Office of the Washington State Auditor
Working on behalf of the public to promote accountability and transparency of government in Washington state. Learn more at https://sao.wa.gov.
- Join the SAO’s annual filing specialists for a free, live training designed to provide a clear overview of annual report requirements: Feb. 10 and Mar. 3 for Cash basis governments, and Feb. 11 and Mar. 17 for GAAP basis governments. Learn more and sign up: ow.ly/rZie50XWm59
- Our Office and its role in verifying how state agencies manage federal funds for child care programs has come into the spotlight in recent weeks. We’d like to shine a light on the facts: sao.wa.gov/fundsFAQ
- NEW 📢 Our guide to using the Lean PDCA method (Plan, Do, Check, Adjust) is designed to help your team create better workflows, make faster decisions and gain more reliable results. Who doesn’t want that? Download the guide today: ow.ly/YigF50XWS1F
- We appreciate this story by the Mercer Island Reporter, which serves as a stark reminder for all local governments to be vigilant about change payment requests. Our recent blog post focuses on this issue and offers some tips on how to identify related scams: ow.ly/7Yrs50Y6tVT
- Calling all governments 📢 SAO’s Annual Report Filing System is now open for 12/31/25 annual report filing! Reporting is due by May 30, 2026 and we encourage governments to file as early as possible. Learn more: sao.wa.gov/bars-annual-filing/…
- Learn what it's like to serve the public with our Office at a career event this Thurs., Feb. 5: -- Whitworth University Spring into Success Recruiting Event from 9:00 – 11:30 a.m. -- Gonzaga University Spring Accounting Fair from 3:30-5:30 p.m. Learn more about us here: ow.ly/S4pb50XWnI2
- Learn more about our performance audit cited in this story from The Tacoma News Tribune on our website: sao.wa.gov/the-audit-connectio…
- Ensuring digital equity—the ability for all Washingtonians to participate in a digital society—involves multiple state agencies and partners. With $1 billion slated for this effort, does our state have a strategy to achieve this? Find out in our performance audit: ow.ly/P8Cc50Y4xfX
- Thank you to @khqlocalnews.bsky.social for covering our latest performance audit about the Dept. of Commerce's Digital Navigator program. Find out more including a link to our published report: ow.ly/ZMJp50Y6F7x
- We serve Washingtonians by auditing public funds. This includes how state agencies manage federal funding for child care programs. To bring clarity to this work, we created some FAQs: sao.wa.gov/fundsFAQ
- ICYMI: @king5news.bsky.social story highlighting our work about the Dept. of Commerce's Digital Navigator program. You may read more about our published performance audit here: ow.ly/BUSN50Y6EUH
- SAO’s unofficial mascot, Theo the Wonder Corgi, loves snacks and strong digital security. Please throw him a bone and update your password frequently. Find more cybersecurity resources on our website: sao.wa.gov/resource-library/Cy…
- SAO recognizes the Washington State Patrol (WSP) with a State Auditor’s Stewardship Award for its commitment to professionalism, accountability, and excellence in public service. State Auditor Pat McCarthy presented the Award to Chief John Batiste earlier this week. #GoodGovernment
- Our Office is looking to hire a summer intern to help our team that reviews police use of deadly force investigations to help ensure they are conducted objectively and independently. Salary range is $3,189.42 - $4,216.02 monthly. Learn more and apply today: ow.ly/mPOW50Y4CXZ
- sao.wa.gov/fundsFAQ Our Office is the authority on auditing public funds in our state, including federal child care funding. We realize the public has a lot of questions about this issue, and have created a FAQ page to address how we audit these funds.
- Our recent performance audit revealed issues on multiple levels with our state’s Digital Navigator program, designed to help expand equitable access to essential online services for all Washingtonians. Learn what we found and how it may impact you in our latest report.
- Bob likes to read 350+ page documents. Jane prefers scrollable infographics. If you're like Jane, you'll love our summary of the state's Annual Financial Comprehensive Report: ow.ly/bm0E50Y1joA
- We'd like to recognize National Data Privacy Day today (yes, it's that important that it has its own day!) and remind everyone to follow privacy and data protection best practices. We have resources to help local governments safeguard Washingtonians' digital data: ow.ly/VpP050XO1cg
- Alisha Alkire is proud to work at the Office of the Washington State Auditor, and even more proud to let those around her know. “I love telling friends and family that there is transparency in government, and I am a part of making our community better,” she says. You make us all proud, Alisha!
- Join the SAO’s annual filing specialists for a free, live training designed to provide a clear overview of annual report requirements: Feb. 10 and Mar. 3 for Cash basis governments, and Feb. 11 and Mar. 17 for GAAP basis governments. Learn more and sign up: ow.ly/rZie50XWm59
- Calling all University of Washington Tacoma accounting students 📣 We'll be on campus Weds. Jan 28 from 12:30-1:30 for an informative Lunch and Learn session, so plan to stop by and find out about starting a career here! Learn more online: sao.wa.gov/about-sao/careers-a…
- ICYMI: State Auditor Pat McCarthy recently shared her insight into child care subsidies and the accusations of fraud percolating in our state. Originally appearing in The Seattle Times, we have republished her statement on our website.
