Alabama Chief Examiner

---

This article does not contain the most recently published data on this subject. If you would like to help our coverage grow, consider donating to Ballotpedia.

---

Alabama Chief Examiner
General information
Office Type:	Nonpartisan
Office website:	Official Link
Compensation:	$87,673
2021 FY Budget:	$8,480,746
Term limits:	None
Structure
Length of term:	Five years
Authority:	Code of Alabama 1975, Sections 41-5A-1
Selection Method:	Appointed by Legislative Committee on Public Accounts
Current Officeholder
Sheila Travis
Other Alabama Executive Offices
Governor • Lieutenant Governor • Secretary of State • Attorney General • Treasurer • Auditor • Superintendent of Education • Agriculture Commissioner • Insurance Commissioner • Natural Resources Commissioner • Labor Commissioner • Public Service Commission

The Alabama Chief Examiner is a legislative position in the Alabama state government who leads the Department of Examiners of Public Accounts. The state agency has the authority to perform audits of all entities that receive or disburse public funds.

The Alabama Chief Examiner is appointed by a legislative committee to five-year terms.

The department was first created in 1947.

Current officeholder

The current officeholder is Sheila Travis.

Authority

The Alabama Chief Examiner's powers, term of office, etc. are derived from Title 41 Chapter 5A of the Code of Alabama.

Ala. Code § 41-5A-5:

(a) The chief examiner shall be the executive and administrative head of the department and shall have the power and duty to do all of the following subject to review and oversight by the Legislative Committee on Public Accounts: (1) Exercise general supervision of and make regulations for the governance of the department. (2) Prescribe uniform rules pertaining to investigations, examinations, audits, and departmental hearings. (3) Supervise the fiscal affairs and responsibilities of the department. (4) Appoint and remove the staff, officers, and employees of the department, subject to the Merit System Act and the rules issued pursuant thereto. (5) Keep an accurate and complete record of all proceedings of the department; record and file all bonds, reports, and other documents; and assume responsibility for the custody and preservation of all papers and documents of the department. (6) Make recommendations and an annual report to the Governor and to the Legislative Committee on Public Accounts concerning the condition, operation, functioning, and findings of the department. (7) Invoke any legal, equitable, or special remedy for the enforcement of orders or this chapter. (8) Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, exercise any other power necessary to expedite the making of thorough and accurate audits of the accounts of all individuals or entities receiving or disbursing public funds. (9) Examine and audit the books, accounts, and records of all state and county offices, officers, bureaus, authorities, boards, commissions, corporations, departments, and agencies. (10) a. Prepare, in consultation with the Association of County Commissions of Alabama, except with respect to county boards of education, such bookkeeping, accounting, and reporting systems, procedures, records, and forms as may be necessary to install a uniform system of accounting and reporting in the various county offices. This paragraph does not authorize the Department of Examiners of Public Accounts to prescribe specific accounting software to be utilized in various county offices. b. Prepare such bookkeeping, accounting, and reporting systems, procedures, records, and forms as may be necessary to install a uniform system of accounting and reporting in the various state offices. (11) Report to the Legislative Committee on Public Accounts, the Governor, and the Contract Review Permanent Legislative Oversight Committee every expenditure or contract found to have been made in violation of law. (12) Prepare, for use by the county boards of education, bookkeeping, accounting, and reporting systems, procedures, records, and forms necessary for the installation of a uniform system of accounting and reporting by the several county boards of education; install the bookkeeping, accounting, and reporting systems for the county boards of education; and exercise and maintain continuing supervision thereof. (13) Prepare and furnish to the chairs of the county commissions of the several counties of the state a fiscal statement of each county, as of the end of each fiscal year, the statement showing receipts, disbursements, outstanding indebtedness, and securities owned of and by each of the several counties. (b) All powers and duties vested in the chief examiner may be delegated to his or her appointed assistants, staff, deputies, and employees, but the chief examiner shall be responsible for their actions.

