To round out the 2021 International Fraud Awareness Week, the State Auditor’s Office has put together a list of our favorite documentaries, short videos and podcasts to help you understand the “human side” of fraud.
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Automated Clearing House (ACH) frauds have been on the rise for a while, and we want to tell you some simple steps you can take to properly verify ACH and payroll bank account changes before making changes.
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Local governments are moving away from traditional paper checks to more efficient and lower-cost digital payments, like direct deposit, automated clearinghouse (ACH) payments, electronic funds transfers (EFT), and wire payments. And the benefits are clear: You can pay a variety of vendors seamlessly, process employee payroll faster, and easily transfer funds between multiple bank accounts.
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The COVID-19 pandemic has likely forever changed how we purchase goods and services—at home and at work. E-commerce and contactless payment options have become the norm, and many governments have transitioned to using credit cards for the majority of purchases and for receiving payments. But as more online transactions occur, fraudsters also have more opportunities to steal credit card information. And judging from loss reports to the State Auditor’s Office, the fraudsters are finding success in their schemes.
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Electeds and boards are responsible for ensuring management has designed and put in place effective controls to manage fraud risk. In this article, we examine the role of electeds and boards – shorthanded throughout as “boards” – in preventing fraud, and offer tips to implement customized policies and best practices.
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With International Fraud Awareness Week kicking off on Nov. 14, now is a great time to look back at how the COVID-19 pandemic affected the level of fraud in the workplace and understand the roadblocks to preventing and detecting fraud in a post-pandemic work environment.
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While the city of Wapato’s financial safeguards have improved somewhat since the city’s last audits, the Office of the Washington State Auditor found significant weaknesses in two audits released today.
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The Center for Government Innovation at the State Auditor’s Office is excited to announce our new Accounts Payable Guide for local governments. Use this guide to find ways to improve your operations and discover best practices.
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When was the last time you reviewed and updated your deposit process? Deposits become so routine that it is easy to forget that your internal controls might need adjusting as your financial activity changes over time. On top of that, there are new options and technology for deposits that can help you strengthen your security measures. SAO offers a few tips and resources to help get you started.
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Since reporting a net pension asset can be cumbersome and complex for governments that haven’t had to do this previously, the pension experts at the State Auditor’s Office have compiled some guidance on how to report it in your financial statements. This article identifies which pension plans are reporting a net pension asset and explains how to report your restricted net position and a negative pension expense.
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