MANUAL OF PROCEDURES

MANUAL OF PROCEDURES PSAB SUPPLEMENT 6

FINANCIAL AND COMPLIANCE AUDIT

TABLE OF CONTENTS

AUDITS.................................................................................................................................. 1

REGULATORY AUTHORITY........................................................................................................... 1 THE AUDIT CONTRACT................................................................................................................. 1 THE AUDIT COMMITTEE .............................................................................................................. 2

Auditor Qualifications ............................................................................................................. 2 General Standard for Independence ....................................................................................... 3 PROGRESS AND FINAL PAYMENT ................................................................................................ 3 PREPARATION OF FINANCIAL STATEMENTS ............................................................................... 4 AUDITOR COMMUNICATIONS .................................................................................................... 4 FINANCIAL STANDARDS .............................................................................................................. 5 COMPLIANCE STANDARDS .......................................................................................................... 5

PERTAINING TO SCHOOL DISTRICTS ....................................................................................... 7

CASH RECONCILIATION ............................................................................................................... 7 CAPITAL EXPENDITURES BY STATE AGENCY ................................................................................ 7 AGENCY FUNDS ........................................................................................................................... 7 REGIONAL EDUCATION COOPERATIVES (RECS) .......................................................................... 7 CHARTER SCHOOLS ..................................................................................................................... 8 REPORT DUE DATES..................................................................................................................... 8 SANCTIONS FOR LATE REPORTS .................................................................................................. 8 REVIEW OF ANNUAL AUDIT REPORT ........................................................................................... 9 AUDIT FINDINGS.......................................................................................................................... 9

Late Audit ................................................................................................................................ 9 Requirement for Retaining Auditor......................................................................................... 9 Bank Accounts Not Reconciled................................................................................................ 9 Overspent Budget ................................................................................................................. 10 Lack of Segregation of Duties ............................................................................................... 10 Failing to Prepare Own Financial Statements....................................................................... 10 Required MD & A .................................................................................................................. 10 Lack of Written Policies & Administrative Procedures.......................................................... 10 Late Deposits......................................................................................................................... 10 Signature Plates & Check Security ........................................................................................ 11 Capital Assets ........................................................................................................................ 11

PSAB Supplement 6 - Financial and Compliance Audit

Rev. 7/11

Travel & Per Diem Violations ................................................................................................ 11 Procurement Procedures....................................................................................................... 11 SPECIAL AUDITS AND EXAMINATIONS ................................................................................. 11 REFERENCES ........................................................................................................................ 12 FEDERAL REFERENCES.......................................................................................................... 12 KEY WORD INDEX ................................................................................................................... I TABLE OF AUTHORITIES ......................................................................................................... II

PSAB Supplement 6 - Financial and Compliance Audit

Rev. 7/11

MANUAL OF PROCEDURES PSAB SUPPLEMENT 6

FINANCIAL AND COMPLIANCE AUDIT

AUDITS

Every school district, charter school and Regional Education Cooperative (REC) is required to be thoroughly examined and audited each year by the State Auditor, personnel of his office or by approved independent auditors. The audits are to be conducted in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards and rules issued by the State Auditor. [Section 12.6.3 (A), NMSA 1978]

REGULATORY AUTHORITY

School districts should become familiar with the general criteria for conducting an audit and the standards the district's auditor is required to adhere to in performing the audit as contained in 2.2.2 NMAC.

Statutory authority requires the state auditor to prepare the necessary regulations necessary to perform audits of school districts in the State of New Mexico. The Audit Act detailed in Sections 12-6-1 through 12-6-14, NMSA 1978 the requires the state auditor to conduct a financial and compliance audit of every state agency including schools in accordance with governmental auditing, accounting and financial reporting standards.

Specific rules and regulations regarding audits of school districts and charter schools are updated annually by the Office of the State Auditor and are now on file in 2.2.2 NMAC.

THE AUDIT CONTRACT

Section 12-6-3 NMSA 1978 requires the financial affairs of every school district and charter school to be examined and audited. The state auditor will notify each district and charter school designated for audit by an independent public accountant (IPA), and those districts and charter schools shall enter into a contract with the IPA of its choice in accordance with procedures described in the Auditor's Rule (2.2.2.8 NMAC). Payment of public funds may not be made to an IPA unless a contract is entered into and approved in writing by the state auditor.

