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Home My WebLink AboutCOM 0016.001 2020-2022 i 'i Ashley L. ierkiewic "ty of z v°•��C Office:(808)961-8265 Council Member ��'i' Fax:(808)961-8912 District 4 Puna ashley.kierkiewicz@hawaiicounty.gov HAWAII COUNTY COUNCIL Hawaii County Building 25 Aupuni Street Hilo,Hawaii 96720 MEMORANDUM DATE: March 30,2021 TO: Maile David, Council Chairperson And Members of the Hawaii County Council FROM: Y'Ashley L. Kierkiewicz, Council Member CW County Auditor Ad Hoc Committee,Chair SUBJECT: County Auditor Ad Hoc Committee Recommendation Enclosed for your review and consideration is the recommendation of the County Auditor Ad Hoc Committee.This recommendation was made after a very extensive process and deliberate engagement with qualified applicants. On December 23,2020, at a meeting of the County Council, an ad hoc committee was formed for the purposes of soliciting candidates to fill the vacant County Auditor position. Members of the ad hoc included Ashley Kierkiewicz(Chair),Holeka Inaba, Heather Kimball, and Sue Lee Loy.The first meeting of the ad hoc committee was on Friday,January 22,2021 at 2:30p.m. via Zoom. The committee discussed a plan of action and timeframe for implementation, including marketing the employment opportunity and process for interviewing and scoring applicants. Notice of Employment was published in the Hawaii Tribune-Herald(HTH), West Hawai`i Today(WHT), and Honolulu Star Advertiser(HSA) on: - Jan. 24 and Jan. 31 in HTH and WHT: t/4 page ad in A Section - Jan. 26,Jan, 28, Feb. 2,Feb. 4,Feb. 7 and Feb. 9: Legal Classified Section in HTH,VTHT,HSA A copy of the advertisement is attached(Exhibit A). A press release(Exhibit B)was distributed to media outlets statewide,and a promotional graphic(Exhibit C)was posted to Facebook via the County Clerk's Office; Council Members were provided the graphic and encouraged to share with their networks. By the February 12,2021 deadline, a total of 13 individuals contacted the Clerk's Human Resources Technician, Iris Murakami,to indicate interest in the position. Of that, 11 persons were qualified to advance to interviews with the ad hoc committee.A qualified applicant submitted required documentation Hawai`i County is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer Comm. No. Ref. To: COMM Ref. Date AR 3 1 271 including cover letter;resume; evidence of relevant certification as an internal auditor,public accountant, or degree in relevant field;three letters of recommendation; and list of references. Qualified applicants were invited to a 30 minute interview with ad hoc committee members on Monday, February 22.The committee asked each applicant a series of questions to gauge Education&Training; Work Experience;Knowledge,Abilities& Skills; Interest &Attitude.Applicants were scored and ranked, with the top six scorers advancing to a second round of interviews with the committee. The second round of interviews was conducted Monday,March 1 via Zoom.The committee had 30 minutes with each candidate to clarify information provided in application and pose follow-up questions to responses provided in the first round of interviews. On Tuesday,March 2,these applicants were invited to provide written responses to two audit related case study questions providing further context to the committee to detennine which individuals to recommend to the County Council. On Wednesday,March 3,2021,one of the applicants informed me they would be withdrawing their application for the Auditor position as they were offered employment elsewhere. Of the five remaining applicants,four submitted written responses to the questions posted; one shared that they would not be providing a written response. On Tuesday,March 9, 2021,I emailed the committee requesting they review case study responses, and identify top candidates to advance to the County Council. Based on two rounds of interviews and candidate responses to case study questions,the ad hoc committee unanimously recommends Mr.Tyler Benner and Mr. John Cashmon to the County Council for further discussion and potential appointment. Throughout this process,both candidates have demonstrated in-depth understanding of the auditing universe and have concrete ideas for how to work in strategic partnership with County departments and agencies to strengthen local government's ability to serve.Both conveyed a genuine determination to fully immerse themselves in Hawaii Island's community and culture, and to give back in ways that uplift our island and its people. I would like to thank my fellow Council Members-Holeka Inaba,Heather Kimball,and Sue Lee Loy- for their service on the Auditor