REPORT DIGEST REGIONAL OFFICE OF EDUCATION #43: MARSHALL, PUTNAM, WOODFORD COUNTIES FINANCIAL AUDIT For the Year Ended: June 30, 2014 Release Date: April 30, 2015 FINDINGS THIS AUDIT: 1 CATEGORY: NEW -- REPEAT -- TOTAL Category 1: 0 -- 1 -- 1 Category 2: 0 -- 0 -- 0 Category 3: 0 -- 0 -- 0 TOTAL: 0 -- 1 -- 1 FINDINGS LAST AUDIT: 1 Category 1: Findings that are material weaknesses in internal control and/or a qualification on compliance with State laws and regulations (material noncompliance). Category 2: Findings that are significant deficiencies in internal control and noncompliance with State laws and regulations. Category 3: Findings that have no internal control issues but are in noncompliance with State laws and regulations. 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 SYNOPSIS • (14-1) The Regional Office of Education #43 did not have sufficient internal controls over the financial reporting process. FINDINGS, CONCLUSIONS, AND RECOMMENDATIONS CONTROLS OVER FINANCIAL STATEMENT PREPARATION The Regional Office of Education #43 is required to maintain a system of controls over the preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). The Regional Office’s internal controls over GAAP financial reporting should include adequately trained personnel with the knowledge, skills, and experience to prepare GAAP based financial statements and include all disclosures as required by the Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB). The Regional Office did not have sufficient internal controls over the financial reporting process. The Regional Office maintains its accounting records on the cash basis of accounting during the fiscal year. While the Regional Office maintains controls over the processing of most accounting transactions, there are not sufficient controls over the preparation of 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. During review of the Regional Office’s financial information, auditors noted there were not adequate controls over the maintenance of complete records of accounts receivable, accounts payable, or unearned revenue. While the Regional Office did maintain records to indicate the balances of accounts receivable, accounts payable, and unearned revenue, not all entries were provided to reconcile the Regional Office of Education #43’s grant activity, such as posting grant receivables and unearned revenue. According to the Regional Office of Education #43 management, they did not have adequate funding to hire and/or train their accounting personnel in order to maintain a system of internal control over the preparation of financial statements in accordance with GAAP. (Finding 2014-001, pages 11-12) This finding was first reported in 2007. The auditors recommended that, as part of internal control over the preparation of financial statements, the Regional Office of Education #43 should implement comprehensive preparation procedures to ensure that the financial statements are complete and accurate. These procedures should be performed by a properly trained individual(s) possessing a thorough understanding of the applicable GAAP, GASB pronouncements, and knowledge of the Regional Office of Education #43’s activities and operations. The Regional Office of Education #43 responded that while it understands the nature of this finding, the office unfortunately does not have sufficient funds for hiring a person who has the knowledge and understanding of generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) and GASB pronouncements that are needed to produce financial statements with disclosures, and possesses a thorough understanding of the ROE’s operations and activities. The Regional Office stated that as it stands, it accepts the degree of risk associated with this condition as this circumstance is very common in organizations that are similar in size. The Regional Office noted that in an attempt to improve this situation, the ROE will make a point to send the bookkeeper to any State trainings that could help her better understand accrual basis accounting and reporting under GAAP. (For previous Regional Office response, see Digest Footnote #1.) AUDITORS’ OPINION Our auditors state the Regional Office of Education #43’s financial statements as of June 30, 2014 are fairly presented in all material respects. WILLIAM G. HOLLAND Auditor General WGH:JRB AUDITORS ASSIGNED: Sulaski & Webb, CPAs were our special assistant auditors. DIGEST FOOTNOTE #1: Controls Over Financial Statement Preparation - Previous Regional Office Response In its prior response in 2013, the Regional Office of Education #43 responded that it understands the nature of this finding. The Regional Office noted that it does not have adequate funds to hire a person who possesses both a thorough understanding of the ROE’s operations and activities as well as the knowledge and understanding of generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) and GASB pronouncements that are needed to produce financial statements with disclosures. The ROE also stated that as it stands the Regional Office accepts the degree of risk associated with this condition as this circumstance is very common in organizations that are similar in size. In an attempt to improve this situation, the ROE will make a point to send staff to any State trainings that could help their employees better understand accrual basis accounting and reporting under GAAP.