Audit Committee 070908

Uctou - Craig Abernathy

Le téléchargement nécessite un accès à la bibliothèque YouScribe
Tout savoir sur nos offres

6 pages

Español

Le téléchargement nécessite un accès à la bibliothèque YouScribe
Tout savoir sur nos offres

A propos
Informations
Extrait

Description

Town of Nantucket Audit Committee Meeting thMinutes – Audit Committee Meeting November 5 , 2008 Approved December 10, 2008 Present: Ms. Elizabeth Gibson, Mr. Jim Kelly, Mr. Michael Kopko, Ms. Patricia Roggeveen, Ms. Connie Voges, Mr. Bob Dickinson, and Mr. Malachy Rice Absent: None. Also present: Mr. Whiting Willauer, and Mr. Craig Abernathy Call to Order: Ms. Roggeveen called the meeting to order at 9:00 AM. Announcements and Updates: Ms. Roggeveen congratulated Tim Madden on his electoral victory. Approval of Minutes: Mr. Kopko made a motion to approve the minutes from the meeting of October th8 , 2008. The motion was seconded by Mr. Kelly. Status of Phase I & II Abrahams Group Recommendations Implementation: nd rd Ms. Gibson stated that on October 2 and 3 the Abrahams Group was on the Island to speak with various individuals in the Finance Department in order to draft implementation plans for the Abrahams Group recommendations. She noted that there were three outstanding issues; tasks to achieve, target dates for completion of tasks, and identifying who would be responsible for achieving the tasks. Ms. Gibson asked Ms. Voges to elaborate. Ms. Voges said that the meetings identified which recommendations would take priority for implementation and that in subsequent conversations she had reached agreement with the Abrahams Group on delaying or modifying schedules for implementation ...

Informations

Publié par	Uctou
Nombre de lectures	19
Langue	Español

Extrait

Mr.KopkomadeamotiontoapprovetheminutesfromthemeetingofOctoberth 8 ,2008.ThemotionwassecondedbyMr.Kelly.

StatusofPhaseI&IIAbrahamsGroupRecommendationsImplementation:

nd rd Ms.GibsonstatedthatonOctober2and3theAbrahamsGroupwasontheIslandtospeakwithvariousindividualsintheFinanceDepartmentinordertodraftimplementationplansfortheAbrahamsGrouprecommendations.Shenotedthattherewerethreeoutstandingissues;taskstoachieve,targetdatesforcompletionoftasks,andidentifyingwhowouldberesponsibleforachievingthetasks.Ms.GibsonaskedMs.Vogestoelaborate.Ms.VogessaidthatthemeetingsidentifiedwhichrecommendationswouldtakepriorityforimplementationandthatinsubsequentconversationsshehadreachedagreementwiththeAbrahamsGroupondelayingormodifyingschedulesforimplementation.

Minutes–AuditCommitteeth November5 ,2008 Page2of6 Ms.GibsonsuggestedthattheCommitteetaketherecommendationsonebyone.Mr.KellyaskedaboutTask4B,FinanceDirectorauthorizesITDirectortoremoveMUNISpermissionsforallpostingfromCollectorandAssessorstaff.Ms.VogessaidthatthistaskwouldnotbecompletedinNovemberduetoatimingissue,butthatitwillbeimplementedatalaterdate.Ms.VogesthendirectedtheCommitteetoTask17C,MUNISabatementreportswillserveasdocumentationinsteadofmanuallogs.SheexplainedthatthistaskrelatestomanuallogsthatarekeptinadditiontotheelectronicrecordskeptinMUNIS,andthattheAssessor’sofficefindsiteasiertousethemanuallog.Additionally,shestatedthatthelogwasalsovaluedforitshistoricalsignificance.Mr.KellyaskedifTask17Cwasassignedbaseduponaperceivedduplicationofefforts,andnotbecauseofinternalcontrolissues.HeaddedthatifthatwerethecaseitwouldbewithintheFinanceDirector’sdiscretiontomakeamanagementdecisiontokeepthelogbaseduponitshistoricalvalue.Ms.VogesansweredthatthiswasherpositionaswellasthepositionoftheAssessor.th InregardtoTask18D,whenbankstatementdeliveriesaremovedtothe5ofthemonththeFinanceDepartmentshouldpresentitscashreconciliationtotheAuditth Committeebythe20ofthemonth,Ms.VogesstatedthatshehadreviewedthetimingofstatementsreceiptwiththeAbrahamsGroup.Shesaidthatafterdiscussingsomeofthechallengesinreceivingtimelystatements,allpartiesagreedtosetthedateforpresentingreconciliationsasthelastdayofthemonth.

Mr.Kopkonotedtwooftasksontheimplementationplan;Task26A,accesshasbeenprovidedtovariousbankaccountstoAirportandWannacometWater,andTask6A,SchooldepartmentwillprovideSchoolLunchandCommunitySchoolevidenceofsaleswithturnovers.HeaskedifthesamesystemfordocumentingcashtransactionsrecommendedfortheSchoolwouldbeimplementedattheAirportandWannacometWater.Ms.VogesansweredthatWannacomet’sreceiptscomewithoutsupportingdetails,butallofWannacomet’sreceiptshavereceivablerecordsthatwillbereviewedbytheFinanceDepartment.SheaddedthatcashreceiptsattheAirportwasstillanissue,andthatSchoolLunchreceiptshadrecentlybeenreceivedbutthemethodofreportingwouldneedtobeaddressed.

