Russ Jones served as acting auditor general most recently from November 26, 2019 to July 24, 2020 but also from May 27, 2013 to September 14, 2014. Prior to his appointment in 2019, he was the deputy auditor general; prior to his appointment in 2013, he was the assistant auditor general, financial audit and chief financial officer at the office. He has specialized in accounting, financial reporting and auditing in the public sector for nearly 40 years.
Russ is a Chartered Accountant with an MBA from Simon Fraser University. He first joined the Office in 1980, following five years with a national accounting firm. He was also comptroller for two locally-owned Victoria companies from 1986 to 1989, and has served as a facilitator for the CA School of Business. He was named a Fellow of the Chartered Accountants of B.C. in 2014, in recognition of his leadership and his contributions to the community and the profession.
Russ is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of B.C.'s Bylaws Committee, and from 2011 to 2017 sat on the Public Sector Accounting Board, which sets standards and provides guidance for financial and performance reporting in the public sector.