As this story from illustrates, cyber losses can greatly harm local governments and their residents—especially smaller entities with limited resources.
Office of the Washington State Auditor can help with services like our free cyber checkup program. Learn more: https://ow.ly/k5p050YpJEX
Hand holding a smartphone with a cracked screen displaying a red hang-up button and the text 'SLAM THE SCAM'.
Today is 'Slam the Scam' Day, part of National Consumer Protection Week dedicated to highlighting tools and tips to fight fraud. Local governments can find helpful resources to detect and deter fraud each and every day on our website: https://sao.wa.gov/improving-government/preventing-fraud
Graphic showing flying hundred-dollar bills with text asking if you want to see where government money goes, promoting the Financial Intelligence Tool.
How much does your town spend on roads? Public safety? Libraries? You have questions, we have answers: the Financial Intelligence Tool (FIT) includes financial data for nearly 2,300 local governments including yours. Start exploring today: sao.wa.gov/FIT
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLBvT6mzOvrmCQdwnHK939gNiOPAFgBqwZ
🎙️TAKE SAO ON THE GO🎙️Episodes of our Aud Podcast are short, accessible and easy to fit into a commute or break. Try one today!
Graphic promoting National Consumer Protection Week warning about scam calls or texts requesting money or personal info, advising to stop and consult someone trusted.
We're joining The Federal Trade Commission and other government agencies to spotlight National Consumer Protection Week, dedicated to helping people detect and deter fraud.
Learn what resources our Office offers local governments: https://sao.wa.gov/resource-library/Fraud-Prevention
Learn how to harness the power of SAO’s Financial Intelligence Tool (FIT) and explore your government’s financial data with our series of short overview videos highlighting key FIT features.
Get started today with FIT’s “Government Types” feature. #GoodGovernment
Thank you @wastatedfi.bsky.social for highlighting this topic. Not only is detecting and deterring fraud important for consumers, but for governments as well. Learn about the resources we offer to help: sao.wa.gov/improving-go...
Logo for Fuse Career Fair featuring stylized gray letters with an orange horizontal line crossing the word Fuse.
Don't miss the FUSE Career Fair, one of the largest events this year, and your chance to learn about our Office! It takes place in Spokane on Wednesday, March 4 from 2 - 6 p.m. For details: https://fusecareerfair.com/
Learn more about SAO: https://sao.wa.gov/about-sao/careers-and-culture
“What has kept me at SAO?” asks Susanne Hancock, who's been with our Office since 2015. “That’s easy: people, passion and purpose.”
Susanne appreciates SAO's collaborative culture, her supportive colleagues and our Office's role in serving the public. “I know the work we do matters,” she says.
Washington State Auditor announces the annual report filing system is now open for reports due 12/31/25.
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: https://sao.wa.gov/bars-annual-filing/bars-annual-report-filing-faqs
2,967 ⭐ 15,536 ⭐ 18 ⭐ These are just three of the numbers you’ll learn about in our latest podcast, featuring Deputy State Auditor Kelly Collins discussing the breadth of our work and outreach for fiscal year 2025. Don’t miss this fascinating ‘by the numbers’ episode of the Aud Pod!
The latest school financial data is now in SAO’s Financial Intelligence Tool (FIT). Does your district make the grade? Learn more today in our blog post.
Free live webinar on annual reporting filing hosted by Washington State Auditor's Office with official seal on laptop screen.
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: https://ow.ly/rZie50XWm59
Shout out to Seattle Pacific University and Seattle University for hosting career events last week and allowing our SAO ambassadors to spread the good word about our Office and its work to students! Learn more about job and internship opportunities with SAO: https://ow.ly/tfzw50Yfiqn
Compensated absences can be complicated—we can help guide your government. Read our blog post to learn how.
Learn how to harness the power of SAO’s Financial Intelligence Tool (FIT) and explore your government’s financial data with our series of short overview videos highlighting key FIT features.
Start today with FIT's "Individual Governments" feature! #GoodGovernment
Blue background with white text displaying today's number as 207, decorated with gold stars and circles, featuring the Washington State Auditor seal.
