Finding 1223650 (2025-001)

Material Weakness Repeat Finding
Requirement
P
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2025
Accepted
2026-07-15

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: There is a lack of segregation of accounting functions across County offices, which continues from last year.
  • Impacted Requirements: Proper segregation is essential for authorization, recording, and custody of assets to prevent errors and fraud.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: The County should implement mitigating controls and ensure monthly reporting to the Board of Commissioners to monitor transactions and identify issues promptly.

Finding Text

SEGREGATION OF ACCOUNTING FUNCTIONS Criteria Authorization or approval of transactions, recording of transactions, and custody of assets should normally be segregated from each other. Condition and Context There is a lack of segregation of accounting functions among various County offices and personnel. This is a continuing item from the prior year. Questioned Costs None. Cause The County does not employ sufficient office personnel to properly segregate accounting functions. Potential Effect This lack of segregation of duties results in an inadequate overall internal control structure design. Recommendation The County should be aware of the inherent risks associated with improper segregation of accounting functions. The County should also develop mitigating controls to reduce the risk of errors or fraud associated with improper segregation of accounting functions. Views of Responsible Officials and Planned Corrective Action The County has assessed the benefits and costs associated with proper segregation of duties for all County departments and offices and has determined that cost would outweigh any benefits received. The County understands the inherent risks associated with improper segregation of accounting functions. The County requires monthly reporting to the Board of Commissioners for various department officials to ensure transactions are recorded, and potential errors and irregularities are identified on a timely basis.

Corrective Action Plan

SEGREGATION OF ACCOUNTING FUNCTIONS Recommendation: The County should be aware of the inherent risks associated with improper segregation of accounting functions. The County should also develop mitigating controls to reduce the risk of errors or fraud associated with improper segregation of accounting functions. Action Taken: The County has assessed the benefits and costs associated with proper segregation of duties for all County departments and offices and has determined that cost would outweigh any benefits received. The County understands the inherent risks associated with improper segregation of accounting functions. Action has been taken to ensure timely deposits to the General Fund from the accounts held by individual departments, and County Management has communicated the need to be transparent regarding the transactions handled within these accounts. The County requires monthly reporting to the Board of Commissioners for various department officials to ensure transactions are recorded, and potential errors and irregularities are identified on a timely basis. The County will continue to review accounting procedures and processes to further mitigate this internal control deficiency whenever possible and feasible.

Categories

Internal Control / Segregation of Duties Reporting

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 1223649 2025-001
    Material Weakness Repeat

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
21.027 CORONAVIRUS STATE AND LOCAL FISCAL RECOVERY FUNDS $2.49M
20.509 FORMULA GRANTS FOR RURAL AREAS AND TRIBAL TRANSIT PROGRAM $885,760
97.067 HOMELAND SECURITY GRANT PROGRAM $712,644
93.563 CHILD SUPPORT SERVICES $314,523
21.032 LOCAL ASSISTANCE AND TRIBAL CONSISTENCY FUND $69,120
97.042 EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PERFORMANCE GRANTS $44,660
95.001 HIGH INTENSITY DRUG TRAFFICKING AREAS PROGRAM $20,936
20.600 STATE AND COMMUNITY HIGHWAY SAFETY $12,629
20.616 NATIONAL PRIORITY SAFETY PROGRAMS $9,755
90.404 HAVA ELECTION SECURITY GRANTS $4,821