|
The Department of Audits, in fulfilling its mission, provides a variety of auditing services to City government.Audit assignments are
conducted in accordance with Government
Auditing Standards. These standards
require due professional care in conducting audits, professionally qualified
staff, independence, adequate supervision and planning of audit work, reporting
of audit results and periodic reviews of the audit organization by outside
professionals. The Department uses a
risk-based approach in selecting City agency programs and activities to audit. The
following briefly describes the scope of work performed.
Financial and Financial-related Audits: Financial and
financial-related audits assist the Board of Estimates and other users who rely
on financial statements and reports prepared by the City and its agencies. Financial and financial-related audits examine various aspects of City agencies’
financial operations to determine whether financial reports are presented in
accordance with established criteria and whether the agencies have complied
with material compliance requirements.
Internal Control Reviews: Internal control reviews provide
recommendations to the Board of Estimates and City management to improve poorly
designed or ineffective internal control systems. Internal control reviews
determine whether controls over financial operations and safeguarding of assets
are suitably designed and functioning to achieve control objectives. While internal controls are reviewed
routinely as part of audits of agency financial statements, in-depth reviews
are performed at various levels within City agencies, programs and
activities.
Performance Audits: Performance audits provide the Board of
Estimates and City management with independent analysis, evaluation, and
recommendations to improve the performance of City agencies. Performance audits are independent
examinations for the purpose of reporting on the extent to which an agency is
economically, efficiently, and effectively carrying out its responsibilities
within specific programs or activities.
Fraud, Waste and Abuse: The Department of Audits identifies
potential fraud indicators and conducts research into issues of concern. The Department routinely investigates
allegations of abuses of City resources, such as irregularities involving
employee attendance or equipment usage. In some cases, the resulting investigation serves as the basis for a
more in-depth examination of the area in question.
Pre-audit Reviews: Pre-audit advisory services assist the Board of
Estimates in making informed decisions about contracts and other procurements
prior to their execution. The
Department of Audits is responsible for reviewing various contracts, change
orders and proposals submitted by City agencies to the Board of Estimates to
ensure compliance with City policies.
Audit Follow-up: Much of the benefit from audit work is
not in the findings reported or the recommendations made, but in their
effective resolution. The Department
conducts follow-up reviews to determine if reported audit recommendations are
properly implemented by City agencies. Follow-up reports are issued to the Board of Estimates disclosing the
status of implementation of audit recommendations.
[Back to Top] |