Ms.Roggeveenaskedifenterprisefundsareresponsiblefordoingthereowncashreconciliations.Ms.VogesrespondedthatWannacometWaterandtheAirporthaveevolvedintoindependententitiesthatperformmanytasksseparatefromtheFinanceDepartment,butthatcashreconciliationsarestilltheTreasurer’sresponsibility.SheaddedthatitisdifficultfortheTreasurertoperformthisdutywithoutthenecessaryinformation.

InregardtotheNantucketRegionalTransitAuthority(NRTA),Ms.Roggeveenaskedhowitscashdepositsandreconciliationswerehandled.Ms.Vogesresponded

Minutes–AuditCommitteeth November5 ,2008 Page3of6 thatNRTAisaStateagency.Ms.RoggeveenaskedifMs.VogesviewsthefinancialrecordsofNRTA,towhichMs.VogesrespondedthatsheonlysignschecksforNRTA.Mr.KopkoinquiredabouttheSolidWasteEnterpriseFund’smethodsforhandlingcashdeposits.Ms.VogesrespondedthatthosedepositsarehandledbyDianneHoldgate.Mr.KopkothenaskediftheFinanceDepartmentbacksupthesedepositswithareview,towhichMs.Vogesrespondedthatthiswasnotsomethingshehaslookedat.Mr.Kopkoaskedifitwassomethingthatshouldbeconsidered.Mr.Kellyrepliedthathefeelsthattherearegoodcontrolsalreadyinplace.Ms.VogescommentedthatreportingformWannacometWaterisexcellent,butinthecaseoftheAirporttheFinanceDepartmentisnotyetreceivingtheinformationitneeds.Mr.KopkoaskedhowtheBoardofSelectmencouldassistinexpeditingthedeliveryoftheAirport’sfinancialrecords.Ms.GibsonsaidthatsheisworkingonmanyoftheAbrahamsGrouprecommendations,andthatshehasmetwiththeAirportandtheyhaveindicatedawillingnesstoprovidetimelydocumentationoftheirfinances.Ms.VogesaddedthatshehasnotreceivedanynegativefeedbackfromtheAirport,butnotedthattheFinanceDepartmenthasrecentlyreceivedinformationthatwasnotcurrent.Ms.GibsonstatedthatshefeltitwouldbebettertoworkonthisissueabitmorebeforeinvolvingtheBoard.Mr.KopkoassertedthathehasseentheAirport’spastperformance,andheperceivesthisproblemasanongoingissue.Inlightofthatcontinuingsituation,hesaidthathefeelsitisappropriatetositdownwiththeAirportanddiscussthematter.Ms.GibsonsaidthatshefeelsitisimportanttoidentifyspecificissuesbeforeconveningtodiscussthematterwiththeAirport.Ms.RoggeveenaskediftheAirportwillbeprovidingarecordofsalesaspartofnewprotocols.Ms.VogesansweredthattheAirportshouldprovideasmuchdataaspossibleinordertosupportitscashreceipts.Ms.RoggeveenthenaskedhowtheAirporthandlescashdeposits,towhichMs.VogesrespondedthattheAirporthandlesallofitsowndepositsandthenprovidesdocumentationtotheTreasurer.Ms.Roggeveenindicatedadesiretodevelopaprotocolforhandlingcash.

Reviewof10/31/08lettertoDOR:

Ms.VogesremindedtheCommitteethattheFinanceDepartmentbegansubmittingbi‐monthlyletterstotheDepartmentofRevenue(DOR)onApril30,2008.Shenotedtwoattachmentsdetailingaccomplishments,andstatedthatduetosomeproblemswiththeLandfillBudgettheTaxRecapwouldbedelayedduetonecessarychanges.Ms.VogesdirectedtheCommitteetotheAuditworkplanandhighlightedsomeofthetasksthathavebeenmovedtoNovember.SheaddedthattheFinanceDepartmenthasalsobeenworkingontheSpecialTownMeetingwarrantandprovidingadraftofthenewTaxRecaptoDOR,buttheFinanceDepartmentisinabetterpositiontoaccomplishitsgoalsthanithaseverbeenbefore.

