General Summary of Function/Purpose of Position:
The mission of the OAG is to improve the accountability for public funds and to improve the operations of State government for the benefit of the citizens of the State of Michigan. Under Article 4, Section 53 of the State Constitution, the OAG has a constitutional responsibility to perform financial and performance post audits. Post audits are a very significant element in the separation of powers in State government. Debate at the Michigan Constitutional Convention stressed the need to strengthen the legislative branch and provide a legislative “watchdog.” The OAG’s role is to provide oversight and to assist the Legislature by providing competent and timely audit reports.
The trainee level auditor performs auditing assignments, which include performance and financial post audits of units of State government and other State-funded programs. At this level, the auditor is assigned the least complex audit phases and performs the least complex audit tasks.
Duties: 96% of Time
Under the direction of the audit supervisor, performs audit assignments.
Individual tasks related to the duty.
- Assists in the development of audit procedures for the assigned audit programs.
- Performs assigned audit programs.
- Identifies areas which indicate potential for a performance audit and brings this to the attention of the audit supervisor. Assists the audit supervisor in developing audit programs for a performance audit.
- Reviews laws and regulations applicable to the assigned audit programs. This review includes State and federal laws and regulations, policies, and procedures.
- Reviews the auditee’s organizational structure and operating systems for the assigned audit programs.
- Audits financial and other records for the assigned audit programs to assess the adequacy of the internal control structure, compliance with applicable laws and regulations, adherence to generally accepted accounting principles, accomplishment of program objectives authorized by the Legislature, and efficiency and effectiveness of programs.
- Analyzes and evaluates results of audit procedures, with assistance from the audit supervisor, to identify errors, weaknesses, and areas with potential for improvement.
- Prepares audit working papers, with assistance from the audit supervisor, which provide adequate documentation for audit findings, conclusions, and recommendations in accordance with professional standards.
- Drafts audit findings and recommendations, with assistance from the audit supervisor, for the assigned audit programs.
Duties: 2.5% of Time
Attends field exit meetings with agency executives and is occasionally called upon by the audit supervisor to provide factual data to support audit findings and recommendations. Occasionally attends and participates in audit conferences with OAG and agency executives.
Duties: 1.5% of Time
Occasionally serves on professional committees and performs other special assignments.
Fulfilling the aforementioned responsibilities requires knowledge of generally accepted accounting principles as promulgated by Governmental Accounting Standards Board and Financial Accounting Standards Board and professional auditing standards as promulgated by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Comptroller General of the United States.
The special investigative nature of performance auditing and the specific technical aspects of financial auditing require knowledge in the following areas:
Accounting, Auditing, Automatic Data Processing, Communication Skills, Economics, Interviewing Skills, Management, Marketing, Mathematics, Personnel, Report Writing, Research Designs and Methods, Statistics, and Systems Analysis
Education:
Possession of a Bachelor’s Degree with at least 24 semester (36 term) credits in Accounting.
Experience:
None
Alternate Education:
Possession of a Bachelor’s Degree with at least 24 semester (36 term) credits in one or a combination of the following: finance, economics, information systems, business analytics, data analytics, statistics, quantitative methods, data science, or management may be substituted for the education for agency positions responsible for internal auditing or Office of Auditor General positions responsible for auditing.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
Knowledge of generally accepted accounting principles and practices and professional auditing standards. Ability to maintain good working relationships with auditee personnel.
Certificates, Licenses, Registrations:
CPA License desirable.