Finding Text
Finding 2022-001 ? Internal Control over Financial Reporting and Account Adjustments Condition: Internal controls were not in place to ensure accuracy of financial statements, which resulted in material adjustments that were identified by the auditors in order for the financial statements to be prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP). Adjustments were identified as being required based on the auditor?s review of the trial balance information provided for audit. Adjustments identified to management included: recording of intergovernmental revenues, balancing of interfund transactions, accruing accounts payable, recording of taxes receivable, and balancing pension funds. Material adjustments noted include those required to major federal programs Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ALN 21.023) and Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (ALN 21.027). These adjustments were necessary to properly reflect current year operations and balances as of the year-end. Management does review and accept the financial statements prior to their final issuance, and adjustments required were provided to the auditors based on preliminary identification by the auditors and subsequent discussions with management. Criteria: Auditing standards place emphasis on determining an entity?s ability to fully prepare their own external financial statements, including the posting of all adjustments necessary to present GAAP financials and evaluating the need for all necessary financial statement disclosures. Reliance on auditors to ensure comprehensive financial reporting is considered to be an internal control deficiency. Cause: Internal controls were not in place to ensure that the County of Mercer (County) reconciled some of its balance sheet accounts, including interfund accounts, accounts payable, unearned revenues, taxes receivable, and pension accounts, to the general ledger and did not post necessary adjustments for balances to be recorded in accordance with GAAP. Effect: Significant adjustments were required to be recorded in order for the financial statements to be prepared in accordance with GAAP. Recommendation: We recommend that management evaluate their internal controls over the financial reporting process and ensure that an individual is assigned to reconcile balance sheet accounts on a monthly, quarterly, and annual basis. We also recommend that a second individual be assigned to review the reconciliations and ensure that the financial statements are prepared in accordance with GAAP. Management?s Response: Management agrees with this finding. See separate Corrective Action Plan.