The Audit Connection Blog
New checklists help you create strong controls to prevent fraud
Everyone knows a strong system of internal controls is the best way to deter fraud in your organization, or detect it quickly should it occur. But designing and evaluating internal control systems can be overwhelming. So where do you start? ... CONTINUE READING
Bank statements deserve your attention
Failure to perform bank statement reviews might seem like a small oversight, but it could have drastic consequences. Read more to find out some best practices for your review. ... CONTINUE READING
Do your employees and citizens have a way to report concerns?
It’s important that local governments provide employees and citizens with a safe and trusted process for reporting concerns such as potential fraud or misappropriation. Doing so helps you find out about issues and address them promptly, mitigating financial and other negative effects to your organization. ... CONTINUE READING
International Fraud Awareness Week is a great time to update your fraud fighting toolkit
This week, we will highlight resources and important information to help state and local governments update their fraud fighting toolkits. We encourage you to check out these resources and share them with your agency. ... CONTINUE READING
SAO making our outgoing emails cyber-safer
The State Auditor’s Office is changing some of the emails we send every week to better align with cybersecurity best practices. ... CONTINUE READING
Lean Coffee perks up online facilitation
The Center for Government Innovation has been co-hosting Virtual Lean Coffees about once a month to gather Lean facilitators from state and local government so we can learn virtual process improvement facilitation tips and tricks from each other. Another meeting is planned for November, and we would love to have you join us. ... CONTINUE READING
Managing remote teams: Make work visible to seal process cracks
Although workers have always been susceptible to forgetting tasks, the additional communication challenges we work through during a crisis or disruption make any cracks in processes wider, deeper and more damaging. How can we manage the work our teams do so less falls through the cracks? ... CONTINUE READING
Guide to unauditable governments: October 2020 update
Since first reporting on about 40 unauditable governments in May 2019, the number of unauditable governments has been cut by more than two-thirds. As of October 2020, only 11 governments have not submitted financial information by their final opportunity to do so. Learn more by viewing this interactive infographic. ... CONTINUE READING
Three small Washington governments declared unauditable
Today, the Office of the Washington State Auditor declared three small local governments unauditable, placing them on the path for possible dissolution. Each of the governments had gone for years without either filing its annual financial reports or cooperating with independent audits, both of which are required by law. ... CONTINUE READING
Find your purpose to combat stress
Are you finding that you have a few stressors in your life these days? Your dining room table is also a home office and school desk; your cat interrupts important virtual meetings with your boss; so much togetherness! Connecting to a strong sense of purpose might just help you deal more effectively with stress whatever your situation might be. ... CONTINUE READING