Audit Liaison

  • Full-time
  • Minimum Education Required: College degree

Company Description

A best-in-class city that attracts best-in-class talent, Philadelphia is an incredible place to build a career. From our thriving arts scene and rich history to our culture of passion and grit, there are countless reasons to love living and working here. With a workforce of over 30,000 people, and more than 1,000 different job categories, the City of Philadelphia offers boundless opportunities to make an impact.

As an employer, the City of Philadelphia values inclusion, integrity, innovation, empowerment, and hard work above all else. We offer a vibrant work environment, comprehensive health care and benefits, and the experience you need to grow and excel. If you’re interested in working with a passionate team of people who care about the future of Philadelphia, start here.

What we offer

  • Impact - The work you do here matters to millions. 
  • Growth - Philadelphia is growing, why not grow with it? 
  • Diversity & Inclusion - Find a career in a place where everyone belongs.
  • Benefits - We care about your well-being.

Agency Description

The Office of Director of Finance was created by the Philadelphia Home Rule Charter, adopted by the electors of the City on April 17, 1951, to give the Mayor and the City government a principal officer responsible for the financial, accounting, and budgeting functions of the executive branch. The Director of Finance is thus the chief financial officer of the City and all powers and duties concerning finances, accounting, and budgeting in the executive branch are directly or indirectly the Director's. The Director of Finance is also the Chairman of the Board of Pensions and Retirements and an ex-officio member of the board of various quasi-governmental agencies, including the Pennsylvania Intergovernmental Cooperation Authority. The City of Philadelphia operates on a fiscal year between July 1st and June 30th. 

Job Description

Position Summary 

The Audit Liaison is an exempt, full-time professional position within the Office of the Director of Finance’s Internal Controls and Compliance unit. This role serves as a key partner to City departments in coordinating and supporting internal and external audits, including those performed by the City’s Internal Controls and Compliance team, the City Controller’s Office, external auditors, and State and Federal oversight agencies. 

The Audit Liaison assists departments in understanding audit requests, gathering and organizing all required documentation, and ensuring responses are complete, accurate, and submitted timely. The position helps translate audit requirements into clear action steps for departments, supports the development of corrective action plans, and contributes to strengthening the City’s overall internal control and compliance posture. 

This role reports to the Director of Internal Controls and Compliance (or designee). 

Essential Functions 

Audit Coordination & Support 

  • Serve as the primary point of contact between assigned departments, Internal Controls and Compliance, and internal/external auditors during all phases of audits (planning, fieldwork, testing, and reporting). 

  • Coordinate the intake, tracking, and fulfillment of all audit requests, including document requests, samples, and follow-up questions. 

  • Assist in scheduling and coordinating audit meetings, walkthroughs, and interviews with departmental staff. 

  • Monitor audit timelines and deadlines; proactively follow up with departments to ensure timely and complete responses. 

Documentation Gathering & Quality Review 

  • Work with departments to identify, gather, and organize source documents, reports, policies, procedures, and other evidence required for audits. 

  • Review documentation for completeness, clarity, and consistency before submission to auditors. 

  • Maintain organized electronic audit folders, logs, and tracking tools ensuring that records are properly labeled, stored, and accessible. 

Internal Controls & Compliance Support 

  • Identify control gaps, process issues, or recurring themes raised during audits and communicate them to Internal Controls and Compliance leadership. 

  • Assist departments in developing and documenting corrective action plans (CAPs) in response to audit findings. 

  • Track corrective action progress and follow up with departments to reduce repeat findings and support sustainable remediation. 

  • Provide basic guidance and support to departmental staff on internal controls, documentation expectations, and audit readiness best practices. 

Communication & Stakeholder Engagement 

  • Maintain clear, professional communication with departmental liaisons, Central Finance staff, auditors, and other oversight entities. 

  • Prepare and distribute status updates on active audits, highlighting upcoming deadlines, outstanding requests, and emerging issues. 

  • Escalate concerns, delays, or risk areas to the Director of Internal Controls and Compliance when audit timelines or quality may be impacted. 

