State of Maryland

A Financial Compliance Auditor, Lead is the lead level of work examining and analyzing the business records and accounting systems of a State agency, grantee, business or other entity to verify reliability, accuracy and compliance with generally accepted accounting principles and with statutes or contract provisions.  The audits are performed independently or as a member of an audit team.  Employees in this classification assign, review and approve the work of and train lower-level Financial Compliance Auditors.

Employees in this classification receive general supervision from a Financial Compliance Auditor Supervisor or other designated administrator.  The work may require extended travel both in and out of State. Financial Compliance Auditors are differentiated from Internal Auditors based on the scope of the audits performed.  Financial Compliance Auditors audit for finance and compliance.  Internal Auditors audit for finance and compliance as well as program results and economy and efficiency.

Positions in this classification are evaluated by using the classification job evaluation methodology.  The use of this method involves comparing the assigned duties and responsibilities of a position to the job criteria found in the Nature of Work and Examples of Work sections of the class specification.

The Financial Compliance Auditor, Lead is differentiated from Financial Compliance Auditor II in that the Financial Compliance Auditor, Lead assigns, reviews and approves the work of and trains lower-level Financial Compliance Auditors while the Financial Compliance Auditor II performs the full range of duties and responsibilities under general supervision.  Financial Compliance Auditor, Lead is differentiated from Financial Compliance Auditor Supervisor in that the Financial Compliance Auditor Supervisor has supervisory responsibility for lower-level Financial Compliance Auditors.

Assigns, reviews and approves the work of Financial Compliance Auditors;

Trains Financial Compliance Auditors;

Provides advice and guidance to lower-level Financial Compliance Auditors concerning the resolution of complex problems in performing financial compliance audits;

Performs financial and compliance audits of a State agency, grantee, business or other entity to determine financial status and compliance with pertinent laws, regulations and contract provisions;

Identifies the areas to be examined based on the nature of the entity to be audited, prior audit reports, contracts, State and federal laws and regulations and other related documents and issues;

Evaluates the adequacy and effectiveness of an entity's internal controls by reviewing and verifying adherence to policies and procedures meant to insure the reliability and accuracy of financial data and reports and compliance with pertinent laws and regulations;

Develops specific audit work plans based on established audit programs and procedures and pre-audit research showing the purpose of the audit, areas targeted for examination, type and extent of audit tests and an estimate of the time needed to complete the audit;

Examines manual or automated records and conducts interviews to determine the proper recording of transactions and compliance with pertinent laws, regulations and contract provisions;

Reviews and verifies documentation regarding material assets, net worth, liabilities, income and expenditures;

Inspects postings and entries in automated or manually maintained financial records to determine if generally accepted accounting principles were followed in recording transactions;

Verifies automated or manual journal and ledger entries of cash receipts and check payments, purchases, expenses, payroll and trial balances;

Identifies exceptions to generally accepted accounting principles, noncompliance with pertinent laws, regulations and contract provisions and determines any funds that may be owed to the State;

Prepares workpapers to document findings;

Prepares audit reports;

Participates in pre-audit and post-audit conferences with management and employees of the audited entity;

Performs special audits and investigations as required;

Attends courses and seminars in auditing techniques and procedures and in changes and revisions to pertinent laws and regulations;

May participate in legislative audit coordination and follow-up;

May use a computer to perform audit tasks;

May perform reviews of financial statements and audit reports prepared by outside auditors or Certified Public Accountants to determine the adequacy of the reports and the effect of audit findings;

May explain and defend audit findings at informal and formal appeals and exit conferences;

Performs other related duties.

Class Descriptions are broad descriptions covering groups of positions used by various State departments and agencies.  Position descriptions maintained by the using department or agency specifically address the essential job functions of each position.

Class Descriptions provide information about the Nature of Work, Examples of Work, General Requirements and Acknowledgements.  The Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities; Minimum Education and Experience Requirements; Special Requirements; and recruitment and testing procedures are set by the using agency.

This is a Skilled Service classification in the State Personnel Management System.  All positions in this classification are Skilled Service positions.  Some positions in Skilled Service classifications may be designated Special Appointment in accordance with the State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 6-405, Annotated Code of Maryland.

This classification is not assigned to a bargaining unit, as indicated by the designation of S (Supervisor), M (Manager), T (Agency Head), U (Board or Commission Member), W (Student), X (Used by Agency or Excluded by Executive Order), or Z (Confidential).  As provided by State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 3-102, special appointment, temporary, contractual, supervisory, managerial and confidential employees are excluded collective bargaining.  Additionally, certain executive branch agencies are exempt from collective bargaining and all positions in those agencies are excluded from collective bargaining.