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Simonson, an assistant state auditor in the Wash- publicly traded company (in terms of revenues),
ington State Auditor’s office in Olympia, Wash. “I reported annual revenues of $573 billion in fiscal About the
think bringing accountability to government is a year 2022. California, the most populous state, authors
noble calling, and I find it a very meaningful part of reported $433 billion in primary government and Beth Y. Vermeer,
my work,” he said. component unit revenue for the fiscal year ended CPA, Ph.D., is an
Working in the public sector requires certain June 30, 2020. The U.S. federal government assistant professor
credentials but offers a variety of opportunities. reports financial information in trillions rather of accounting in
As accounting professionals gain experience and than billions. the Darla Moore
advance their careers in the sector, they can work in Of the 90,126 federal, state, and local govern- School of Business
different functions, such as executive management, ments reported in the 2017 Census of Govern- at the University of
budgeting, and pension management, but auditor ments, there were 51,296 special districts. They South Carolina in
and comptroller functions in federal, state, and local are typically smaller governmental units that Columbia, S.C.
governments are often the entry-level positions. serve a specific function, such as school districts, Thomas E.
water authorities, or parks districts, where you Vermeer, CPA,
VARIED OPPORTUNITIES can work in a smaller setting, often directly Ph.D., is a professor
Similar to for-profit organizations, the public with patrons, and be exposed to all facets of of accounting in
sector offers opportunities to accounting profes- the organization. the Collat School
sionals in organizations of all sizes. Regardless of size, the public sector can chal- of Business at
For example, Walmart, the largest U.S. lenge you as a professional, enhance your the University
of Alabama at
Birmingham.
GAO examination leads to public hearings

In 2022, the U.S. Government Accountability decreased by 86% for taxpayers with income
Office (GAO), which employs many CPAs, ex- of $5 million or more. These findings led to
amined IRS audit rates for taxpayers and found public hearings examining taxpayer fairness
that, between 2010 and 2019, audit rates for across the IRS before the Oversight Subcom-
taxpayers with annual income under $25,000 mittee of the U.S. House of Representatives’
decreased by 61% while the audit rates Ways & Means Committee.

journalofaccountancy.com November 2022 | 19