REPORT DIGEST

 

INTERMEDIATE SERVICE CENTER #4:

SOUTH COOK

 

FINANCIAL AUDIT

(In Accordance with the Single Audit Act and OMB Circular A-133)
For the Year Ended: June 30, 2009

 

Summary of Findings:

Total this audit:  1

Total last audit:  1

Repeated from last audit:  1

 

Release Date: June 3, 2010

 

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 South Cook Intermediate Service Center #4 did not have sufficient internal controls over the financial reporting process. 

 

FINDINGS, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

 

CONTROLS OVER FINANCIAL STATEMENT PREPARATION

 

         The South Cook Intermediate Service Center #4 is required to maintain a system of controls over the preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP).  South Cook Intermediate Service Center #4’s internal controls over GAAP financial reporting should include adequately trained personnel with the knowledge and expertise to prepare and/or thoroughly review GAAP based financial statements to ensure that they are free of material misstatements and include all disclosures as required by the Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB).

 

         The South Cook Intermediate Service Center #4 did not have sufficient internal controls over the financial reporting process.  The Service Center maintains its accounting records on the cash basis of accounting.  While the Service Center maintains controls over the processing of most accounting transactions, there are not sufficient controls over the preparation of the GAAP based financial statements for management or employees in the normal course of performing their assigned functions to prevent or detect financial statement misstatements and disclosure omissions in a timely manner.  For example, auditors, in their review of the Service Center’s accounting records noted the following:

•           The Service Center did not have adequate controls over the maintenance of complete records of accounts receivable, accounts payable, or deferred revenue. 

•           Numerous adjustments were required to present financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. 

         According to South Cook Intermediate Service Center #4 officials, they did not have adequate funding to hire and/or train their accounting personnel in order to comply with these requirements.  (Finding 09-1, pages 11-12)

         The auditors recommended that, as part of its internal control over the preparation of its financial statements, including disclosures, the South Cook Intermediate Service Center #4 should implement comprehensive preparation and/or review procedures to ensure that the financial statements, including disclosures, are complete and accurate.  Such procedures should be performed by a properly trained individual(s) possessing a thorough understanding of applicable generally accepted accounting principles, GASB pronouncements, and knowledge of the Intermediate Service Center’s activities and operations.

 

         The South Cook Intermediate Service Center #4 responded that it has discussed the options concerning the capabilities of preparing financial statements, including complete footnote disclosures, that would not require significant changes by the auditor.  The Intermediate Service Center believes that it would not be cost beneficial to hire another employee or service provider to perform such a task.  They are confident in the abilities of the accounting/bookkeeping staff to prepare cash basis financial information as needed for reporting purposes throughout the year.  The South Cook Intermediate Service Center #4 will pursue additional training when it is considered cost beneficial since training costs would take away from the funds available to provide educational services for the schools in the region.

 

AUDITORS’ OPINION

 

         Our auditors state the Intermediate Service Center #4’s financial statements as of June 30, 2009 are fairly presented in all material respects.

 

 

WILLIAM G. HOLLAND, Auditor General

 

WGH:JRB

 

 

SPECIAL ASSISTANT AUDITORS

 

Bass, Solomon & Dowell, LLP were our special assistant auditors in this audit.