- Introducing the SAO Navigator, a specialized webpage that brings together the most important information, tools and resources government employees will need when working with our Office. Check it out today: sao.wa.gov/sao-navigator
- Calling all governments 📢 SAO’s Annual Report Filing System is now open for 12/31/25 annual report filing! Reporting is due by May 30, 2026 and we encourage governments to file as early as possible. Learn more: sao.wa.gov/bars-annual-filing/…
- GO TEAM 📣 We've added a new Teambuilding section to our ever-expanding library of local government resources! See what's in store today: sao.wa.gov/resource-library/Te…
- Pretrial services offer an alternative to incarceration for people awaiting trial outside jail. Are these services effective? Are there barriers to using them? We sought to find out. Learn more in this video of our team's presentation detailing the results of our published audit.
- 2,967 ⭐ 15,536 ⭐ 18 ⭐ These are just three of the numbers you’ll find in our at-a-glance look for fiscal year 2025. Learn what these numbers (and many more) mean, and how they illustrate our efforts to help ensure accountability and transparency for public resources.
- As the authority on auditing public funds in our state, Office of the Washington State Auditor has insight into child care subsidies and the accusations of fraud percolating in our state. State Auditor Pat McCarthy sheds some light on this important issue of public transparency in The Seattle Times.
- In recognition of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, our Office is closed Monday, January 19.
- Did you know today is dedicated to highlighting civics education and engagement? Learn more from WA Office of the Secretary of State webpage.
- Teambuilding. Training. Transparency. Our latest e-newsletter includes great info pertaining to them all—and more. Check it out and click on the ‘Join our Email List’ button at the top to subscribe: conta.cc/48Z0D6T
- There's A LOT to learn when a new government official first takes office. Where to begin? Glad you asked. Our recently updated blog post includes some great guidance and key resources for new and seasoned elected and appointed officials alike.
- Today's number of 47 represents the number of Use of Deadly Force Investigation audits our Office published in fiscal year 2025. Learn more how our Office is leading the nation in systematically reviewing every local investigation into police use of deadly force: ow.ly/hzYq50XSzIj
- Local government meets AI in this podcast from Engaging Local Government Leaders (ELGL).
- ICYMI: Last month SAO's own Brenton Clark had an article published in the Association of Local Government Auditors (ALGA) Quarterly focused on community compensation policy. Thank you for sharing your expertise, Brenton! #GoodGovernment
- What do local governments think of our free, award-winning cyber checkup service? Hear what the City of Port Townsend's Network Administrator, David Olsen, had to say in our latest podcast episode.
- State Auditor Pat McCarthy has released a statement that addresses child care subsidies, in response to several inquiries our Office has received this week from the media and the public regarding this issue and allegations of fraud. Read more on our blog: ow.ly/AmCU50XTeZV
- More than $25,000 of travel reimbursement misappropriation is at the heart of a fraud investigation report our Office published late last month. Learn more: ow.ly/QRqI50XRcVb
- Today's number of 2,967 represents how many audits our Office published in fiscal year 2025—we've been busy! Learn how we provided accountability and transparency of public funds in our at-a-glance summary of work for the year: ow.ly/QFtA50XSzm0
- Calling all school districts! Sign up today for WASBO’s online 2026 Grants Workshop including SAO’s Single Audit Specialist, Felicia DenAdel. This workshop will help you build a strong foundation for success and strengthen your district’s internal controls. Learn more: ow.ly/VKfo50XL6Rc
- Pretrial services offer an alternative to bail but they haven't been widely adopted by courts in our state. We wanted to know why. Tune in this Wednesday and see what our performance auditors found out: ow.ly/Bzmv50XQLWs
- See how one local government improved its efficiency and effectiveness thanks to our free Lean services in this episode of our Aud Pod podcast. Then, head over to our website to learn more and sign up for your own customized workshop today: sao.wa.gov/improving-governmen…
- In honor of National Trivia Day on Jan. 4 we thought we'd drop this fun fact: Did you know in fiscal year 2025 our Office completed 2,967 audits? Learn more about our accomplishments during the year and get ready to impress at your next party: ow.ly/LXVA50XNkZi
- Chelan County falls down on state audit duties www.ncwlife.com/news/videos/... You can find our latest published report for Chelan County on our website: portal.sao.wa.gov/ReportSearch...
- We appreciate serving the public, and look forward to promoting accountability and transparency in government during the year ahead! For a glimpse of our work in fiscal year 2025, check out at-a-glance summary: ow.ly/FLLI50XNkTX
- Shout out to all of our generous SAOers who donated gifts and money to benefit three local families in need! Working with ROOF Community Services and Family Education and Support Services, we helped make the holidays a bit brighter for some truly deserving people. #HappyHolidays
- Calling all school districts! Sign up today for WASBO’s online 2026 Grants Workshop including SAO’s Single Audit Specialist, Felicia DenAdel. This workshop will help you build a strong foundation for success and strengthen your district’s internal controls. Learn more: ow.ly/VKfo50XL6Rc
- Counting Down the Five Most Popular SAO Blog Posts of 2025…coming in at number 1 is what you might call a two-fer fraud investigation story that details misappropriation of public funds in a pair of small towns. There are important lessons to be learned here.
- How many audits will we complete before the New Year? Check back on our homepage to find out: https://sao.wa.gov
- “I am proud of everyone in our Office for their energy and passion for the important work we do. We advance our shared values of transparency and accountability, and I believe we embrace the same hopes for the New Year: peace, joy and a brighter future for us all.” —State Auditor Pat McCarthy
