Riverside County Auditor-Controller’s Internal Audit Division is Now Fully Staffed

(Riverside, CA) – The Auditor-Controller’s Internal Audit Division is now operating at full capacity.  Ben J. Benoit, Riverside County Auditor-Controller, announced his office has successfully hired 10 new employees, effectively filling all previously vacant positions within the division. A grand jury report released in 2022 found that former Auditor-Controller failed to fill the positions for a decade to an effective level that would help instill confidence with risk management and independent evaluation of county departments consistency with operational expectations. Upon entering the office of Auditor-Controller in 2023, Benoit pledged to fully staff the Auditor-Controller’s Office and address the concerns raised in the Grand Jury report.

“I’m proud to announce that the Internal Audit Division is now fully staffed with a dedicated team of certified professionals, including individuals with Certified Public Accountants (CPA), Certified Internal Auditor (CIA), and Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA) credentials,” said Benoit. “A fully staffed Audit team will help reduce the County’s risk exposure and allow us to provide comprehensive oversight and strategic planning. “I’m particularly proud to highlight that several members of our division have already achieved their CIA certifications, with others actively pursuing both CIA and CISA certifications. This commitment to professional development not only strengthens our internal capabilities but also reinforces the County’s broader risk management framework, ensuring we maintain the highest standards of accountability and excellence. I want to thank the County’s executive office for helping us reach this milestone by allocating funding to hire talented, certified, and experienced employees.”

“Filling vacancies in the Internal Audit Division provides additional capacity to expand audit areas both in scope and in depth,” said Rene Casillas, Deputy Auditor-Controller, Internal Audit Division. “This expansion has enabled us to broaden our services and undertake more comprehensive assessments, such as the county-wide risk assessment, which demands more time and resources. It also helps ensure there is compliance within County operations at all levels, promotes good risk management, improves efficiency of public services, and helps build confidence in County government.”

The Internal Audit Division’s objective is to help instill confidence in the risk management processes by independently and objectively evaluating the internal controls designed and put in place by management to help with overall governance. The Audit Division is focused on adding value and improving the departments’ operations by bringing a systematic, disciplined approach to evaluate and improve the effectiveness of risk management and control.

To view the Grand Jury report, please click here.