Finding Text
Segregation of Duties
Year ended June 30, 2024
Condition and Criteria: Although there is a limited number of personnel in the business office, we noted that different functions within the cash receipts, cash disbursements and payroll cycles, along with the preparation of bank reconciliations are not properly segregated.
Effect: A fundamental element of an effective internal control system is the proper segregation of duties. Proper segregation of duties provides for a system of checks and balances and entails assigning responsibilities of authorizing and recording transactions among different people in the District. Generally, assigning different individuals the responsibilities of authorizing transactions, recording transactions, and maintaining the custody of the related assets reduces the opportunities for any individual to both perpetrate and conceal errors or fraud in the normal course of business.
Auditor’s recommendation: We recognize that the District has attempted to mitigate the lack of segregation of duties by having other individuals perform certain ancillary duties of record-keeping including: opening the mail; signing of checks; distribution of payroll and vendor checks; and bank reconciliations. The District should continue to obtain involvement from its Board of Education in reviewing monthly financial and expenditure reports.
District’s Response: The District understands the importance of having strong segregation of duties and will attempt to separate certain responsibilities as outlined above.