Qualifications

To serve as chief examiner, an individual may not have been a partisan candidate for political office within four years. The chief examiner is not eligible for appointment or election to any office or political party committee during his or her term. Title 41 Chapter 5A of the Code of Alabama establishes the qualifications of the office:

(a) The chief examiner shall be selected with consideration of his or her training, experience, capacity, and fitness for the duties as executive and administrative head of the Department of Examiners of Public Accounts. (b) (1) The chief examiner may not have been a partisan candidate for political office within four years preceding his or her appointment. (2) The chief examiner is not eligible for appointment or election to any state, county, or municipal office, nor shall he or she be a member of a committee of any political party during the term for which he or she is appointed. Violation of this subsection shall automatically result in removal from the office of chief examiner.

Vacancies

Details of vacancy appointments are addressed under Title 41 Chapter 5A of the Code of Alabama.

Vacancies are filled by the Legislative Committee on Public Accounts. This appointment is subject to confirmation by the Alabama State Senate during the first regular or special session of the Legislature held after the appointment.

Duties

According to the official Department of Examiners of Public Accounts website, the department's duties include:

“

The Department of Examiners of Public Accounts is empowered to audit the books, accounts, and records of all state and county offices, officers, bureaus, boards, commissions, corporations, departments, and agencies and to report on expenditures, contracts, or other audit findings found to be in violation of law. The Department has the authority to make audits of the accounts of all entities receiving or disbursing public funds. The Examiners of Public Accounts is empowered to conduct investigations as a result of audits and to assist other governmental officers such as the Attorney General, District Attorneys, and federal agencies, and to certify official acts and require the repayment of amounts of monies and other resources due to the State, County, municipality, or other governmental units from various public officers, their employees, or agents. Administrative hearings are held in an effort to recover monies that are found due in audits. If amounts due are not recovered the audits are certified to the Attorney General or District Attorney and presented to the next Grand Jury. They are prima facie evidence in court proceedings. The Department operates from money appropriated to it by the Legislature. The Chief Examiner has the authority to issue subpoenas to compel the attendance of witnesses and the production of records in connection with audits. Each state and county officer must keep his books, records, and accounts, and make reports as prescribed by the Chief Examiner.

”

Divisions

As of May 2024, divisions within the Department of Examiners of Public Accounts included:

• County Audit Division
• State Audit Division
• Education Audit Division
• Operational Audit Division

State budget

See also: Alabama state budget and finances

The budget for the Department of Examiners of Public Accounts in Fiscal Year 2021 was $8,480,746.

Compensation

See also: Compensation of state executive officers

Title 41 Chapter 5A of the Code of Alabama defines the method by which the Alabama Chief Examiner's compensation is set:

(a) The salary of the chief examiner shall be set by the Legislative Council. (b) The salary of the assistant chief examiner shall be fixed by the chief examiner, with approval of the Legislative Council as provided in Section 29-6-7. The salary of the assistant chief examiner shall not be subject to Section 36-6-6. (c) The compensation for the chief examiner and the assistant chief examiner shall be paid out of funds appropriated to the Department of Examiners of Public Accounts and in the same manner as salaries of other officers and employees are paid.

2020

In 2020, the Alabama Chief Examiner received a salary of $87,673 according to the Council of State Governments.

2019

In 2019, the Alabama Chief Examiner received a salary of $85,248 according to the Council of State Governments.

2018

In 2018, the Alabama Chief Examiner received a salary of $85,248 according to the Council of State Governments.

2017

In 2017, the Alabama Chief Examiner received a salary of $85,248 according to the Council of State Governments.

Historical officeholders

Note: Ballotpedia's state executive officials project researches state official websites for chronological lists of historical officeholders; information for the Alabama Chief Examiner has not yet been added because the information was unavailable on the relevant state official websites, or we are currently in the process of formatting the list for this office. If you have any additional information about this office for inclusion on this section and/or page, please email us.

Recent news

The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms Alabama Chief Examiner. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.

Alabama Chief Examiner - Google News

Contact information

Alabama Chief Examiner
401 Adams Ave
Suite 280
Montgomery, AL 36104
Phone:(334)242-9200
Fax: (334) 242-1775

Mailing Address
P.O. Box 302251
Montgomery, AL 36130-2251

External links

• Alabama Chief Examiner