Leslie W. (Les) Merritt, Jr. was inaugurated as North Carolina State Auditor on January 15, 2005, becoming the first Certified Public Accountant (CPA) licensed in North Carolina to hold the post. Les is a longtime small business owner who served as a member of the Wake County Board of Commissioners from 1994 through 1998.

Les, a native and lifelong resident of North Carolina, was born & raised on a farm in rural Sampson County. He went on to attend North Carolina State University, earning degrees in both Economics and Accounting. Les is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and Certified Financial Planner (CFP). Prior to being elected State Auditor, he served as president of Merritt, Petway, Mills & Hockaday, an accounting and auditing firm with offices in Zebulon and Raleigh.

Les and his wife, Cheryl, live in the Town of Zebulon in eastern Wake County. He has served as president of the Zebulon Elementary School PTA, the Zebulon Rotary Club and the Zebulon Lions Club and as a director with the Zebulon Chamber of Commerce. Les and Cheryl Merritt are members of Zebulon Baptist Church and have two adult children, Dale and Brooke.

                                                                                                      North Carolina State Auditor

                                                                                                          Office of the State Auditor
                                                                                                                  2 South Salisbury Street
                                                                                                                  20601 Mail Service Center
                                                                                                            Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-0601

                                                                                                         (919) 807-7500 (Voice)
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                                                                                                         Les_Merritt@ncauditor.net