct supervision.
Required Question