About the State Auditor's Office

The State Auditor's Office is established in the state's Constitution as part of the executive branch of state government.  Washington citizens elect the State Auditor to four‑year terms.

Our mission is to work in cooperation with our audit clients and citizens as an advocate for government accountability. As an agency led by an elected official, the State Auditor's Office has the independence to objectively perform audits and investigations.  Our audits are designed to comply with professional standards and to satisfy the requirements of federal, state and local laws.

The State Auditor's Office has approximately 350 employees who are located around the state to deliver our services effectively and efficiently.  Approximately 30 percent of our staff are certified public accountants or hold other certifications and advanced degrees.

Our audits look at financial information and compliance with state, federal and local laws on the part of all local governments, including schools, and all state agencies, including institutions of higher education. We also perform special investigations of fraud and whistleblower cases and referrals from our citizen hotline.  In addition, we conduct performance audits of state agencies and local governments.

We take our role as partners in accountability seriously. We provide training and technical assistance to governments and have an extensive program to coordinate audit efficiency and to ensure high-quality audits.