Auston was elected Utah State Auditor in 1996. He has been with the state auditor’s office for over 25 years serving as the director of local government audit and accounting, and the director of state audit. Auston was also the deputy state auditor. Over the last two decades, he has gained extensive experience in government accounting. He was part of the planning team that developed the methodology for auditing Utah’s first statewide Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, and he was instrumental in developing the statewide single audit strategy. As the director of local government audit and accounting, Auston trained officials in proper techniques for budgeting, accounting and reporting. He is also a Certified Government Financial Manager

He is a member of the Utah Association of Certified Public Accountants, the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, and the Association of Government Accountants. Auston is also a member of Utah State University’s School of Accountancy Advisory Council, and he is active in the National State Auditors Association. He is a member of AICPA’s Auditing Standards Board (ASB), and he serves on the task force rewriting the State and Local Government Audit Guide. Additionally, Auston is a member of the Comptroller General’s Advisory Council on Government Audit Standards, the organization that is rewriting the Yellow Book.

He earned a bachelor’s degree from Utah State University. He is married and has three children.