the auditors eye

Summer 2025

Auditor Message:

Emphatic Belief in Continuous Improvement…

The mission of the Washington County Auditor’s Office is to promote better government accountability, public policy, and County services through impactful audits and analyses. These aren’t just pretty words that sound good. The core belief is that continuous improvement is critical to a well running government that provides good, cost-effective services to the public.


It is important to me that our own office exhibits how much we value continuous improvement. We need to "talk the talk and walk the walk," by matching our actions with their words, and demonstrate our intentions through action.


I have always believed that the Auditor’s Office should be audited. Not only is it a professional standard, but it is an important way our office shows its commitment to excellence in auditing, continuous improvement, and demonstrating our own transparency and accountability to the public.


In April, we hosted a team of external auditors from the Association of Local Government Auditors. This team took an independent look at how our office complies with Government Auditing Standards and provided feedback on how to make our office better. I’m pleased to report that our office passed our first-ever external quality review, in the history of the office. (We’ve been around since the early 1980s.)


I am extremely proud of this office! We are meeting a high bar of professionalism, integrity, and accountability, and that serves the County and the public very well! We will continue to be audited every three years, and I will always make this audit available to the public, so anyone can see where we did well and where we need to improve. The public deserves nothing less from this office.

With gratitude,


Kristine Adams-Wannberg

Washington County Auditor

2025 Audit Schedule Released


The office released the 2025 Audit Schedule in April! Many thanks to all those who submitted audit topic ideas. Two new audits were added. One is on controlled substance inventory controls in the jail medical unit and the other is on the County’s central facilities capital function. An audit of federal emergency rental assistance has been removed from the schedule, due to timing issues, as the federal award ends September 2025.

Two Follow-Ups Reviews out:

Information Security and

Racial/Ethnic Diversity of County Boards


Throughout the year, we check-up with County management to see how they are implementing audit recommendations. In April, our office released the second follow-up of the 2024 audit on the Racial/Ethnic Diversity of County Board and Commissions. In May, the second review of the 2024 Information Security Assessment came out.


The County has implemented most of the recommendations for the Boards and Commissions audit, with two recommendations still in progress. The five Information Security recommendations are all in progress.

All Staff Earn Fraud Examiner Certifications!


Congratulations to Fiona Howell Earle, Sherry Kurk, and Kristine Adams-Wannberg for each earning their Certified Fraud Examiner Certification (CFE)!

CFE holders have met the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners Association’s character, experience, and education requirements and have demonstrated knowledge in areas related to detecting fraud. Among many things, CFEs are able to examine data and records to detect and trace fraudulent transactions, understand the law as it relates to fraud and fraud investigations, and identify the underlying factors that motivate individuals to commit fraud. Way to go, team!

Something worth your time… the Popular Annual Financial Report


Washington County has produced its first Popular Annual Financial Report (PAFR). Well done to the County’s central Finance Department for taking this on!


The PAFR is a useful publication to increase public awareness of the County’s financial condition by presenting information in a more user-friendly format than the County’s roughly 300-page Annual Comprehensive Financial Report. If you are interested in the County’s financial information and need it in a more digestible format, please check it out.


Status of Audit Schedule Projects

Audit Name

Start Date

Estimated Completion

Identity and Access Management

December 2024

Fall 2025

Cash Handling

February 2025

Fall 2025

Grants Management

July 2024

Fall 2025

Facilities Capital

TBD


Jail Controlled Substances Inventory

TBD


We’re on Social Media!


We're on Facebook and Instagram to keep you up to date on activities at the Washington County Auditor’s Office. The two accounts have similar information, please connect with us at one or both accounts to stay up-to-date!

Did You Know...


An auditor in a federal agency is often called an "Inspector General.”

Invite the Auditor!


If you’d like me and/or staff to attend or speak at a meeting with your community group, make a request by emailing us at: countyauditor@washingtoncountyor.gov.

Keep in Touch


You can download and view electronic copies of our reports here.

 

Or, you can obtain copies of our reports by contacting us at:

 

Washington County Auditor’s Office

221 S. First Ave, MS 31

Hillsboro, OR 97123-3901

(503) 846-8798 | countyauditor@washingtoncountyor.gov

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