Auditor General Timothy DeFoor makes recruiting pitch to students during Saint Vincent College visit

by Public Relations | May 02, 2024

On Wednesday, Mr. DeFoor visited Saint Vincent College and toured the campus with Mr. Joshua Guiser, the College's vice president for finance and treasurer and chief financial officer. During a question-and-answer session with accounting, math and finance students at the Fred M. Rogers Center, Mr. DeFoor touted job opportunities with the Department of Auditor General, including the intern-to-hire program.

"It's important to find that next generation of auditors," Mr. DeFoor said. "This is a commonsense approach for the Commonwealth to bolster our bench."

The Department of Auditor General has about 370 full-time employees who conduct 4,000 audits per year. "We audit anything where tax dollars are being utilized," Mr. DeFoor said. "Because we do so much, we don't necessarily have the staff to do everything we could be doing."

The Department can make roughly 100 hires this year. The intern-to-hire program is geared toward college juniors-they make $17 per hour and automatically qualify for a full-time position after working 900 hours. Mr. DeFoor said the starting full-time salary is about $46,000. Although the department is based in Harrisburg, all the positions can be worked remotely.

"I'd love to see some of you work for our department," Mr. DeFoor told the group of about two dozen students. "We don't have any Saint Vincent Bearcats yet, but we'd love to have a few."

Sean Callahan, C 24, of Hagerstown, MD, will graduate next week and already has accepted a job offer from an accounting firm. However, he is intrigued by the possibility of someday working for the Auditor General.

"I liked what I was hearing today [from Mr. DeFoor]," Callahan said. "I would consider it if, down the line, I get tired of tax work and public accounting work. What appeals to me is that once I have a couple of years of experience in the industry, I wouldn't have to start at the very bottom of the ladder with the [Department of the] Auditor General. It's nice to know they can be flexible, in addition to all the benefits they provide."

DeFoor was sworn in as Pennsylvania's 50^th auditor general on Jan. 19, 2021. A native of Harrisburg, DeFoor is former chair of the Harrisburg Area Community College Foundation Board of Directors, State YMCA of Pennsylvania Board of Directors, and the Chris "Handles" Franklin Foundation Board of Directors. He is a member of the Greater Harrisburg Area NAACP and the Pennsylvania State Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #78.

"I was really excited to welcome Mr. DeFoor to campus," said Dr. Michael Urick, dean of the Alex G. McKenna School of Business, Economics and Government. "It's always great when Saint Vincent students interact with leaders in the fields in which they study. Having Mr. DeFoor talk directly with students gave them insights into the life of what the Auditor General does."

PHOTO 1: Pennsylvania Auditor General Timothy DeFoor answers a question during a session with Saint Vincent College students

PHOTO 2: Pennsylvania Auditor General Timonthy DeFoor (left) tours campus with Josh Guiser, Saint Vincent College's vice president for finance and treasurer and CFO.