Internal Auditor Lead

Overview

The Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services in Maryland is recruiting for a lead internal audit role focused on financial oversight, compliance, efficiency, and program performance. This opportunity offers a public-sector career with strong benefits, pension coverage, generous leave, and room for professional advancement.

The department is one of Maryland’s largest, employing nearly 12,000 people and operating with a budget of more than $1 billion. Its mission includes supporting public safety, strengthening institutional security, and advancing restorative justice initiatives that help individuals reintegrate successfully after release.

Employees may also receive medical and dental coverage, paid leave, pension participation, supplemental retirement options, and access to the Maryland State Employees Credit Union.

Position Details

Grade: 18

Work Location: Baltimore City, 6776 Reisterstown Rd, Baltimore, MD 21215

Core Duties

This lead-level position performs audits of incarcerated individuals’ medical, mental health, pharmacy, and dental contracts. Work includes finance, compliance, economy and efficiency, KPI performance, and program audits, with heavy reliance on data analytics to assess contract results. The role uses Access databases and requires practical SQL knowledge. A key part of the job is checking contractor billings for accuracy and confirming compliance with DPSCS contract terms.

The role also involves reviewing junior auditors’ work and stepping in to provide supervisory coverage when the supervisor is unavailable.

Leadership and Team Support

• Organizes, delegates, and checks the work completed by entry-level internal auditors handling financial compliance, efficiency, KPI, and program audits.
• Offers guidance when junior auditors encounter unusual or complex findings.
• Supports the unit supervisor with training and development efforts, including instruction on fiscal compliance and Yellow Book auditing standards.

Audit Planning and Assessment

• Helps design audit programs by identifying audit targets, defining objectives, and setting the scope of each review.
• Determines which financial areas require attention based on risk and significance.
• Builds verification tests to uncover material exceptions, contract noncompliance, and violations of accounting principles, laws, regulations, and procedures.

Audit Execution and Evaluation

• Performs lead reviews of medical, mental health, dental, and pharmacy contract activity.
• Examines accounting processes to assess whether internal controls are working effectively and recommends corrective measures that can be implemented on time.
• Verifies issues identified in Office of Legislative Audits reports and evaluates whether management’s corrective actions were effective.

Data Analytics and Reporting

• Uses Access and Excel to analyze data and validate KPI performance tied to outsourced services.
• Prepares working papers that support audit conclusions and comply with the formal audit program.
• Drafts audit reports that summarize findings and recommendations related to contract performance.

Minimum Qualifications

Applicants must satisfy the minimum requirements to be considered eligible for hire.

Education: A bachelor’s degree in accounting from an accredited college or university, or a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with 30 credit hours in accounting-related coursework, including or supplemented by 3 credit hours in auditing.

Experience: Four years of experience carrying out internal financial and operational audits involving finance and compliance, efficiency and economy, and program results.

Substitutions and Notes

• Applicants who met the requirements to sit for the CPA exam before July 1, 1974 are considered to have met the education requirement.
• A CPA certificate, CIA certificate, or a master’s degree in accounting may be substituted for one year of the required experience.
• One year of professional accounting experience may be substituted for one year of the required experience.
• U.S. Armed Forces experience as a commissioned officer in Internal Review classifications or auditing specialty codes in financial or auditing fields may be substituted on a year-for-year basis.

Preferred Experience

• At least two years of experience preparing summary reports based on audit results.
• At least two years of experience reviewing the work of junior auditors.

License / Certification Notes

This classification may include duties that require driving. If so assigned, the employee may need a valid Maryland motor vehicle operator’s license.

Selection and Assessment

Applicants must provide enough detail in their application to show they meet the job requirements. All qualifying education and experience must be submitted by the closing date; late-submitted information will not be reviewed. Candidates who are successful will be placed on the eligible list for at least one year and may be ranked as Best Qualified, Better Qualified, or Qualified.

Assessment may be based on education, training, and relevant work experience. Applicants should ensure that all related education and experience are fully and accurately listed.

Benefits

State employees have access to low-cost health, dental, and vision coverage. Additional benefits include six personal leave days for new employees each year, ten days of annual leave, fifteen days of sick leave, up to sixty days of paid parental leave, at least twelve holidays annually, and pension credit toward retirement.

Application Instructions

A resume cannot replace a completed application. Online applications are preferred. If online submission is not possible, the paper application, supplemental questionnaire, and required documents may be emailed to kimberly.banks@maryland.gov and must arrive by the recruitment closing date. Only specifically requested additional materials will be accepted.

If you have trouble submitting an online application, contact the DBM Recruitment and Examination Division at Application.Help@maryland.gov or 410-767-4850.

Veterans are thanked for their service. Candidates with disabilities and bilingual candidates are encouraged to apply. Maryland is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to building a workforce that reflects the diversity of the state.