Office of the Legislative Auditor

Special Reviews Auditor

Help shape public policies and programs that have an impact on Minnesotans’ lives. The Office of the Legislative Auditor (OLA) is looking for curious, motivated, critical thinkers interested in applying their skills to improve state government programs and processes. OLA conducts nonpartisan audits, evaluations, and reviews of state government programs and organizations, and it reports the results to the Minnesota Legislature and to the officials responsible for the programs and organizations examined.

OLA is accepting applications for a full-time Special Reviews Auditor position. In this position, you will work in a small team under the direction of a supervisor to investigate allegations of possible misuse of state money and other public resources. OLA offers flexible schedules, great benefits, and opportunities for ongoing professional development and career advancement.

Job Summmary
Typical duties of a Special Reviews Auditor include the following:

• Assisting with receiving, tracking, assessing, and responding to complaints, allegations, and reports of possible misuse of state money and other public resources.
• Participating in regular internal discussions about how OLA should respond to the complaints, allegations, and other reports it receives.
• With close supervision, conducting research related to specific concerns or allegations, which may include:
• Conducting interviews and site visits, reviewing documents, and analyzing results.
• Analyzing existing reports and state and federal laws.
• Managing, cleaning, and analyzing data.
• Writing reports and preparing presentations summarizing findings and recommendations.
• Creating tables, figures, and other graphics to communicate research results.
• Verifying the accuracy of analysis performed by other auditors.
• Assisting other OLA staff as needed.

The salary range for the Special Reviews Auditor is from $33.35 to $51.20 per hour, the equivalent of $69,635 to $106,906 per year. The Legislative Auditor will determine the starting salary (within the above salary range) based on a successful applicant’s qualifications.

Minimum Qualifications
To be considered, a candidate must submit a cover letter and must have:

• A bachelor’s degree in accounting, business, economics, finance, the social sciences, public policy, or another relevant field. The degree must be completed before employment start date.
• Strong writing skills, including experience analyzing complex information and summarizing it simply and clearly in writing.
• Demonstrated attention to detail.
• Training or experience in accounting and auditing OR training or experience in one or more research methods, such as:
• Data organization and quantitative analysis
• Interviews
• Literature reviews
• Legal analysis
• Proficiency in Microsoft programs (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access).
• Experience working independently and as part of a team.
• The ability to work effectively with people who have a diverse range of perspectives.
• The ability to conduct objective, nonpartisan research on complicated and sometimes controversial topics.

Preferred Qualifications
The ideal candidate will also have one or more of the following:

• A graduate degree in accounting, business, economics, finance, the social sciences, public policy, or another relevant field; OR successful completion of some or all parts of the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) exam and/or the Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) exam.
• Experience in critically evaluating compliance with legal requirements, including laws; federal regulations; and state rules, policies, and procedures.
• Experience collecting information through interviews and written inquiries.
• Experience cleaning and critically analyzing large demographic, economic, and/or financial data sets.
• Knowledge of state government and the legislative process.
• Experience obtaining and handling sensitive information.
• Experience interacting with the public verbally and in writing about sensitive or controversial issues.

Additional Requirements

• We will review cover letters and resumes to identify applicants meeting minimum and preferred qualifications. Selected applicants will go through an interview process and will be required to submit education transcripts and employment references. At the time of the interview, we will ask applicants to respond to a writing prompt.
• We will conduct background checks prior to any employment offer. Violations relevant to being an auditor at OLA may disqualify an applicant.
• Due to the nonpartisan nature of our office, applicants with extensive prior partisan work experience may be disqualified.
• Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States without needing sponsorship for an employment visa (e.g., H1B status).
• This position will have the flexibility to work a hybrid schedule or work in the office. The selected applicant must live in Minnesota and may be expected to work in the office on occasion.

How to Apply
Interested applicants must submit a cover letter with their resume through the state’s Careers website.  You may do this by uploading the documents as a single file attachment, or uploading the cover letter separately from the resume.  If you have questions about applying for jobs, contact the job information line at 651-259-3637 or e-mail careers@state.mn.us. 

Special Reviews Auditor – Job ID 86783  (Posting closes at 11:59 p.m. on June 30, 2025.)

If you have job-specific questions, contact Katherine Theisen at Katherine.Theisen@state.mn.us or 651-296-1229.  For benefits-related questions, contact Penny Gomez at Penny.Gomez@state.mn.us or 651-295-1097.

Why Work for Us
Meaningful work.  OLA helps to improve state government by promoting good management in state agencies and enhancing program effectiveness.  

Great benefits. OLA, as part of the State of Minnesota, offers excellent health and retirement benefits, as well as a strong commitment to work-life balance to help you thrive both at work and in your personal life.

OLA values the unique contributions that candidates with diverse experiences, knowledge, and backgrounds can bring to our work.