The Audit Connection Blog
We want to hear from you: Take our public awareness survey today
The Office of the Washington State Auditor has launched a short, anonymous survey open to all Washington residents age 18 and older. We want to understand what matters most to you in your community, how you engage with government, and how we can communicate more clearly about our work and its impact on your daily life. ... CONTINUE READING
How to wrap up financial loose ends after an employee leaves
There is much to think about when employees leave your employment, including hiring and training new employees and divvying up duties in the meantime. This article outlines several financial areas you should review when an employee leaves. ... CONTINUE READING
Audit finds limited progress in police training required under the Law Enforcement Training and Community Safety Act
A new performance audit published by our Office finds that Washington’s police officers are far from completing additional training mandated by Initiative 940, with only 14% of new officers having completed the full 40 hours of training by their required deadline. ... CONTINUE READING
Updated procurement resources have arrived
The laws concerning bidding and purchasing are complex; as a result, we receive many questions and issue frequent audit recommendations to local governments over bidding and purchasing. To better support you, we maintain a suite of procurement resources. ... CONTINUE READING
Audit of $23.7 billion in federal funds shows overall improvement
Each year, the Office of the Washington State Auditor conducts a single audit – one major audit to examine whether state agencies spent billions of dollars in federal funds in accordance with the requirements set by the federal government. ... CONTINUE READING
Frequently Asked Questions about federal child care funds in Washington state
As the authority on auditing public funds in Washington state, we’ve prepared a webpage of FAQ to address some of the most common questions people may have about federal child care funds. Our goal with this FAQ is to be transparent and informative about the role of the Office of the Washington State Auditor on this issue of public concern. ... CONTINUE READING
State audit shows overall improvement, recommends increased oversight of child care payments
Today the Office of the Washington State Auditor released its massive annual audit of federal funds, which reviewed $23.7 billion in federal funds across 28 programs. Auditors found a general pattern of improved compliance with federal requirements overall. SAO also determined that the state’s system to detect improper payments in child care subsidies has weaknesses that contributed to an estimated $37 million in questionable payments in 2025. ... CONTINUE READING
Explore our new and improved best practices for bank reconciliations
These best practices around the bank reconciliation process can help governments detect fraud and ensure their data and financial statements are accurate. ... CONTINUE READING
Moses Lake School District did not comply with state budget requirements, had declining financial condition, audit finds
The Office of the Washington State Auditor published an accountability audit of the Moses Lake School District today, reviewing a tumultuous period in which the district’s financial condition was in decline. ... CONTINUE READING
Download your copy of the new and improved Segregation of Duties Guide today
Segregation of duties, or separating conflicting duty assignments in your government, can help protect your local government's assets. But which duties do you segregate, and what are your options if you cannot feasibly do this? Use this second edition Guide to help you get started, no matter your size. ... CONTINUE READING