Announcements

Updated: Dec 12, 2022

The State Auditor's Office will be updating the BARS Manuals (GAAP and Cash) beginning Monday, Dec. 12, 2022.

During the updates, sections of both online BARS Manuals will be unavailable for your use. Once updated, they will be fully available for accounting and reporting guidance related to fiscal year 2022 and forward.

We will notify local government audit contacts via email when the BARS Manuals have been fully updated.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Nov. 21, 2022

OLYMPIA – Today the Office of the Washington State Auditor released a regular accountability audit of the Toppenish School District, identifying multiple areas of concern related to the Superintendent and wrestling activities.

Among the findings, auditors determined the District:

State Auditor Pat McCarthy with Janel Roper, SAO's Director of Administrative Services. Roper is a 2022 recipient of the Governor's Award for Leadership in Management.

The Office of the Washington State Auditor has passed its external peer review, a rigorous independent examination of the Office's quality control system and audit work conducted every three years.

“We have high standards for accountability and transparency in Washington, and our Office works to uphold those expectations, including in our own operations,” State Auditor Pat McCarthy said. “We welcome this examination and are pleased to have met the high standards of this national group.”

Sadie Armijo, SAO's Director of State Audit and Special Investigations, received the 2022 Award of Excellence at the Washington Finance Officers Association conference in Tacoma.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Sept. 20, 2022

OLYMPIA – Today the Office of the Washington State Auditor released a fraud report and audit of Mason County Fire District No. 12, showing almost $70,000 in misappropriated public funds, as well as $95,000 in unsupported expenses.

Auditors also documented an overall disregard for state laws at the District in areas including ethics and conflicts of interest, open public meetings and financial transparency.

When your government becomes aware of a known or suspected loss of public funds, state law requires that you immediately report it to the State Auditor's Office. The most effective way to report is through the “How to Report a Concern” page on SAO's website.

WSCPA President and CEO, Kimberly Scott (left), presenting Director of Local Audit Kelly Collins, CPA, CFE (right) with the 2021-2022 Outstanding Leader award.

For the first time in three years, the annual Washington Finance Officers Association conference will be live and in person Tuesday, Sept. 13 through Friday, Sept. 16 at the Greater Tacoma Convention Center. As always, the WFOA conference is a unique, once-a-year opportunity to attend valuable training sessions, find out about the latest and greatest auditing and accounting resources, and share tips and advice with financial experts and your colleagues.

For planning and budgeting purposes, we recently notified our clients that SAO's hourly billing rates as of Jan. 1, 2023, will be as follows:

The hourly rate for auditors in travel status will remain at 75 percent of the applicable hourly rate.