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The Audit Connection Blog

Results for: Local governments

Messy buildup in your vendor master file? It’s time for some spring cleaning!

May 18, 2022

Spring has sprung, and it’s time to start cleaning up your financial records from years’ past! Why not tackle the messy buildup in your vendor master file? This database file containing information about your government’s vendors needs a periodic scrubbing. Cleaning your vendor master file will require a well-coordinated plan. It’s likely that the project could span several months. To get you started, we’ve compiled some easy steps to follow.

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Stay on top of piggybacking requirements with SAO’s updated guide

May 11, 2022

Piggybacking is the ability to use another government’s bid award without going through your own competitive process. It can be complicated, which is why we have updated our guide—Piggybacking under Washington State Law—to address your most common questions and alert you to changes in our guidance. Don’t worry: It still includes a step-by-step approach to piggybacking, as well as an optional checklist for you to use!

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Concerned about possible errors on your SEFA? SAO is here to help

May 3, 2022

Washington’s governments encountered special audit circumstances this year when it came to preparing the Schedule of Expenditures of Federal Awards (SEFA). School districts were no different—and many of you found yourselves facing a federal audit for the first time because the funding you received related to the COVID-19 pandemic met or exceeded the federal government’s threshold to require an audit.

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Financial Intelligence Tool (FIT) logo

Discover what’s new in FIT this spring

April 26, 2022

We’re excited to announce the release of new features in our Financial Intelligence Tool (FIT)! You’ll now have access to more details about local governments’ debt and liabilities and a direct link to helpful FIT resources. We’ve also launched our new live annual filing submission tracker and made several other enhancements for a better user experience.

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Are you evaluating the risks to your federal programs? SAO has a new tool to get you started

April 14, 2022

Imagine you are planning an expensive Hawaiian vacation—your first in two years. One of the first things you check is whether any of the costs are refundable if something were to prevent you from going. When you learn you could lose your deposit if you pull out of the trip, you plan to buy trip insurance just to be safe. In other words, you’ve identified a risk and found a way to mitigate it.

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Food for thought: Financial data accuracy and your annual report

April 13, 2022

You’ve heard the old adage that good food comes from quality ingredients. The same could be said about your government’s annual report: it’s only as good as the data that goes into it. As you prepare to file your annual report this year, remember that there are many consumers of your financial data and its accuracy is important.

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SAO debuts new training on cash handling internal controls and fraud prevention

April 6, 2022

Do you have cash handling responsibilities in your organization? A new online, on-demand training from the Center for Government Innovation will help you design good internal controls and understand common cash receipting fraud schemes. You’ll also learn how to develop cash handling best practices and the steps you should take if your organization experiences or suspects fraud.

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