Missoula County Auditor to Retire at End of Year
Posted on September 15, 2025
Missoula County Auditor Dave Wall has announced his plan to retire at the end of the year. Wall has served as auditor since 2017, when he was appointed to finish Barbara Berens’ term following her retirement. His last day will be Friday, Dec. 19.
The auditor is an independently elected official whose primary responsibility is to examine and investigate claims presented to the County for payment to ensure staff are spending property tax dollars appropriately and in line with the County’s purchasing policies. The Missoula County Auditor’s Office also manages the County’s procurement process, including requests for bids and proposals. Additionally, the office is responsible for developing policies and procedures as needed.
In accordance with state law, the Missoula County commissioners will select Wall’s replacement. The commissioners intend to open the application process to internal candidates in the Auditor’s Office first and then expand the search, if necessary. The commissioners will discuss this process at their administrative public meeting at 10 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 25. The meeting will take place in Room 206 of the Administration Building and virtually via Teams. The agenda with information to join remotely will be posted at missoula.co/bccmeetings. The candidate they select will need to run for election in 2026 to continue serving.
As auditor, Wall made it a priority to emphasize inclusiveness in creating and revising County policies, including revising the County’s purchasing guidelines to emphasize sustainability and equity. He’s worked to revise several policies to ensure the County’s frontline employees can more easily be reimbursed for work-related expenses.
"It’s easy to assume the Auditor’s Office is soulless and bureaucratic, but Dave Wall has demonstrated a fierce commitment to excellence, always considering how the work his office can help Missoula County’s people, communities and the environment thrive," said Commissioner Juanita Vero. "Plus, he did it with a delightful sense of humor that we will definitely miss when he retires!"
Originally from Miami, Florida, Wall earned his first bachelor’s degree in criminology from Florida State University. Following an extensive cross-country road trip that included a stop in Missoula, Wall and his wife decided to move here permanently in 2007. He started at Missoula County in 2013 working in the mailroom. He moved to the Auditor’s Office in 2015 and was soon promoted to chief deputy auditor, and he also earned his degree in accounting from Montana State University-Billings during that time. Wall is a two-time graduate of Leadership Montana.
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