The Audit Connection Blog
Annual report filing deadline is around the corner—which local governments have already filed?
Spring is here and so is the annual report filing season. This year, we bring you a refreshed way to view filing progress across the state. Powered by SAO’s Financial Intelligence Tool (FIT), our new infographic updates daily as we approach the deadline. ... CONTINUE READING
School district data coming soon to FIT
The Office of the Washington State Auditor is excited to announce the addition of school district financial data to our Financial Intelligence Tool (FIT) this summer. FIT is a unique and powerful way to visualize and analyze the financial data of Washington’s local governments. ... CONTINUE READING
Are you evaluating the risks to your federal programs? SAO has a new tool to get you started
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. ... CONTINUE READING
SAO announces key leadership changes
The State Auditor’s Office is excited to announce several key leadership changes. Please join us in congratulating all of our talented staff members on their new roles with SAO. ... CONTINUE READING
Food for thought: Financial data accuracy and your annual report
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. ... CONTINUE READING
You're invited to our spring recruitment events
During this spring’s recruitment events, attendees will learn about SAO and the skills it takes to be an auditor at our Office. They will also have the opportunity to network with auditors and recruiters, learn what makes a candidate a great fit for SAO, and get a taste of what we do for #GoodGovernment. ... CONTINUE READING
SAO debuts new training on cash handling internal controls and fraud prevention
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. ... CONTINUE READING
Mark Rapozo, longtime local audit AD, retires from SAO
After more than 38 years at the Office of the Washington State Auditor, Mark Rapozo, CPA, will retire effective April 2022. Rapozo built extensive professional and personal relationships during his long career in public service. ... CONTINUE READING
Are you verifying your contractor is responsible before awarding a contract? SAO can help
Before hiring a contractor to work on your home, it’s wise to make sure they are licensed, bonded and insured. It helps to protect you if the contractor doesn’t complete work properly, if there are any damages, or if workers are injured while at your home. For governments, it’s not just wise—it’s required by law. ... CONTINUE READING
How to avoid surprises during your audit of cash and investments
It’s not uncommon for a government to have multiple bank or investment accounts with different staff or departments reconciling them. That’s okay, but keep in mind there can be risks when different people are involved with reconciling several accounts. ... CONTINUE READING