Page 29 - The Edge - Fall 2020

Auditors Will Be Asking a Lot of New Questions

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You should consider whether there has been an increase
in the risk of fraud for federal programs due to changes
in controls, and whether program changes have required
additional monitoring or tracking measures.

“There will be more questions than usual because these
are unusual times,” Park said.”But for auditors, asking
questions is not enough. They will want to corroborate
what you say.”

He strongly recommended that any information sent to
auditors is via secure methods. Inquiries will be made by
phone, video and email.

Changes that auditors are expecting from prior years
could include a decrease in transportation for reduced
miles, fewer student trips, lower gas prices, an increase
in instructional capital for IPads/Chromebooks and
distance learning opportunities.

Other items auditors will look for include plant operation
decreases for shuttered schools and utilities, increased
federal revenues for expanded food service programs,
reduced supplemental pay, stipends, and overtime.
we normally do – back-ups and cross training,” he said.
“We had to make sure segregation of duties was still in
“Every individual has different comfort levels,” place. If duties are not compatible with each other, that
Park said. “The main thing is at end of day we are all could turn into a large issue.”
experiencing this together. Show empathy of each other’s
comfort level. Do our best to accommodate each other. There was some confusion over an executive order
As auditors, we understand a lot of changes that districts relaxing state procurement, but that didn’t affect federal
are planning, and we will be conscious of this. You’re procurement.
not necessarily getting things you want. In return, if you
experience delays from our side as auditors, we’re also “We have been working through a digital environment,”
working through changes. We all see this as a forced Vaughn said. “We had to make sure digital filing is as
opportunity to step outside of our comfort zones.”
clean as your paper filing. If things are going to email
and other digital forms that you’re not used to – a filing
Linda Virgil said Peoria has been able to maintain normal system that is not fantastic – it may be difficult to find
procedures, but faced a lot of challenges when half of audit requests. That will slow down your team’s work
their staff is working remotely. The district canceled and the audit.”
field trips, which triggered a lot of calls from parents
wanting t know when they would get their refund. The Eugene Park can be reached at: 602-277-9449 or
district worked hard to get checks out in a timely manner.
Eugene.Park@heinfeldmeech.com.

She said the district is doing its best to confirm Michael Vaughn can be reached at: (623) 412-5254 or
COVID-19 expenditures. MVAUGHN@pusd11.net.

Michael Vaughn said it was difficult at the beginning. Linda Virgil can be reached at: (623) 486-6076 or
“We had to make sure we had an even deeper bench than lvirgil@pusd11.net.

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