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Mar 19, 2026

PRINCIPAL CLAIM AUDITOR

  • State of California Office of the Controller
  • Hybrid
  • $5,241 - $6,494 monthly
Full time Accounting Government Management

Job Description

The Operations Bureau performs prepayment audits of claims from state agencies to ensure legality, validity, and compliance with laws and regulations. The auditing process serves as a safeguard against improper claims by verifying legal justification, budget appropriation, and program alignment. It ensures claims confirm authority and consistency with relevant state and federal statutes, judicial opinions, attorney general guidance, and the California Constitution.
 
Under general direction provided by the Senior Management Auditor, the Principal Claim Auditor (PCA) supervises claim auditor staff engaged in extremely time sensitive audit of all claims (both paper claims and FI$Cal vouchers) against the State prior to payment from the State Treasury. The PCA is responsible for planning, direction, and coordination of the work of claim auditor staff within the Claim Audits unit. The Principal Claim Auditor trains and supervises staff and manages the unit workload.

 

Duties Performed:
(Candidates must perform the following functions with or without reasonable accommodations.)


Specific duties include, but will not be limited to the following:

  • Planning, organizing, and directing staff conducting audits to ensure validity and legality of claims prior to payment from the State Treasury.
  • Keeping current with applicable laws, rules, regulations, and office policies/procedures when auditing claim schedules and FI$Cal vouchers.
  • Resolving complex problems presented by departments, management, and the executive office respective to claims.


Supervision and Staff Performance

  • Provide supervision and on-the-job training to staff.
  • Plan, organize, and direct staff.
  • Ensure uniform application of laws and regulations when performing audits. This includes examination of all contracts, amendments, supplements or change orders for legality, completeness including; accuracy, propriety of purpose, sufficient provisions of law, required approvals, and proper staff preparation of summaries of contract requirements.
  • Identify staff training needs.
  • Evaluate staff work performance and prepare probationary reports and annual performance appraisals.
  • Recruit, interview, and hire staff to fill vacancies.
  • Monitor and review staff attendance reports.
Audit-related Tasks
  • Identify proper audit procedures, policies, and legal authority.
  • Review audit procedures, audit sampling techniques, and fiscal controls to make recommendations for improvement.
  • Resolve most complex problems respective to claims.
  • Determine the need for referring questions to the SCO Legal Office.
Communication
  • Inform staff on the application of new statutory provisions, court decisions, Attorney General’s opinions, and administrative rules and regulations relating to claims against the State.
  • Develop, maintain, and monitor written desk procedures, manuals, and audit reference files.
  • Confer with departments, management, and the SCO Executive Office respective to claims.
Special Projects
  • Perform special projects as required.
State of California Office of the Controller
About State of California Office of the Controller

As the chief fiscal officer of California, the fourth largest economy in the world, the Controller’s office is responsible for the accountability and disbursement of the state’s financial resources. The Controller independently audits government agencies that spend state funds and administers the payroll system for state government employees and California State University employees. The Controller also safeguards many types of property until claimed by the rightful owners. The Controller serves on 70 boards and commissions with authority affecting policies ranging from land management, affordable housing, and alternative transportation to crime victim compensation and health and educational facilities. They are a member of numerous financing authorities, fiscal and financial oversight entities including the Franchise Tax Board and Board of Equalization. They also serve on the boards of the nation's two largest public pension funds. The      Controller is one of eight statewide constitutional officials who are elected every four years in California.

 

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