Reporting, Tracking & Continuous Improvement 

  • Maintain audit tracking tools and dashboards summarizing requests, response times, and key issues. 

  • Assist in compiling post-audit summaries and lessons learned to inform citywide process improvements and training. 

  • Support the development of standard templates, checklists, and guidance documents to improve audit readiness across departments. 

  • Perform other related duties as assigned that support the mission of Internal Controls and Compliance and the Office of the Director of Finance. 

Competencies, Knowledge, Skills and Abilities 

  • Knowledge of Auditing and Internal Controls: General understanding of audit processes, internal controls, financial documentation, and compliance concepts. 

  • Government / Grants Awareness (Preferred): Familiarity with governmental accounting, the Single Audit, and/or grant compliance requirements is helpful. 

  • Organization & Time Management: Ability to manage multiple audits, competing deadlines, and large volumes of documentation simultaneously. 

  • Communication Skills: Strong written and verbal communication skills; able to clearly explain audit requests and expectations to departmental staff. 

  • Analytical & Critical Thinking Skills: Ability to review documentation for completeness and accuracy, identify gaps, and suggest improvements. 

  • Collaboration & Customer Service: Ability to build effective working relationships with departments and auditors; responsive and solutions-oriented. 

  • Confidentiality & Professionalism: Ability to handle sensitive information responsibly and maintain professional judgment. 

  • Technical Skills: Proficiency with Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, Outlook) and comfort working with shared drives, document management tools, and tracking spreadsheets or databases. 

Qualifications

  • Bachelor’s Degree: A bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, Public Administration, or a closely related field is required. 

  • Experience: 

  • Minimum of 1–3 years of experience in auditing, accounting, compliance, grants management, or a related financial/administrative role. 

  • Experience working with audits, internal controls, or documentation-heavy processes is strongly preferred. 

  • Preferred: 

  • Experience with governmental entities or non-profit organizations. 

  • Familiarity with internal control frameworks (e.g., GAO Green Book, COSO) and/or federal grant requirements (e.g., Uniform Guidance). 

Additional Information

TO APPLY: Interested candidates must submit a cover letter, resume, and references.

Salary Range: $65,000 - $80,000

Discover the Perks of Being a City of Philadelphia Employee:

  • Transportation: City employees get unlimited FREE public transportation all year long through SEPTA’s Key Advantage program. Employees can ride on SEPTA buses, subways, trolleys, and regional rail for their daily commute and more.
  • Parental Benefits: The City offers its employees 8 weeks of paid parental leave.
  • We offer Comprehensive health coverage for employees and their eligible dependents.
  • Our wellness program offers eligibility into the discounted medical plan
  • Employees receive paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays
  • Generous retirement savings options are available
  • Pay off your student loans faster - As a qualifying employer, City of Philadelphia employees are eligible to participate in the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program. Join the ranks of hundreds of employees who have already benefited from this program and achieved student loan forgiveness.
  • Unlock Tuition Discounts and Scholarships - The City of Philadelphia has forged partnerships with over a dozen esteemed colleges and universities in the area, ensuring that our employees have access to a wide range of tuition discounts and scholarships. Experience savings of 10% to 40% on your educational expenses, extending not only to City employees but in some cases, spouse and dependents too!

Join the City of Philadelphia team today and seize these incredible benefits designed to enhance your financial well-being and personal growth!

*The successful candidate must be a city of Philadelphia resident within six months of hire

Effective May 22, 2023, vaccinations are no longer required for new employees that work in non-medical, non-emergency or patient facing positions with the City of Philadelphia. As a result, only employees in positions providing services that are patient-facing medical care (ex: Nurses, doctors, emergency medical personnel), must be fully vaccinated.

The City of Philadelphia is an Equal Opportunity employer and does not permit discrimination based on race, ethnicity, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, disability, marital status, source of income, familial status, genetic information or domestic or sexual violence victim status. If you believe you were discriminated against, call the Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations at 215-686-4670 or send an email to [email protected].

For more information, go to: Human Relations Website: http://www.phila.gov/humanrelations/Pages/default.aspx