Assistant State Auditor , or - Tri-; Kennewick

Assistant State Auditor 1, 2, or 3 - Tri-Cities - Kennewick

Recruitment to fill a vacancy in the Kennewick office. Application review will begin July 15, 2026. Applicants are encouraged to submit materials soon; the hiring manager reserves the right to close the posting once a selection has been made.

SAO works to improve state government operations through audits. With 15 offices statewide, we enlist innovative talent to advance our mission and serve Washington State.

Team Tri‑Cities is one of 17 local audit teams located in Kennewick and Walla Walla. We conduct audits primarily in Benton, Columbia, Franklin, and Walla Walla counties, as well as in Adams and Grant counties. Annually, we perform about 120 audits of a wide variety of entities, including cities, counties, public housing authorities, schools, fire, conservation, irrigation, hospitals, libraries, public transportation, utilities, ports, and other public facilities.

• Written and verbal communication
• Time and project management
• Understanding of accounting principles as they relate to auditing
• Critical thinking and problem‑solving skills
• Team collaboration; ability to build effective working relationships

• Assistant State Auditor 1 ($4,320 – $5,812)
  First-level in‑training program for staff with little audit experience. Training includes classroom instruction, on‑the‑job learning, and work‑product review. Most work is completed in the field and in teams.
• Assistant State Auditor 2 ($5,011 – $6,735)
  Second-level in‑training program. Auditors build on experience from Level 1 or comparable roles. Employees may be assigned opportunities to plan and conduct audits under supervision.
• Assistant State Auditor 3 ($6,259 – $8,415)
  Journey level. Staff plan and conduct risk‑based financial and legal compliance audits of state agencies and local governments, perform special investigations, and mentor in‑training staff.

Education and experience will determine level placement. All options require either a bachelor’s degree with minimum accounting coursework or an equivalent combination of education and experience, including at least four to six years of relevant experience, with an emphasis on accounting or audit experience.

• Full benefits package
• Paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays
• Growth and development opportunities, including over 80 hours of training each biennium
• Educational and professional certification reimbursements
• Agency commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion

• Submit a completed application
• Provide complete responses to all supplemental questions
• Submit a resume and a cover letter addressing how your education and experience relate to the key competencies identified above

Submissions lacking any of the three required components will be disqualified.

The Office of the Washington State Auditor is an equal opportunity employer. Persons with a disability who need assistance in the application or testing process may obtain help by calling (564) 999‑0947 or by using the telephone relay service 7‑1‑1.

Veterans may request preference by attaching a copy of DD‑214 at the time of application.

Questions may be directed to the applications unit at applications unit.gov.