To encourage increasing levels of excellence among local government auditors, the Association of Local Government Auditors created the Knighton Award in 1995 to recognize the best performance audit reports produced by local government audit shops in the previous year. Judges from peer organizations determine the best reports each year.

In addition, the Association of Local Government Auditors created the Rising Star Award to recognize the best and brightest among newer local government audit professionals and encourages others to strive for excellence early in their audit careers. The award aims to spotlight newer local government auditors' personal initiative and commitments that positively impact the local government auditing profession.

In 2025, Carissa Nash, Principal Performance Auditor, received the Rising Star Award. Judges were impressed with Carissa’s leadership skills and exemplary services to OCA. She takes on challenging projects successfully using research, creative methodologies, clear and persuasive writing, and effective communication. Two of her audits (the Performance Audit of the City’s Major Building Acquisition Process and the Performance Audit of SDPD's Use and Management of Body Cameras) have won Knighton Awards and a third (the Performance Audit of SDPD Overtime) was nominated in 2025.

The judges’ comments can be found here. 

Past Awards:

• 2024 Knighton Award for the Performance Audit of the City's Brush Management on City-Owned Land
  • The award letter can be found here.
  • A video describing the award-winning audit can be found here.
• 2022 Knighton Award for the Performance Audit of SDPD's Use and Management of Body Cameras
• 2021 Knighton Award for the Performance Audit of the City’s Major Building Acquisition Process
• 2016 Knighton Award for the Performance Audit of the City’s Programs Responsible for Pedestrian Safety
• 2015 Knighton Award for the Performance Audit of the Code Enforcement Division
• 2014 Knighton Award for the ESD Recycling Audit: Opportunities Exist to Improve Recycling Rates & Reduce Adverse Impacts Generated by Waste Hauling
• 2013 Knighton Award for the Performance Audit of the Streets Division’s Pothole Repair Operations
• 2012 Knighton Award for the Performance Audit of the Fire-Rescue Department’s Emergency Medical Dispatch Process
• 2011 Knighton Award for the Performance Audit of Fire-Rescue’s Emergency Medical Services
• 2010 Knighton Award for the Performance Audit of Street Maintenance: City Needs to Improve Planning Coordination, and Oversight to Effectively Manage Transportation Assets

The Office of the City Auditor has also received:

• Association of Local Government Auditors' 2009 Website Award