REPORT DIGEST

 

ILLINOIS CONSERVATION FOUNDATION

 

Financial Audit and Compliance Examination
(In Accordance with the Single Audit Act and OMB Circular A-133)

For the Year Ended June 30, 2010

 

Summary of Findings:

Total this audit:  5

Total last audit:  5

Repeated from last audit:  5

 

Release Date: January 27, 2011

 

State of Illinois, Office of the Auditor General

WILLIAM G. HOLLAND, AUDITOR GENERAL

 

To obtain a copy of the Report contact:

Office of the Auditor General, Iles Park Plaza, 740 E. Ash Street, Springfield, IL 62703

(217)    782-6046 or TTY (888) 261-2887

 

This Report Digest and Full Report are also available on the worldwide web at www.auditor.illinois.gov

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SYNOPSIS

 

• The Foundation did not take timely action to collateralize bank balances in excess of the FDIC insurance limit.  

 

• The Foundation’s Executive Director did not submit time sheets documenting the time spent each day on official state business, did not file an economic interest statement during fiscal year 2010 and worked from home approximately 80% of each month even though this arrangement was not explicitly provided in his contract.     

 

• The Foundation does not have adequate segregation of duties.

 

FINDINGS, CONCLUSIONS, AND RECOMMENDATIONS

 

BANK BALANCES IN EXCESS OF THE FDIC INSURANCE LIMIT WERE NOT PROTECTED BY COLLATERAL PLEDGED BY THE BANK

 

During our testing of the Foundation’s bank accounts, we noted one account exceeded the insurance limit on 11 different days for as much as $31,555. 

 

We recommended the Foundation request the bank pledge securities as collateral in a sufficient amount so as to cover the amounts in excess of the FDIC insurance limit.  (Finding 1, page 17)  This finding was first reported in 2007.

 

Foundation management stated they do not believe the frequency of occurrence and the small dollar amounts represent a significant risk but if the amounts or frequency increases, the Foundation will seek collateral pledges by the bank.  (For the previous agency response, see Digest Footnote #1.)

 

 

PERSONNEL POLICES NOT FOLLOWED

 

The Illinois Conservation Foundation has one payroll employee (Executive Director) and two contractual employees.  We noted the following pertaining to the Executive Director:

 

• In October 2006, the Foundation adopted a policy requiring the Executive Director to submit time sheets documenting time spent each day on official Foundation business to the nearest quarter hour.  The Director did not submit time sheets during our audit period.

 

• The Director did not submit a statement of economic interest in accordance with the Illinois Governmental Ethics Act.

 

• The Director’s employment contract dated June 1, 2010 states he shall be responsible for the day to day operations and management of the Foundation and will supervise any and all staff hired or contracted for the Foundation’s operations. In addition, the contract does not contain a clause allowing the Director to work from home, which he does approximately 80% of each month. 

           

We recommended the Foundation ensure its employee prepare timesheets and file statements of economic interest in compliance with the Act and Foundation personnel policies and fulfill the requirements of each employment contract.  (Finding 4, pages 21-22)

Foundation management stated the Director is not a State employee and therefore should not be required to maintain such detailed time reporting.  Foundation management also stated the Director will file a statement of economic interest next year and that they believe the Director is effectively performing his job from his assigned work location including supervision of contractual employees.

 

In an auditor’s comment, we stated the timekeeping requirement is set forth in the State Officials and Employees Ethics Act (Act) which defines a State employee and a State Agency.  We believe the Foundation is a State Agency under the Act and its employees are, therefore, State employees who are subject to the timekeeping requirement.   Furthermore, the Foundation’s own personnel policies require such timekeeping reports to be submitted by the Executive Director.

 

We further stated in an auditor’s comment that the Illinois Governmental Ethics Act states “by May 1 of each year a statement must be filed by each person whose position at that time subjects him to the filing requirements…” and therefore the auditors continue to stand by their finding and recommendation. 

 

Lastly, in an auditor’s comment we stated the auditors continue to believe the conditions and limitations of any telecommuting arrangement should be authorized and delineated in Board policy, standards to ensure appropriate supervision of employees should be adopted, and detailed records of such arrangements should be maintained.  

 

SEGREGATION OF DUTIES

 

The Foundation has an Executive Director on payroll and two contractual employees.  Because of the small size of the Foundation staff all of the accounting functions are performed by one employee which creates a segregation of duties issue. 

 

We recommended the Board of Directors remain involved in the financial affairs of the Foundation to provide oversight and independent review functions.  (Finding 5, page 23)

 

The Foundation respectfully disagreed with our recommendation and stated they believe compensating controls have been put in place to manage risk and that adding staff and costs is not warranted.

 

In an auditor’s comment, we stated we did not suggest the Foundation add staff.  Instead, we recommended the Foundation’s Board provide additional oversight and review of Foundation operations in order to eliminate risks inherent in a lack of segregation of duties.  

 

WILLIAM G. HOLLAND

Auditor General

 

WGH:JSC:pp

 

Kyle E. McGinnis, CPA was our special assistant auditor.

 

DIGEST FOOTNOTES

 

#1 – BANK BALANCES IN EXCESS OF THE FDIC INSURANCE LIMIT WERE NOT PROTECTED BY COLLATERAL PLEDGED BY THE BANK - Previous Agency Response

 

2009:  The Foundation does not believe the frequency of occurrence and amounts represent a significant risk. The Foundation will continue to monitor the situation and if it continues to be a problem, agrees to request that the banks pledge securities as collateral in a sufficient amount so as to cover the amounts in excess of the FDIC insurance limits which has been increased to $250,000.