Next, I decided to accept an audit position with the City of Austin because I wanted public sector experience and from there went on to accept policy analyst type positions with the City of Bellevue and Seattle. While I was not particularly interested in returning to auditing, per se, I was attracted to the City Auditor position because it provided me the opportunity to set-up a brand new audit function and to lead a team of dedicated professionals who care about the quality of life and have social goals. The biggest eye opener is when the reporters from the local newspapers started to call. In addition to governmental auditing, your employment history includes working in the private sector as a certified public accountant. In some ways the private sector is easier because it is quite clear, and quite acceptable, that the bottom line is money.
Private businesses are in business to make money.
In the public sector, the bottom line is so messy and many public programs have many, competing bottom lines. For instance, as the Office of City Auditor, our bottom line is saving taxpayers money. But, it is also helping to ensure that taxpayers money is spent in the most efficient and eflective manner. But, it is also ensuring that funds are spent legally. We have numerous bottom lines and some of the bottom lines even conflict.