IPA services that cost no more than $50,000 excluding gross receipts tax on each year's contract should be considered small purchases and fall under the procurement requirements for small purchases. (See PSAB Supplement 13, Purchasing). Districts are encouraged to obtain no fewer than three written or oral quotations and to purchase services using a multi-year proposal (not to exceed three years) in which the cost is $50,000 or less each year.

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Rev. 7/11

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For IPA services that cost over $50,000 excluding gross receipts for each year of the contract, the district shall seek competitive, sealed proposals and contract for services in accordance with the Procurement Code (Chapter 13, Article 1, NMSA 1978). The district is encouraged to seek a multi-year proposal for up to three years. Districts may contract with the same IPA for no more than six consecutive years.

THE AUDIT COMMITTEE

Each an audit subcommittee pursuant to Section 22-8-12.3 (D), NMSA 1978 local school board and each governing authority of a charter school will establish

D. Except as otherwise provided in this Section, each local school board shall appoint an audit committee that consists of two board members, one volunteer member who is a parent of a student attending that school district and one volunteer member who has experience in accounting or financial matters. The superintendent and the school district business manager shall serve as ex-officio members of the committee. A local school board with more than five members may appoint more than two board members to its audit committee. The audit committee shall

1) evaluate the request for proposal for annual financial audit services; 2) recommend the selection of the financial auditor; 3) attend the entrance and exit conferences for annual and special audits; 4) meet with external financial auditors at least monthly after audit field work begins

until the conclusion of the audit; 5) be accessible to the external financial auditors as requested to facilitate

communication with the board and the superintendent; 6) track and report progress on the status of the most recent audit findings and

advise the local school board on policy changes needed to address audit findings; 7) provide other advice and assistance as requested by the local school board; 8) be subject to the same requirements regarding the confidentiality of audit information as those imposed upon the local school board by the Audit Act (Section 12-6-1 NMSA 1978) and rules of the state auditor.

The committee shall evaluate the competitive sealed proposals considering the following criteria.

Auditor Qualifications

Capability Does the auditor have the capability to perform the type and size of audit? What were the results of the auditor's most recent peer review? Was the proposal complete and well organized?

Work Requirements and Approach IPA's knowledge of district's need and product required Proposal contains sound technical plan and realistic time line

PSAB Supplement 6 - Financial and Compliance Audit

Rev. 7/11

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 Technical Experience Governmental audit experience Continuing professional education on audits for public schools

General Standard for Independence

GAGAS 3.03, "Auditors and audit organizations must maintain independence so that their opinions, conclusions, judgments, and recommendations will be impartial and will be viewed as impartial by objective third parties." As a result, the following rules apply to professional service contracts for non-audit services.

An IPA who performs the district's financial audit shall not enter into any special audit or non audit service contract without the approval of the state auditor.

An IPA who does not perform the district's audit shall submit a copy of any professional services contract entered into between the district and the IPA.

The state auditor may not approve a contract for any of these non audit services performed by the same IPA who performs the district's annual audit. Maintaining or preparing the basic accounting records Posting transactions Providing payroll services Influencing management for a single individual for a specific position subject that is key to the audit Developing the district's performance measurement system Developing the district's policies, procedures and internal controls Providing services that are management's primary basis for making decisions Carrying out internal audit functions Serving as voting members of the school board Maintaining custody of the district's assets

After conducting the evaluation for each IPA, a state chartered charter school shall submit the IPA recommendation to the state auditor for approval. PED approval is no longer required for school districts and locally chartered charter schools. (2.2.2.12 (C) NMAC).

PROGRESS AND FINAL PAYMENT

Section 12-6-14 (B), NMSA 1978 provides that the state auditor may authorize progress payments based on evidence of the percentage of audit work completed. Progress payments up to 69% do not require the state auditor approval if the district certifies receipt of services. Progress payments from 70% to 90% require state auditor approval after approval by the district. Final payment may not be made until the state auditor has notified the district in writing that the audit has been made in a competent manner in

PSAB Supplement 6 - Financial and Compliance Audit

Rev. 7/11

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