The Audit Connection Blog
Financial management policies and resources
Implementing effective internal financial policies can be challenging for local governments of any size, which is why the Performance Center teamed up with the Municipal Research and Services Center (MRSC) to simplify the process. ... CONTINUE READING
Change Management, Lesson One
Government staff all over Washington often ask me where to start when they seek to improve a process like permits, asset management, approval queues and so on. To answer this, I ask them: Do you have a change management strategy in place? ... CONTINUE READING
Risky business: New resources help assess challenges in reporting process
The processes for compiling and presenting financial and federal program reports contain many areas of risk, such as reorganization or personnel changes, and new or revised guidance and rules. ... CONTINUE READING
Mosquito Control Districts: Classifying and assessing properties in proportion to the benefit received
In May 2016, local governments reached out to the State Auditor’s Office with concerns that mosquito control districts were not following state law regarding annual assessments for district operations. ... CONTINUE READING
Preparing for audit: Tips for success
Washington’s state and local governments regularly undergo a wide variety of audits with differing objectives. These audits assure you and the public that financial data is accurate and public resources are properly safeguarded, that the government complies with various regulations and its programs are run effectively. ... CONTINUE READING
Auditor's Office announces staff changes
We are excited to share a couple of staff appointments that have occurred this year. ... CONTINUE READING
Keeping up with the GASB
Does it seem like there’s always some new accounting standard that needs to be implemented? That’s because there is! The Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB) issues an average of three new accounting standards a year. ... CONTINUE READING
Our Office Provides Resources for Capital Assets Accounting
Accounting for capital assets is an area of difficulty for many governments. General purpose governments have been reporting infrastructure assets for more than a decade because of Governmental Accounting Standard’s Board (GASB) Statement No. 34. ... CONTINUE READING
Web Page to Help Governments Implement Other Postemployment Benefits (OPEB) Update
The State Auditor’s Office has established a new OPEB web page to help local governments understand and implement GASB Statement No. 75, Accounting and Financial Reporting for Postemployment Benefits Other Than Pensions, effective for fiscal years ending in 2018. ... CONTINUE READING
BARS roundtable sessions scheduled
We are offering the BARS Roundtable Sessions again this fall. The roundtable discussions are free, three-hour feedback opportunities open to all local governments. Past attendance included more than 400 local government representatives the last two years. ... CONTINUE READING