As established in the voter-approved City Charter, the City Auditor is appointed by the City Council. The City Charter gives the City Auditor authority to conduct financial and performance audits and investigations of all city activities and programs. It also provides the City Auditor free and open access, except as limited by law, to all city records, personnel, facilities, and information necessary to carry out these duties.

City Code establishes an Audit Committee consisting of three City Council members, appointed by the mayor with the approval of the City Council. Currently, Councilwoman Kathy Littlefield serves as the Chair, and Councilmember Barry Graham and Councilwoman Solange Whitehead serve as members of the committee.

Annually, the City Auditor presents an Audit Plan for the upcoming year to the Audit Committee for review and recommendation, and then to the City Council for review and approval.

The City Auditor's Office presents all of its completed reports at the Audit Committee's public meetings. Further, completed reports may also be presented to the full City Council.

The City Auditor's Office conducts audits in accordance with generally accepted government auditing standards issued by the United States Government Accountability Office. To assure compliance with these standards, the City Auditor has an external peer review completed at least once every three years. Scottsdale is one of only two cities in Arizona and about 94 cities in the United States and Canada having an external peer review conducted by the Association of Local Government Auditors.

In 2014, the City Auditor has established an Integrity Line to receive information regarding potential fraud, waste or abuse that may have occurred affecting city operations. Read more information, including examples of matters to report and contact methods.

Report an Integrity Issue

The City Auditor supports the Audit Committee in carrying out its Council-assigned duty to periodically review the city's Boards and Commissions. Through these "sunset reviews" the Audit Committee considers the ongoing continuation of boards and commissions and whether modifications should be recommended.

More about the process and schedule