The True Rock Stars

At a recent conference, I was introduced as a rock star. That extreme, exaggerated but well intentioned complement made me feel like the chubby old man who can’t fly a balloon hiding behind the curtain in the Wizard of Oz. I am NOT the ‘Great and Powerful OZ!’ But it was an interesting glimpse into what can happen to a rock star’s mind. After about 30 of those type of introductions, you might start to believe it. And then you have to take drugs to make yourself sleep… etc etc.
But that dark path is not why I am writing.
I am writing to praise those in my audience. In my job, I work with a variety of audit teams who are doing all sorts of work; external auditors, legislative auditors, internal auditors. And sometimes I leave a little disheartened because the teams are resistant to doing the right thing.
Maybe they are motivated by money (and aren’t I calling the kettle black!… I am as mercenary as they come) or political power. Or maybe they are waiting out their retirement or are simply beat down by the man or the system.
But at the ALGA conference in Tempe last week, my faith in auditors was rekindled. Many of these local government auditors were in SERVICE mode. They were on a mission to do the right thing for the right people – the citizens, the disenfranchised, the people. They told the truth and suffered the consequences. That is exactly what auditors are good for. Saying things that others don’t want to say and getting things changed.
One team shared that they had exposed their city council for using debt for trivial expenditures. Another described how they were working with the GASB to make pensions disclosures more transparent. Others were exposing waste and abuse on behalf of government managers. Their careers were on the line, yet they did the right thing over and over and over.
I am renewed and ready to go back on the road spreading the gospel of great auditing. Thank you to the true rock stars.