INTERNAL AUDITOR

This is a Full-Time, Contract, and Exempt position based on a 40-hour work week. The individual in this position will work in City Hall located at 7 North Dixie Highway, Lake Worth Beach, FL 33460.

Compensation $96,255 - $129,375

In addition, this position offers:

• $500 monthly car allowance
• $75 monthly phone allowance or city provided cell phone
• 40 hours (5 days) paid administrative leave per fiscal year
• 200 hours (25 days) vacation per fiscal year
• 1X annual salary Basic Life Insurance/AD&D (rounded to nearest $10,000)

JOB SUMMARY:

The Internal Auditor of the City of Lake Worth ("IA") provides independent, objective assurance designed to add value and improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the City's operations. Internal Audit will help the City accomplish its risk management, internal control, and governance objectives:

• Through audits of City operations and contracts;
• By providing public accountability for the use of City tax dollars;
• By providing a mechanism to investigate suspected fraud, waste and abuse; and
• By serving as an independent, objective source of information and advice for the City Commission on matters of financial and operational importance.

The scope of work of the IA is to determine whether the City's risk management, internal control, technology and governance processes, as designed and implemented by management, is adequate and functioning in a manner to ensure:

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Risks are appropriately identified and managed;
• Interaction with the various governance groups occurs as needed;
• Significant financial, managerial, and operating information is accurate, reliable, and timely delivered;
• Employee actions are in compliance with policies, standards, procedures and applicable laws, ordinances and regulations;
• City assets are acquired economically, used efficiently, and adequately protected;
• Programs and plans are implemented in accordance with their terms;
• Quality and continuous improvement are fostered by the City's control processes;
• Significant legislative or regulatory issues impacting the organization are recognized and addressed appropriately; and
• Opportunities for improving management control, revenue realization and the City's image which are identified during audits are communicated to the appropriate levels of governance and management.
• The examples of essential functions as listed in this classification specification are not necessarily descriptive of any one position in the class. The omission of an essential function of work does not preclude management from assigning duties not listed herein if such functions are a logical assignment in relation to the position.

ACCOUNTABILITY

The IA is accountable to the Mayor and the four City Commissioners to:

• Provide an assessment of the adequacy and effectiveness of the city's processes for controlling its activities and managing its risks;
• Report significant issues related to the processes for controlling the activities of the City, including potential improvements to those processes;
• Periodically provide information on the status and results of the annual audit plan and the sufficiency of department resources; and
• Coordinate with and provide oversight of other control and monitoring functions such as risk management, regulatory compliance, security, legal and ethics (in conjunction with the City Attorney), environmental and external audit.

INDEPENDENCE

The Institute of Internal Auditors' (IIA) International Standards for the Professional Practice of Internal Auditing require that the Internal Auditor reports to a level that allows the Internal Audit activity to fulfill its responsibilities. In accordance with IIA recommendations, the Internal Auditor will report directly to the Mayor and City Commissioners.


RESPONSIBILITY

The IA will:

• Develop a flexible annual audit plan using an appropriate risk-based methodology, acknowledging any risks or control concerns identified by management or the City Commission and submit that plan as well as periodic updates to the City Commission for review and approval;
• Implement the annual audit plan, as approved, including as appropriate any special tasks or projects requested by the City Commission;
• Maintain a level of professionalism, training, professional credentials and subject knowledge that meets the requirements of this document;
• Issue periodic reports to the City Commission and others as requested by this Commission;
• Monitor the actions taken by management in response to report recommendations. Periodic follow-up reports will be provided to the City Commission;
• Keep the City Commission informed of emerging trends and successful practices in internal auditing;
• Assist in the investigation of significant suspected fraudulent activities within the organization and notify the City Commission of the results; and
• Consider the scope of work of the external auditors, as appropriate, for the purpose of providing optimal audit coverage to the organization at a reasonable overall cost.

REPORTING

The IA will:

• Hold meetings with management of the business unit that has been audited prior to issuing any final report, in order to validate the findings and obtain agreement on the action plan proposed by management to address the audit findings. A timetable with individual accountabilities must be an integral part of the management action plan.
• Issue a written report to the City Commission, management and other parties deemed appropriate for each audit. The report will address management controls, issues, recommendations and implementation plans relevant to the audit or review.
• Meet with the Mayor and City Commissioners individually and the City Commission as a group to report findings, if appropriate. Such meetings will comply fully with the Sunshine Law of the State of Florida.

