REPORT DIGEST INTERMEDIATE SERVICE CENTER #4: SOUTH COOK FINANCIAL AUDIT (In accordance with the Single Audit Act and OMB Circular A-133) For the Year Ended: June 30, 2012 Release Date: April 4, 2013 Summary of Findings: Total this audit: 1 Total last audit: 1 Repeated from last audit: 1 State of Illinois, Office of the Auditor General WILLIAM G. HOLLAND, AUDITOR GENERAL To obtain a copy of the Report contact: Office of the Auditor General, Iles Park Plaza, 740 E. Ash Street, Springfield, IL 62703 (217) 782-6046 or TTY (888) 261-2887 This Report Digest and Full Report are also available on the worldwide web at www.auditor.illinois.gov SYNOPSIS • The South Cook Intermediate Service Center #4 did not have sufficient internal controls over the financial reporting process. FINDINGS, CONCLUSIONS, AND RECOMMENDATIONS CONTROLS OVER FINANCIAL STATEMENT PREPARATION The South Cook Intermediate Service Center #4 is required to maintain a system of controls over the preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). South Cook Intermediate Service Center #4’s internal controls over GAAP financial reporting should include adequately trained personnel with the knowledge and expertise to prepare and/or thoroughly review GAAP based financial statements to ensure they are free of material misstatements and include all disclosures as required by the Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB). The South Cook Intermediate Service Center #4 did not have sufficient internal controls over the financial reporting process. The Service Center maintains its accounting records on the cash basis of accounting. While the Service Center maintains controls over the processing of most accounting transactions, there are not sufficient controls over the preparation of the GAAP based financial statements for management or employees in the normal course of performing their assigned functions to prevent or detect financial statement misstatements and disclosure omissions in a timely manner. For example, auditors, in their review of the Service Center’s accounting records noted the following: • The Service Center did not have adequate controls over the maintenance of complete records of accounts receivable, accounts payable, or deferred revenue. • Numerous adjustments were required to present financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. According to South Cook Intermediate Service Center #4’s officials, they did not have adequate funding to hire and/or train their accounting personnel in order to comply with these requirements. (Finding 12-1, pages 11-12) This finding was first reported in 2008. The auditors recommended that, as part of internal control over the preparation of financial statements, including disclosures, the South Cook Intermediate Service Center #4 should implement comprehensive preparation and/or review procedures to ensure that financial statements, including disclosures, are complete and accurate. Such procedures should be performed by a properly trained individual(s) possessing a thorough understanding of applicable generally accepted accounting principles, GASB pronouncements, and knowledge of the Intermediate Service Center’s activities and operations. The South Cook Intermediate Service Center #4 responded that to prepare financial statements with footnote disclosures, it would require additional staff/personnel, and at this time it would not be cost beneficial to hire another employee to perform the task. The Intermediate Service Center #4 noted that it is confident in the abilities of the accounting/ bookkeeping staff to prepare cash basis financial information as needed for reporting purposes throughout the year. The Intermediate Service Center #4 also noted that the Bloom Township Treasurer’s Office oversees all financial statement preparation. The ISC #4 stated that management will pursue additional training when it is considered cost beneficial since training costs would take away from the funds available to provide educational services for the schools in the region. (For previous Intermediate Service Center response, see Digest Footnote #1.) AUDITORS’ OPINION Our auditors state the Intermediate Service Center #4’s financial statements as of June 30, 2012 are fairly presented in all material respects. WILLIAM G. HOLLAND Auditor General WGH:JRB AUDITORS ASSIGNED: Bass, Solomon, and Dowell, LLP were our special assistant auditors. DIGEST FOOTNOTES #1: Controls Over Financial Statement Preparation - Previous Intermediate Service Center Response In its prior response in 2011, the South Cook Intermediate Service Center #4 responded that it has discussed the options concerning the capabilities of preparing financial statements, including complete footnote disclosures that would not require significant changes by the auditor. The Intermediate Service Center believes that it would not be cost beneficial to hire another employee or service provider to perform such a task. They are confident in the abilities of the accounting/bookkeeping staff to prepare cash basis financial information as needed for reporting purposes throughout the year. The South Cook Intermediate Service Center #4 noted that in addition, the Bloom Township Treasurer’s Office also oversees all financial statement preparation. The South Cook Intermediate Service Center #4 also noted that management will pursue additional training when it is considered cost beneficial since training costs would take away from the funds available to provide educational services for the schools in the region.