Scott Suzuki, who has 22 years of auditing experience assessing and improving organizations in both the public and private sector, has been named the general auditor of the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California.
Suzuki, who will report directly to Metropolitan’s Board of Directors, will begin in his new role on Feb. 6. He succeeds Gerald C. Riss, who retired in 2022 after 20 years as Metropolitan’s general auditor.
“I look forward to working with Mr. Suzuki, as he brings a wealth of leadership experience, knowledge, and integrity that will serve Metropolitan well in ensuring our practices and approaches best serve our Southern California service area,” said board Chair Adán Ortega, Jr.
As general auditor, Suzuki will independently review internal controls, financial records and reports, develop a flexible annual audit plan, determine compliance with bond covenants and applicable laws and regulations, ensure that assets and resources are properly accounted for and safeguarded against waste, loss or misuse, and administer Metropolitan's contract for audit services with an independent public accounting firm.
Prior to joining Metropolitan, Suzuki served as Orange County’s assistant director/acting director of internal audit since 2018. He got his start in the auditing field in 1995 as internal auditor for HomeBase, Inc. followed by auditor positions at Deloitte and the California State University system, before joining Orange County as a principal/senior internal auditor in 2002. In 2006, Suzuki became an internal audit/compliance manager for Santa Ana-based John Wayne Airport before transferring to Orange County’s auditor-controller in 2014 as an accounting manager. In 2016, he was promoted to director/assistant director of internal audit at the auditor-controller’s office before moving to his most recent role as assistant director/acting director.
Suzuki received his bachelor’s degree in business economics from the University of California, Los Angeles. He holds a CPA license and CIA, CISA, and CFE designations.
The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California is a state-established cooperative that, along with its 26 cities and retail suppliers, provides water for 19 million people in six counties. The district imports water from the Colorado River and Northern California to supplement local supplies, and helps its members to develop increased water conservation, recycling, storage and other resource-management programs.
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