AUTHORITY

The IA is authorized to:

• Have unrestricted access to all functions, records, property, and personnel. Documents and information given to the Internal Auditor will be handled with the same standard of confidentiality and prudence as that exercised by normally accountable employees;
• Have full and free access to the City Commission;
• Allocate resources, set frequencies, select subjects, determine scopes of work, and apply the techniques required to accomplish audit objectives; and
• Obtain the necessary assistance of personnel in all parts of the City structure where audits are to be performed, as well as other specialized services from within or outside the City (where financial considerations will allow).

The Internal Auditor is not authorized to:

• Perform any operational or financial duties for the City;
• Initiate or approve accounting transactions other than those within the Internal Audit department itself in the course of normal department function; or
• Direct the activities of any City employee not in the Internal Audit department, except to the extent such employee has been appropriately assigned to an auditing function or to otherwise assist the Internal Auditor.

SPECIFIC AUDIT ACTIVITIES

A risk assessment will be completed which will help determine what departments of the City government structure will be audited. The following are the audit activities anticipated to be applied to the higher risk areas as determined by this risk assessment. This list is not intended to be comprehensive, as other activities will be added to respond to the dynamic nature of the City as well as results obtained in all areas as audits are completed. It is also not anticipated that all of those tasks listed below will be completed, as audit resources are necessarily limited by many factors including financial constraints.


ANTICIPATED RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDE:

• Performing walk-throughs of all significant transactions and processes;
• Performing tests of controls identified in high risk areas;
• Reviewing any remediation plans created by area management for any control deficiencies;
• Determining financially significant areas of the City for purposes of assessing and documenting governance level and activity level controls;
• Reaffirming the overall testing approach and sample sizes throughout the year;
• Keeping current on all pronouncements and guidance from all internal audit and municipal governing bodies;
• Conducting an appropriate number, as approved by the Commission, of comprehensive audits during the balance of the fiscal year;
• Conducting operational reviews to improve productivity and effectiveness;
• Interacting with all levels of City management;
• Evaluating risks throughout the City, and determining methods and processes to mitigate those risks; and
• Analyzing financial data with the goal of improving efficiencies.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Ability to read and speak English, analyze, and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, or government regulations; and
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.

EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENTS

• Bachelor's degree in accounting or finance;
• Master's degree in accounting, finance or business administration a plus;
• Ten years of audit experience, with some municipal experience a plus;
• Experience in construction accounting and auditing a plus; and
• Familiarity with government accounting and auditing standards a plus.

PROFESSIONAL CREDENTIALS

At least one of the following professional credentials is required:

• Certified Public Accountant
• Certified Internal Auditor
• Certified Fraud Examiner
• Certified Government Auditing Professional
• Other appropriate certifications will be considered

All full-time employees are considered critical in response to emergency situations and may be deemed essential as needed depending on the situation.

Employees in this position will be required to complete the FEMA Incident Command System (ICS) Certification Levels 100, 200, 700 and 800 within the first six months of employment. Certain positions may be required to attain additional ICS training as needed.

The job description does not constitute an employment agreement between the City of Lake Worth Beach and the employee and is subject to change by the employer as the needs of the employer and requirements of the job change.

The City of Lake Worth Beach is an Equal Opportunity Employer. In compliance with United States Equal Employment Opportunity guidelines and the Americans with Disabilities Act, this organization provides reasonable accommodation to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages both prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodations with the employer.

Applicants for positions with the City of Lake Worth Beach should know and be aware of the following:


Applicants for employment who become candidates for available employment positions should note employment is contingent upon satisfactory completion of all reference checks and pre-employment physical satisfaction. Upon request, information on the nature and scope of an inquiry will be provided under FS 119.

Furthermore, some of the job classifications within the City of Lake Worth Beach workforce are covered by Collective Bargaining Agreements with a union. Consistent with Chapter 447 of the Florida Statutes, a bargaining unit employee has the right to join or not join the union. However, the Union is not obligated to represent a non-member.