Minutes–AuditCommitteeth November5 ,2008 Page4of6 Inrelationtothereviewprocess,Mr.Kellyinquiredaboutteacher’saccrualsinSchoolpayroll.Specifically,heaskedaboutthedeadlinelistedasOctober31,2008,inregardtowhetherthedeadlinerepresentedacompletiondateorasubmissiondate.Ms.Vogesrespondedthatthedeadlinerepresentsadatethatdocumentsaresubmittedforreview.Mr.DickinsonaddedthathereceivesinformationfromtheSchoolregardingsalarieswhichhescansandattachestothecorrespondingpayrollwarrant,andthenprovidestheinformationtoauditorswhenrequested.StatusofFY2008Audit:RegardingmultipletasksfacingtheFinanceDepartment,Ms.RoggeveenstatedthatsheknowsNovemberwillbeabusymonth.Ms.Vogescommentedthatthemonthwillbedifficultbutherdepartmentisinabetterpositiontodealwithchallengesthanitwasinpreviousyears.Ms.GibsonaddedthattheAbrahamsGroupwillbeassistinginpreparationoffinancialreportingnecessaryfortheaudit.

StatusofCashReconciliationsforFY2009asof9/30/08:

TimelyreconciliationofcashwasviewedwithutmostimportanceintheAbrahamsGroupstudy,andMr.DickinsonnotedthathisdepartmenthascompletedcashreconciliationsforAugustandalmostallofSeptember.Headdedthattheprojectisvaluableforidentifyingissueswiththeprocess,andthatastheseissuesareidentifiedandaddressedthereconciliationprocessbecomeseasier.Mr.Kopkoaskedifthereisusuallyonepersonineachofficethathandlescashtransactions,towhichMr.Dickinsonrepliedthatthereisusuallyonepersonandonesetofpostingcodes.Headdedthatanewprocedureforcreatingpostingcodeswouldsoonbeimplemented.

ReviewofPowers&SullivanInterimFY2009Audit:

PowersandSullivansentcorrespondenceregardingaSeptember30,2008,auditofthecashreconciliationprocess.Ms.VogesprovidedabriefsummaryoftheauditperformedbyRenéeDavis.

•Creatingproceduresforvoidedchecks,reissuedchecksandinterestearnings.•Makingtransactionstokeeppayrollandvendoraccountsatazerobalance.•Addressingtransactionissueswithnewaccounts,i.e.thebankclearedchecksthroughthewrongaccount.•Followinguponoldaccounts.•Changingtrustfundaccountstatementstomonthlyissuance.•Makingadjustmentstothegeneralledgeronatimelybasis.•Addressingtheissueofreconcilingactivitybutnotbalances.(Ms.VogesnotedthatthiswasthemethodPowersandSullivanaskedtheFinanceDepartmenttouse.)•Researchingoutstandingchecksontheoldpayrollandvendoraccounts.

Minutes–AuditCommitteeth November5 ,2008 Page5of6 •Makinguseofreconciliationprocessfromthebank.Ms.Vogessaidthatthetransitionhasbeendifficultbutallofherstaffworkedhardtoensurethatthechangeswereeffectivelyimplemented.ShenotedthatinthelastparagraphoftheletterMs.DavisstatedthattheFinanceDepartmenthaddoneagoodjobinimplementingtherecommendations.Ms.GibsonnotedthattheAuditCommitteemightwanttoconsiderexpensewhencommissioninganotheraudit,asthistwodayauditcostinexcessof$4,000.Inregardtoacommentintheletterabout$2.6millionnotbeingreconciledtothebanks,Mr.Kopkoaskedforfurtherexplanation.Ms.Vogesstatedthatshehasnotlookedatthedetailonthisissue,buttypicallytheseareyearendaccountspayableitems.Mr.Kopkoaskedifthisisa“timingissueorarootingoutissue.”Ms.Vogessaidthatifitisanaccountspayableissueitisrelatedtotimingandifitisatransferissuethecausewillneedtobe“rootedout.”Shenotedthatthenewprocesswilladdressthisissueandthatthisproblemisrelatedtotheoldprocess.Mr.Kellyaskedifanyonefeltthatanyofthefindingswere“material,”towhichMs.Vogesrespondedthatshedidnot.Mr.Kellystatedthathefeltitwouldnotbenecessarytocontinuetheseauditsinthefuture.Ms.GibsonaddedthatMarkAbrahams,AbrahamsGroupconsultantfeltthatthesummarywasgoodandindicatedthattheFinanceDepartmentwastakingcorrectiveaction.NewBusiness:

InlightofthelargeamountoftransitionandchangefacingtheFinanceDepartment,Mr.KellyaskedMs.Vogestoelaborateonhowtheprocessisgoing.Ms.VogessaidthatmanyintheFinanceDepartmentarefeelingthestressofincreaseddemandsontheirperformance,andthatthemonthofNovemberwillbeachallenge.ShenotedthattheSpecialTownMeetingaddedanotherdimensiontothecomplexityoftasksfacingtheDepartment,butithasbeenimportantfortheDepartmenttomaintainitsscheduleforcompletionoftheFY2008audit.Mr.Kopkonotedthatthereare“threesetsofeyes”ontheaudittimeline:MarkAbrahams,PowersandSullivan,andDOR.Ms.VogessaidthatintermsofprioritysherankedcompletingtheTaxRecapandsecuringborrowingfirst,andcompletionoftheauditsecond.Shecommentedthatcurrentstaffinglevelsareappropriatefornormaltimes,buttheconditionswithinthedepartmentarecurrentlynotnormal.

OtherBusiness:None.7.DateofNextMeeting: