The office charged with keeping Richmond’s city government accountable operates from Room 806 of City Hall, where a team of five auditing professionals scrutinizes how the city spends taxpayer money and whether internal controls function as intended.
City Auditor Riad Ali leads the operation, bringing nearly a decade of experience from the Broward Office of the Inspector General in South Florida, where he established and supervised the audit section, oversaw contract and procurement oversight, and managed financial and procurement investigations. A Certified Public Accountant with both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in accounting from Florida International University, Ali also holds certification as a Certified Inspector General Auditor.
The office’s institutional knowledge rests heavily with Deputy City Auditor Yolanda L. McCoy, who has spent more than two decades in governmental internal auditing. McCoy joined the City Auditor’s Office in December 2000 as an auditor and has risen through the ranks to her current position. A Virginia Union University accounting graduate, she holds certifications as both a Certified Internal Auditor and a Certified Government Auditing Professional.
The second deputy position belongs to William “Bret” Lewis, a Certified Public Accountant with more than ten years of government accounting and internal control experience, including five years specifically in local government auditing. Lewis, who earned his accounting degree and MBA from Longwood University, previously worked as an accountant in the Controller’s Office at Virginia Commonwealth University. He also serves as membership chairman of the Virginia Local Government Auditors Association, connecting Richmond’s audit function to a statewide network of peers.
Audit Manager Amr Abouelela rounds out the leadership team with more than fifteen years of experience providing assurance and advisory services, including work with Big Four accounting firms. Abouelela has held senior audit leadership positions across various industries and earned his MBA from Offenburg University in Germany. His credentials include certifications as a CPA, Certified Internal Auditor, Certified Information Systems Auditor, and Certified Fraud Examiner.
The office operates as an independent oversight function within city government, with residents able to reach auditors by phone at 804-646-5616 or by email at askcityauditor@richmondgov.com. The combination of external expertise—particularly Ali’s inspector general background investigating fraud and procurement irregularities—with McCoy’s institutional memory spanning more than two decades of Richmond city operations positions the office to examine both routine compliance questions and more complex accountability concerns.
For Richmond residents watching how their tax dollars move through city departments and contracts, this office represents the formal mechanism for independent verification that systems work as intended.
- City Auditor Riad Ali previously spent nearly 10 years at the Broward Office of the Inspector General in South Florida
- Deputy City Auditor Yolanda McCoy has worked in Richmond’s City Auditor’s Office since December 2000
- The office includes five credentialed professionals with certifications including CPA, CIA, CFE, and CISA
Public records reporting · April 15, 2026