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Office of Legislative Audits Update

Office of Legislative Audits Update. ASBO Conference May 2014. Objective 1. Differences Between Round One and Round Two Audits. Why We Are Here. In 2004, Senate Bill 894 (Chapter 148) was passed

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Office of Legislative Audits Update

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  1. Office of Legislative AuditsUpdate ASBO Conference May 2014

  2. Objective 1 Differences Between Round One and Round Two Audits

  3. Why We Are Here • In 2004, Senate Bill 894 (Chapter 148) was passed • BETWEEN JULY 1, 2004 AND JUNE 30,2010, THE OFFICE OF LEGISLATIVE AUDITS SHALL CONDUCT AN AUDIT OF EACH LOCAL SCHOOL SYSTEM TO EVALUATE THE EFFECTIVENESS AND EFFICIENCY OF THE FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT PRACTICES OF THE LOCAL SCHOOL SYSTEM

  4. Audit Procedures • SECTION 5. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That 45 days prior to the initiation of the first financial management practices audit required by this Act, the Office of Legislative Audits shall submit the scope, measurements, and process the Office plans to use in conducting the required audits to the Joint Audit Committee for approval

  5. Audit Procedures • As required by the Law, we developed the procedures. • 11 Chapters • Joint Audit Committee directed that we perform all procedures at all LEAs

  6. 2010 Legislation • Senate Bill 58 (Chapter 58) • [Between July 1, 2004 and June 30, 2010,] AT LEAST ONCE EVERY 6 YEARS, the Office of Legislative Audits shall conduct an audit of each local school system to evaluate the effectiveness and efficiency of the financial management practices of the local school system.

  7. Differences Between Rounds 1 and 2 • OLA is no longer required to perform all steps in the procedures approved by the JAC • We use professional judgment in selecting what procedures to perform • We consider materiality and risk • More of an impact at the small LEAs

  8. Round 2 Completed Audits • Allegany • Anne Arundel • Baltimore City • Carroll • Frederick • Kent • Prince George’s

  9. Round 2 Completed Audits • Queen Anne’s • Somerset • Talbot • Washington • Wicomico

  10. Round 2 Audits In Progress • Baltimore County • Harford County • St. Mary’s County

  11. F/Y 15 Audits • Calvert - Summer 2014 • Howard – Fall 2014 • Montgomery – Winter 2015 • Cecil – Winter 2015 • Caroline – Winter 2015

  12. Planned F/Y 16 Audits • Charles • Dorchester • Garrett • Worcester

  13. Objective 2 Common OLA findings in school system audits

  14. Input / Output Controls • Common in personnel and payroll transactions • A form, such as a personnel transaction form, is approved by multiple levels prior to input. • A clerk or secretary then inputs the data (new employee, salary change) into the system. • If clerk makes an error, typically there is no process to detect the error. • Automated or manual controls can fix problem.

  15. Access to Critical Files • At many LEAs, an excessive number of employees have the ability to change critical files. • If the employee rarely processes changes to the files, we generally deem access unnecessary. • Even if controls over changes are adequate, this could still be an exception. • Employee access should be periodically reviewed.

  16. Procurement Policies • Policies are sometimes not comprehensive in that they do not address services or specify when school boards should approve contracts. • This is not a compliance issue. • When goods or services are available from more than one source, competitive procurements should be used. • Bids not always obtained

  17. TransportationVerification of Manifests • At some LEAs, bus contractor manifests are accepted with no verification. • Where data exists, OLA has seen overpayments to the contractors. • GPS is ideal for monitoring and verification, but may be too expensive. • Some LEAs tell the contractors the route mileage and time. • Internet maps or ride alongs could be used for verifications.

  18. Transportation Basis for Contractor Rates • Many LEAs lack a sound basis for rates used to determine bus contractor pay. Mainly PVA and maintenance. • Comparison with other LEAs is not necessarily valid. • PVA includes a return on investment and should consider market interest rates. • Processes for determining amounts paid to bus contractors should be in writing and explained to Board.

  19. Health Insurance • Large expenditure at all LEAs • Several issuesNo bidding of stop loss or plan administratorNo verification of dependentsNo verification of administrative feesNo verification of claims • First three issues are fairly straight forward • Claims audit will probably involve working with an outside contractor

  20. Objective 3 • Lessons learned on other OLA audits that may be applicable to LEA audits. • For example, Level 3 (L3) credit card data:

  21. CPC Audit Report http://www.ola.state.md.us/Reports/Performance/CPC14.pdf

  22. Level III CPC Datareported by merchantsincludes descriptions of what was purchasedLevel III CPC Data is also an Independent source of information

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