§ 8.121. Division of metropolitan audit.

A.

There shall be, as an independent agency of the metropolitan government, a division of metropolitan audit, the director of which is designated as the metropolitan auditor. The metropolitan auditor shall be a person:

1.

With a well founded reputation in government or public finance and the audit function as may be exhibited by a record of exceptional performance for at least five (5) years as a financial officer of a government or business;

2.

Who has, through education and experience as an accountant, auditor, CFO, controller or principal accounting officer of a governmental entity or private business an understanding of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles, Governmental Auditing Standards Board standards, financial statements, internal controls and procedures for financial reporting, and the audit functions of a governmental entity.

B.

The metropolitan auditor shall be appointed by a majority vote of the council from a list of three (3) persons recommended by the audit committee whom the audit committee deems best qualified and available to fill the position. If the council deems that the persons recommended by the audit committee to serve as metropolitan auditor are not suitable and/or qualified, the council shall reject the names submitted and the audit committee shall recommend three (3) additional persons deemed qualified and available to fill the position. The metropolitan auditor shall serve a term of eight (8) years but shall be subject to removal for cause during the term by a vote of four (4) members of the audit committee. The first term of the metropolitan auditor will end on June 30, 2014, regardless of whether the full eight (8) years has been served. A vacancy occurring during a term shall be filled temporarily with a qualified acting metropolitan auditor by the majority vote of the audit committee. The filling of the vacancy for the remainder of a term and for any new term shall be filled by a majority vote of the council through the process provided in this section.

C.

The metropolitan auditor shall conduct, or cause to be conducted financial, performance and other audit services following Government Auditing Standards established by the United States Government Accountability Office, and the metropolitan auditor shall follow the independence and other professional standards established and published under Government Auditing Standards.

D.

The metropolitan auditor shall appoint and remove, subject to the civil service provisions of article 12 of this Charter, all officers and employees of the division.

E.

There shall be a metropolitan audit committee which shall be composed of six (6) members, as follows: The vice mayor and the director of finance shall be members by virtue of their official positions. Two (2) members of the metropolitan county council shall be selected by that body from its membership to serve a two (2) year term. One (1) member shall be selected by the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce to serve a four (4) year term. One (1) member shall be selected by the Nashville Chapter of the Tennessee Society of Certified Public Accountants to serve a four (4) year term except that the member first selected shall serve a two (2) year term. Members shall be eligible to succeed themselves. The general provisions of article 11, chapter 1, of this Charter shall be applicable to the audit committee unless otherwise specified in this section.

F.

The audit committee will oversee the annual audit plan and will review and evaluate at least annually the performance of the metropolitan auditor.

G.

All audit reports issued by the metropolitan auditor are public documents and shall at all times, during business hours, be open for personal inspection by any citizen of Tennessee.

(Added by Amdt. 3 to referendum petition approved November 7, 2006)