Ben Goldblatt is a government oversight expert and a certified fraud examiner. He currently works in police oversight in Los Angeles and previously worked for a state budget office.

In an age when cynicism runs amok, fairly holding government accountable is more important than ever before. Plus, doing so can result in an extremely rewarding career — something most Americans want.  

Working in state and local government oversight lets you be part of a team that isn’t bogged down in the problems sometimes associated with public service. You can do the work while making government more effective — without having to move to another community.

What is government oversight?

Government oversight can mean a lot of things to a lot of different people. At a basic level, oversight officials monitor public agencies to make them more responsive, efficient, and transparent, while following other accountability-related ideals. This work is foundational to making government function effectively.  

Public agencies typically receive revenue regardless of the quality of the service provided because people must pay taxes. In contrast, a private company’s revenue is contingent on providing a high-quality good or service: Customers can simply opt not to buy something. Companies are thus incentivized to innovate and can look to economic indicators, like profitability or their market share, to gauge their effectiveness. 

Public agency insulation from market forces can be offset by mechanisms like surveys, a complaint process, and other performance measures. Oversight teams use these tools to help ensure government delivers on its promises.  

The system of checks and balances delineated in the U.S. Constitution has expanded into other areas of governance. Congress created a system of inspectors general in 1978 to serve as an extra check on federal agencies, with a focus on uncovering waste, fraud, and abuse. In the decades since, state and local inspectors general became more common as well. And in the last few years, state and local governments have specifically increased local police oversight offices.

Indeed, government activities must be reviewed to ensure policies and practices are implemented faithfully to a policymaking body’s intent. For example, the Transit Programs Oversight Branch oversees Caltrans, the agency tasked with managing California’s state highways. One of its main tasks is to ensure Caltrans adheres to the Transportation Development Act, a law passed to facilitate regional transportation coordination.

What makes oversight a rewarding career?

Like any job, what makes working in oversight enjoyable are the people you work with. Oversight professionals promote performance and productivity in the organizations they oversee, which manifests in their own organizations. Oversight offices also tend to attract smart people, leading to a workplace overflowing with good ideas. Much like other non-federal careers, state or local oversight lets people see the impact of their work in their own communities.

These offices emphasize independence and objectivity — often because prioritizing these values is legally mandated and reinforced by a sound organizational structure. For instance, the Little Hoover Commission, a state oversight board, is bipartisan by design. This results in findings and recommendations respected by people across the political spectrum.   

If this type of work piques your interest, good news: Despite being a relatively niche subsector of public administration, state and local government oversight can be easy to break into because it is multidisciplinary and touches all aspects of public service.

These offices tend to attract lawyers, auditors, administrators, accountants, analysts, and policy experts. While certifications are generally not required to get your foot in the door, accounting, internal auditing, and fraud certifications are particularly popular among practitioners. Professional oversight associations, like the Association of Inspectors General and the National Association of Civilian Oversight of Law Enforcement, also offer their own certifications.

A particularly large concentration of oversight agencies exists in larger metropolitan areas like Los Angeles and Sacramento. However, oversight offices are in every corner of California. Each of California’s 58 counties has an auditor-controller who focuses on financial accountability.

Oversight is also usually a secondary, but major focus for a plethora of government functions. Many positions allow people to dabble in accountability-related issues, which can segue into full-fledged oversight work. Take a budget office, for example. Individuals may need to sign off on expenses, which may enable them to catch wasteful spending or fraud. They can then work to enhance internal controls to reduce the risk of such occurrences. 

State and local government oversight is a dynamic field where you can promote high-performing government. It’s where you’ll enjoy positive work cultures and become exposed to a rich variety of opportunities. If you’re seeking meaningful work, this is one career path that you shouldn’t overlook. 

The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect the views or positions of Western City, the League of California Cities, or its members. Are you interested in submitting an op-ed on an issue important to city leaders? Send a short pitch to editor@westerncity.com.