Today’s number of 207 represents the number of events the State Auditor’s Office participated in during fiscal year 2025!
Learn more interesting facts and figures about our work and how we serve the public in our 2025 annual report summary: https://ow.ly/c58X50XSErP
Last fall our Office published a performance audit examining the use of community health-improvement programs, and SAO experts presented our work at the Greater Health Now Mobile Integrated Health symposium. Now we have video proof!
Logo of Washington State Auditor with text 'SAO Navigator' for government employee guidance.
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: https://sao.wa.gov/sao-navigator
SAO PODCAST CLIP 🎙️Get a taste of how fiscal year 2025 shaped up for our Office in this clip from our special 'By The Numbers' podcast.
If you like what you hear, check out the ful episode: https://youtu.be/o8jNRoLCvKo
Two representatives stand behind a Washington State Auditor recruitment table with promotional items and a sign inviting job applicants to join the team.
Interested in serving the public as a member of our team? Meet us at the Saint Martin's University Job & Internship Fair this Thursday, Feb. 19 from 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. and see what it's like to work here!
Visit our website for more information: https://sao.wa.gov/about-sao/careers-and-culture
Blue background with white text saying Happy Presidents Day, decorated with red and white stars and the Washington State Auditor seal.
"On a day we recognize leaders who have shaped our nation I'd like to also celebrate SAO staff who act as leaders in our communities, demonstrating the empathy, openness and resilience required to promote accountability and transparency across our state."
—State Auditor Pat McCarthy
Wooden blocks stacked with icons of business and teamwork under bold text saying Join Our Team and a Washington State Auditor seal.
View the current job openings and internships at the Office of the Washington State Auditor apply today: https://ow.ly/nLrR50YcUPP
Two women engage in conversation at a recruitment booth for the Washington State Auditor's Office, featuring informational materials on the table.
Many thanks to Whitworth University and WSU Pullman for hosting career events last week, where SAO representatives met with many great students and career-seekers. We appreciate the enthusiasm and interest in our work.
Couldn’t make it? No worries, learn more: https://ow.ly/k0lB50YaolZ
Nothing breaks our heart more than local governments getting defrauded, so this Valentine’s Day please help yourself to our library of fraud prevention tips and resources: https://sao.wa.gov/resource-library/Fraud-Prevention
Handshake over a signed contract symbolizing best practices for managing change orders in projects.
Our 'Best Practices For Change Orders' resource is now even better! Check out our updated guide designed to help local government employees responsible for construction, architectural and engineering contracts: https://sao.wa.gov/sites/default/files/2023-05/Change-Order-Best-practices.pdf
Portrait of Serena Sall, Assistant State Auditor at Team Bellingham, celebrating 5 years with Washington State Auditor's Office since 2020.
For Serena Sall, working at SAO boils down to two words: purpose and people.
“I appreciate SAO’s goal of helping governments work more efficiently and effective,” she says.
“And I really enjoy working with everyone on my team as they are all very understanding and supportive!” #WeAreSAO
A helping hand: SAO's cybersecurity resources are designed to assist local government leadership build a strong culture of cyber awareness and safety. Learn more about our latest guide in our Audit Connection blog. #GoodGovernment
Instructor standing and speaking to a group of students seated at desks with multiple computer monitors in a classroom setting.
Instructor wearing a cap and jacket teaching a computer class with students seated at desks facing monitors in a modern lab.
Man wearing a black jacket and cap gestures while speaking in front of a blank projector screen during a classroom session.
We salute the Saint Martin's University Vet to Tech program for providing a pathway for military members to pursue cybersecurity professional development, and for having Mike Hjermstad, an SAO IT security expert and military veteran himself, meet with students. Learn more: https://ow.ly/ZeSw50Y8y8F
Washington State Department of Financial Institutions tells us romance scams are in the air this time of year, which got us thinking: ❤️We’d LOVE to see local governments take advantage of our fraud-prevention resources. Start exploring today: https://sao.wa.gov/resource-library/Fraud-Prevention
