Association of Local Government Auditors

In the performance audit arena, computers automate and process much more information than in the past when individual auditors performed analysis using printing calculators, paper and pencil.  While some automation reduces the human need, audit organizations still fundamentally rely upon human capital to accomplish their missions.   With less human capital today than yesterday due to automation and budget reductions, the need for recruiting, training and retaining exceptional audit staff becomes paramount.

In Rodd Wagner and James Harter's book, 12 Elements of Great Managing, the authors present the results of a great many surveys focused on employee engagement - a key to retaining high quality employees.  Wagner and Harter identify critical elements such as opportunities to learn and grow as well as encouraging employee development (training); giving employees opportunities to do what they do best (recruiting staff with the right skill set for the job); and a number of other elements focused on keeping employees engaged, motivated, productive, and happy (retaining).  We see these elements in audit shops around the country, and you can read about some of it here in this issue of the Quarterly.

The Publications Committee is excited to present this edition of the Quarterly focused on Recruiting, Training and Retaining Audit Staff.  We collected great content to positively impact your audit organizations. Learn about generational differences and retention from Multonomah County's Amanda Lamb or in-house learning and training from Austin's Olga Ovcharenko.  This edition also includes a special guest article from Tracey Elmore on ethics and a taste of the results from ALGA's newly released survey. 

I should also mention that this edition includes important information about the Knighton Award and nomination information for key ALGA positions and awards.  Also, please save the date for the 2012 ALGA Conference in Tempe, Arizona - it will be May 7 and 8 at the Tempe Mission Palms Hotel.   

In this edition, we included a fact sheet on Peer Review called "Did you Know," which includes some interesting tidbits about ALGA's Peer Review program.  Also, due to popular demand, we are releasing the next six ALGA Quarterly themes to give you a head start on writing articles.  Upcoming themes and submission titles are as follows:

Spring 2012 due February 15: Procuring, Managing and Leveraging Outside Experts

Summer 2012 due May 15: Performance Measurement - Focusing on program results

Fall 2012 due August 15: Impactful Audit Practices - Planning

Winter 2012 due November 15: Impactful Audit Practices - Fieldwork

Spring 2013 due February 15: Impactful Audit Practices - Analytical techniques

Summer 2013 due May 15: How to References - Compilation of step-by-step tools, techniques, and activities to enhance performance auditing

We hope you enjoy this edition of the Quarterly.  Our Spring 2012 Quarterly issue will be on Procuring, Managing and Leveraging Outside Experts.  Articles are due on February 15th.  Submit your articles to editor@governmentauditors.org.

LinkedIn: ALGA - Networking is important to auditors, so if you haven't joined yet, it is time to join ALGA's LinkedIn group.  We are now at 425 international members and growing!