Agenda

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C.72

To:	Board of Supervisors
From:	INTERNAL OPERATIONS COMMITTEE
Date:	March 31, 2009

Contra

Costa

County

Subject:

2009 FINANCIAL AUDITS PLAN

APPROVE	OTHER
RECOMMENDATION OF CNTY ADMINISTRATOR	RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE

Action of Board On: 03/31/2009

APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED

OTHER

Clerks Notes:

VOTE OF SUPERVISORS

AYE:

John Gioia, District I Supervisor
Gayle B. Uilkema, District II Supervisor
Mary N. Piepho, District III Supervisor
Susan A. Bonilla, District IV Supervisor
Federal D. Glover, District V Supervisor

Contact:	Julie Enea (925) 335-1077
cc:	Auditor-Controller Chief Auditor Internal Operations Committee Staff

I hereby certify that this is a true and correct copy of an action taken and entered on the minutes of the Board of Supervisors on the date shown.
ATTESTED: March 31, 2009
David Twa,

BY:	, Deputy

RECOMMENDATION(S):

1. ACCEPT report from the Auditor-Controller on the financial audit activities in 2008 and the proposed schedule of financial audits for 2009.


2. NOTE that the internal audit staff also spends approximately 25% of its time helping to prepare the County’s annual Comprehensive Financial Report (CAFR).

RECOMMENDATION(S): (CONT'D)

3. ACKNOWLEDGE that the filling of vacant auditor positions over the last two years and the appointment of new Chief Auditor has enabled the Auditor to propose a 2009 schedule of audits is more robust than the 2008 schedule.

FISCAL IMPACT:

The cost of performing the scheduled audits is budgeted. The internal audit program helps the County to reduce risk of loss and helps to safeguard County funds and assets.

BACKGROUND:

On June 27, 2000, the Board of Supervisors reviewed the County's audit program and directed that each December, the County Administrator and Auditor-Controller report to the Internal Operations Committee on the proposed schedule of internal financial and management audits for the following year, including those studies requested by the Board of Supervisors.

Attached is the 2008 performance report and the 2009 internal audit plan proposed by Auditor-Controller. Our Committee is very appreciative of the efforts of the Internal Audit Division in completing much of the 2008 audit plan with several newly hired staff.

In recognition of the increased capabilities of a now fully staffed internal audit unit, the Auditor has proposed for 2009 a more robust audit schedule than in recent years. The Auditor sets priorities for the audit program by consulting State statutes and County policies, and by conducting risk assessments that consider the amounts and frequency of cash handling. In recognition that many of department audit findings can be remedied through training, the Auditor’s Office continues to develop training programs to address common fiscal procedures and control issues. Audit staff also follow up with departments on audit findings to verify that remedies are being implemented.

Our committee recommends acceptance of the Auditor’s report for 2008 and approval of the audit plan for 2009. For future reports, we have asked the Auditor to add a new column that displays the actual number of hours required to perform the audits, in addition to the estimated hours.