Internal Auditor

***APPLY BY 8/23/2026***

Are you an internal auditor who's built your career on independent examination of controls, compliance, and operations, and ready to bring that expertise to a role where the audits you conduct directly support the accountability of one of California's largest public safety agencies?

As an Internal Auditor with CAL FIRE, you'll step into an internal audit role at CAL FIRE Headquarters, conducting audits of agency programs, operations, financial controls, contract compliance, and other work across the department. This position is built for an auditor who understands independent audit at a professional level, and who's ready to bring that expertise into public sector work where the outcomes of your audits contribute to how CAL FIRE serves California.

This role is ideal for an auditor at any of several career stages. The position is posted across three salary ranges, which means candidates coming from Big Four public accounting firms with 2 to 4 years of experience, mid-career auditors from municipal or corporate settings, and more experienced auditors looking to move into permanent state work all have a real pathway into this role. You'll plan and conduct internal audits, evaluate internal controls, assess compliance and operational risk, prepare audit reports and recommendations, coordinate with audit leadership on audit strategy, and contribute to the broader audit function that supports agency accountability.

This position is located in Sacramento, California, at CAL FIRE Headquarters, and is a permanent, full-time role. Auditor independence is core to the work, and this position operates within an audit structure that supports that independence.

This isn't just an audit job. It's a chance to do professional internal audit work at a state agency where every finding, every recommendation, and every report contributes to how one of California's most essential public safety agencies operates.

Why CAL FIRE?

• State benefits including health, dental, vision, and retirement
• Permanent, full-time career opportunity
• Multi-level hiring pathway, welcoming candidates from Big Four public accounting, mid-career audit backgrounds, and more experienced auditor profiles
• Independent audit work with the professional structure that supports auditor independence
• Trade the billable hour and firm-life grind for permanent state employment with real work-life balance
• Mission driven team culture focused on service, readiness, and stewardship of public resources

About Sacramento County

Sacramento County offers a strong mix of urban convenience, government employment density, and proximity to some of California's best outdoor escapes. As the state capital, Sacramento is the operational hub for much of California's public sector work, including CAL FIRE's headquarters.

With a lower cost of living than the Bay Area or Southern California, easy access to Lake Tahoe, the Sierra Nevada, the Northern California coast, and the wine regions of Napa and Sonoma, Sacramento County is a strong fit for auditors who want substantive work and a quality of life that isn't dominated by the billable hour pressure of Bay Area or Southern California public accounting.

Popular cities and communities include:

• Sacramento
• Folsom
• Elk Grove
• Roseville (Placer County, adjacent)
• Davis (Yolo County, adjacent)