The Audit Connection Blog
Are your government’s finances ready for an earthquake?
Earthquakes and other natural disasters can be costly if your area is directly affected, and even more so if your government is unprepared. Your government may have an emergency response plan, but as financial managers, have you been included in some of those discussions? This article outlines steps governments can take to financially prepare for potentially large earthquakes and other disasters. ... CONTINUE READING
#Gov101 series continues with a look at port districts
In this latest addition to SAO’s #Gov 101 series, we explore Washington’s 80 port districts, including how they’re governed, how they finance their operations, and how you can participate at your local port district. ... CONTINUE READING
Thanks for submitting your annual report on time
We at SAO extend our thanks to every local government that filed its fiscal year 2021 annual report on time! This year, approximately 88 percent of local governments—2 percent more than last year—met the annual filing deadline, proving once again that compliance, accountability and transparency matter in Washington state. ... CONTINUE READING
Is asset tracking a thorn in your side? SAO’s resources can help ease the pain
Local governments track many assets with multiple objectives in mind. Whether your objective is accurate and complete financial reporting or safeguarding public assets, tracking all of your government’s assets can quickly become a pain. SAO offers tools and resources to help you simplify asset tracking and comply with a variety of objectives and requirements. ... CONTINUE READING
Improve your cybersecurity without breaking your budget
Cyberattack warnings can leave small local governments stressed and overwhelmed as they try to balance the need for increased cybersecurity and finding funds to pay for it. What you may not know is that help is available to your government at little to no cost, and you can get started today! We’ve identified three important steps you can take to defend your government against cybercrime. ... CONTINUE READING
Messy buildup in your vendor master file? It’s time for some spring cleaning!
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. ... CONTINUE READING
Stay on top of piggybacking requirements with SAO’s updated guide
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! ... CONTINUE READING
SAO assistant director DeViney takes leadership role on national board, becomes member of GASB advisory committee
A longtime employee of the Office of the Washington State Auditor (SAO) has been appointed chair of a national board that advocates for the improvement of government accounting and financial reporting standards. ... CONTINUE READING
Getting ready to file by May 30? Keep your annual report preparation on track with a checklist
Some of our audit findings are the result of someone forgetting an important step when preparing the financial statements. Using our checklists is a great way to ensure that you don’t miss a step when preparing your annual financial reports. ... CONTINUE READING
Concerned about possible errors on your SEFA? SAO is here to help
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. ... CONTINUE READING