The Importance of Protecting Auditor Independence

At a time when trust in government is a fragile commodity, the role of state and local government auditors has become even more important. These people, whether through auditing financial records, creating reports, or providing analysis on internal controls, can help support goals to build trust with the community. As Kymber Waltmunson, auditor for King County, Washington, said, “I have always felt that a primary goal of my work is to help promote trust in government, showing people that there’s a watchdog out there looking out for the public’s interest.” But for auditors to be able to accomplish this goal, they must be able to function independently, free from interference by outside forces in government.

• Publication date: December 2023
• Authors: Katherine Barrett and Richard Greene