Ad Hoc Committee, as well as our staff for their ongoing support in this undertaking. Special thanks to the Office of the County Clerk for helping to facilitate this work, and lending clerical,technical, and other required assistance. There was no playbook for how to go about appointing a County Auditor. Recognizing the critical importance of this position, design and implementation of the process was very thoughtful and extensive. It has been my honor and privilege to lead this effort and Chair the Auditor Ad Hoc Committee. AK/j s i 3 EXHIBIT I 3 v � 3 a 3 3 NOTICE OF EMPLOYMENTOPPORTUNITY' ' The f i Courtly Councilseeks in detigihle applicants for the position of County Audftr- Applicants shalt. 1 1.Possess adequate professional proticiency for the office demonstrated by relevant cerfification,such as certification as a ceitified internal auddar- or certified public account-ant or an advanced, r a relevant field;arid .Have at least three years of 9 . rat auditing experieme which shall include a minimum of one years experience i the field of government auditing. The annual 1 26,42G.The County also provides an excellent,benefits ge®Please call 961- 1 for details minting to benefits. 3 .primary duty at the Giounty Audrr irsto conduct perform.,ance d/ I or firwwl audits at the fads,grog sqserviDm and opeirations of any County a.gency,executive aljorwy,or p m,as w4trfft by tie County. Auditor. in an annual audit;In addition to the audiifing functions,ft.s positionis the administrative h.ead of the Ofte at the Cowly Auditor.The Cwj*,Audft currently oversees threeaudd analyst and an admiristralive The County Auditoir sere a renewable six-year farm mce appointed byI the HawaN County Cauncil., Pftjg_fflW covef letter, resume',evideof relevant certification, three lettera of rewmmendation,:.and references;tD tris Murakami,Munian Resources Technician at JdaYMurakamiftawaiicou&ggy or rnail to., Office of nt 'Clerk. Attn.lris Murakami 25 Aupum Street"Room M02 Hilo. Ha.waN 96720 Applications imust 6e receives by 4: .m.on Friday, February 2021 HamiY Cwnty is anEmpbyer EF-EXHIBIT FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Media Contact: Jake Sykes Legislative Assistant,Council District 4 jake.s�tkes�hawaiicountv.�ov j (808)961-8536 i Hawaii County Council Searches for County Auditor The Hawaii County Council seeks interested and eligible applicants to fill the position of County Auditor. The primary duty of the County Auditor is to conduct performance and/or financial audits of programs, services, funds, and operations of any County agency, executive agency, or program, a as set forth by the County Auditor in an annual audit plan that is transmitted to the County Council and the Mayor and filed with the County Clerk as a public record. 3 The County Auditor—formerly known as the Legislative Auditor before voters approved a charter amendment in 2020—directly oversees an independent office of three audit analysts and an administrative assistant. "The County Auditor's Office plays a crucial role in ensuring transparency and accountability," said Council Member Ashley Kierkiewicz, Chair of the County Auditor Ad Hoc Committee. "We envision the Auditor's work to strengthen the County's ability to serve the community by identifying ways to enhance processes as well as improve effectiveness and efficiency of services." A qualified candidate possesses 1) adequate professional proficiency for the office demonstrated by relevant certification, such as certification as a certified internal auditor or certified public accountant or an advanced degree in a relevant field, and 2) at least three years of general auditing experience which shall include a minimum of one year's experience in the field of government auditing. The annual salary for the County Auditor position is $126,420. The County also provides an excellent benefits package and a healthy retirement plan. Once appointed by the Council, the County Auditor will serve a renewable term of six years, unless removed by the Council for cause by a two-thirds vote of its full membership.The deadline to submit an application Friday, February 12, 2021 at 4:30p.m. Interested applicants may send a cover letter, resume, evidence of relevant certification,three letters of recommendation, and references to Iris Murakami, Human Resources Technician, at IrisY.MurakgMj h aiicounty.gov or mail to Office of the County Clerk, 25 Aupuni Street, Hilo, Hawaii 96720. The Hawaii County Council thanks all applicants in advance for their interest in serving their community. Hawaii County is an equal opportunity provider and employer. Media Note: Promotional tile attached. EXHIBIT