[5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12] In a similar vein, the state auditor investigates allegations of waste, fraud, or abuse of public funds.

[17][18] Likewise, the state auditor supports local governments with advice and training on best practices in public administration, assesses compliance with Washington's open meeting and public records laws, and administers a whistleblower protection program for state employees.

The territorial auditor was tasked with "maintaining records of all receipts and disbursements, a 'pre-audit' settlement of all claims and the issuance of warrants".

He added several key tasks to the auditor's duties, including investigating discrepancies in the accounting and reporting of budgets.

[3] He was succeeded by Leban R. Grimes from 1893 to 1895, who continued Reed's agenda ensuring that the public good was placed before partisan interests.

Cheetham belonged to the Populist Party and believed that "a man has no more right to use powers delegated to him by the people, while he holds an official position, for selfish or personal ends than he would have to use public funds committed to his trust for similar purpose".

During his term, Atkinson, a Republican, addressed a wide range of issues, from banking to liquor license taxes and employee reimbursements.

This bureau's role was to "establish a system of uniform financial accounting and reporting by counties, cities, towns, townships and school districts".

Yelle also developed the investigative role of the auditor's office, probing the Highway Department's use of public funds to purchase luxury vehicles and accumulate other unnecessary costs.

"[27] To that end, Graham endeavored to bring audits of government performance into his Office's responsibilities, but legislative action in 1971 prevented him from doing so.

Among his successes were the establishment of a fraud unit designed to detect and prevent fraud, the development of a uniform Budgeting Accounting and Reporting System (BARS) that applied to all local government, and the consolidation of the statewide, federal Single Audit Acts (also known as the SWSA).