Attorney IV - Audits

Job Description and Duties

What will you do?

The attorneys at the California State Auditor's Office support the State Auditor, work in an independent, non-partisan capacity, advising the State Auditor on the laws that apply to government agencies and programs in California, including those that apply to the State Auditor's Office. You may work independently or in a team environment to provide formal and informal oral and written legal advice on a variety of issues supporting the State Auditor's Office. You will assist the Chief Counsel, the Assistant Chief Counsels, and other employees in performing legal research, analysis, and legal tasks.

Specifically, you will:

• Prior to the Legislative approval of a performance audit request, conduct highly critical and time-sensitive preliminary legal research and analysis to support the State Auditor Office's audit analyses.
• Upon approval of performance audits or the commencement of other types of audits:
  • Gather and analyze relevant laws and other legal materials, such as judicial precedents, proposed legislation, administrative decisions, and other legal authorities.
  • Interpret and apply those laws to particular regulatory programs or legal issues identified as part of the audit.
  • Communicate the results of the research and analysis, both verbally and in writing, to management and others within the State Auditor's Office.
  • Review audit reports and related correspondence for legal content and consistency, including the development and review of audit recommendations involving legal compliance or changes in law.
• Perform legislative research and provide legal advice on pending legislation that may impact the State Auditor's Office; determine the content and impact of proposed laws and regulations on the operations, including the rights, duties, and authority, of the State Auditor's Office; summarize and report the results of such research.
• Draft and interpret laws and regulations; draft and review legal documents, including subpoenas, court documents, and contracts.
• Represent the State Auditor's Office in legal matters; and, on occasion, conduct depositions and represent or assist other counsel in litigation on behalf of or in defense of the State Auditor's Office.
• Provide appropriate legal advice on a broad range of legal issues, including, but not limited to, compliance with laws related to state and local government, conflicts of interest, public meetings and records access, public contracting, and laws related to confidentiality.
• Provide information and briefings to Members of the Legislature, legislative staff and other stakeholders, as requested by office management.

You will find additional information about the job in the .

Working Conditions

• This position is eligible for participation in the office’s hybrid telework program. Work at the alternate work location must be in California and conducted in a space that is ergonomically sound, private, distraction-free, and has safe working conditions to be eligible to telework.
• Work performed in the office is in an air-conditioned high-rise building with elevator access and both natural and artificial lighting.
• Work may require sitting for an extended period of time using a personal computer and the use of standard office equipment, such as phones, copiers or scanners.
• Work may require periodic non-standard work hours and work during weekends to meet workload needs and demands.
• Work may require occasional travel, working away from headquarters, and/or long and irregular work hours.

Visa Sponsorship
This position is not eligible for a visa sponsorship. Applicants must be authorized to work in the US without the need for a visa sponsorship by the start date of employment. The California State Auditor's Office is not an E-Verify employer.

Special Requirements

Any applicant receiving a conditional job offer will be subject to a background check, fingerprinting and an inquiry to the California Department of Justice to disclose criminal records prior to appointment.

Temporary Salary Reduction: Due to significant budget shortfalls, the office participates in the Personal Leave Program (PLP) which reduces employee salaries in exchange for accrued leave hours. The salary reduction amounts and leave accruals are based on the amounts that represented and other excluded employees receive.

Desirable Qualifications

In addition to evaluating each candidate's relative ability, as demonstrated by quality and breadth of experience, the following factors will provide the basis for competitively evaluating each candidate:

Who are you?

• You have experience reviewing and analyzing complex and sensitive issues concerning a wide variety of legal issues.
• You have experience working with the Legislature, other state agencies, and high-level Executive or Judicial Branch staff.
• You have experience providing advice to and representing high-ranking state officials on a broad range of legal issues.
• You have litigation experience.
• You have experience drafting legal documents including statutes, regulations, contracts and related procurement documents, and pleadings.
• You have familiarity with auditing and/or project management standards and principles.
• You have a proven ability to handle large and varied assignments involving a wide range and frequently changing subject matters.
• You have experience working well under pressure and thrive in such an environment.
• You adapt easily to changing situations and assignments.
• You have a history of working cooperatively and dealing effectively with others.
• You have the ability to work on several concurrent projects with different groups, each on a predetermined timeline.
• You are familiar with the laws generally applicable to state and local government.

Why should you join us?

• You want to work in a professional environment with a team dedicated to making a difference for Californians and future generations.
• You are highly collaborative, solution-oriented, and enjoy challenging and engaging work.
• You have a strong work ethic and thrive when working under pressure.
• You have excellent written and verbal communication skills and the ability to clearly explain legal issues and legal conclusions to non-lawyers.
• You desire a monthly salary range of $12,046 - $16,096 with a 5% pay differential as well as a longevity bonus.

Benefits

Benefit information can be found on the CalHR website and the CalPERS website.

Statement of Qualifications

Submit a Statement of Qualifications (SOQ) responding to the three questions below using specific examples of your education, training and experience. Your SOQ will help us determine who to interview for the position. Please limit your response to three pages. We will not consider applications that do not include responses to the questions or exceed the page limit.

We require that you not use Artificial Intelligence assistance when composing your written response. Written responses are an attempt to assess and gain an understanding of your personal writing and communication skills and abilities.

1. Explain the State Auditor's role in California government. Please also describe your past experience with any audit or investigatory work (including any work with the State Auditor's Office if applicable), your interactions with that work, and what you learned from it.

2. Describe the aspects of your work experience that you think make you especially well-qualified to work in the State Auditor's Office. Include a description of your experience with laws generally applicable to government operations.

3. Describe the aspects of your work experience or background that have prepared you to be able to learn new areas of law quickly and to be quickly confident about providing legal advice and making legal decisions with respect to any such newly learned area of law.

Required Application Package Documents

The following items are required to be submitted with your application. Applicants who do not submit the required items timely may not be considered for this job:

• Current version of the State Examination/Employment Application STD Form 678 (when not applying electronically), or the Electronic State Employment Application through your Applicant Account at All Experience and Education relating to the Minimum Qualifications listed on the Classification Specification should be included to demonstrate how you meet the Minimum Qualifications for the position.
• Resume is required and must be included.
• Statement of Qualifications - See Statement of Qualifications section below