POLICY STATEMENT 161
INTERNAL AUDIT POLICY
Prepared by: Karen Mills, Finance Director
Adopted by Council: 6/12/2008
Effective: 6/12/2008
Supersedes: N/A
I. Objective
To maintain a strong system of internal controls to ensure effective and efficient operations, complete, timely, reliable financial reporting and compliance with laws and regulations
II. Internal Audit Policy
The Town will establish and maintain its accounting systems according to the North Carolina Local Government and Fiscal Control Act. Financial systems will be maintained to monitor expenditures and revenues.
A.
The Town will
establish and maintain an internal audit function to review and evaluate
internal controls that guide daily operations and programs.
B.
A risk
assessment will be conducted periodically to document risk exposures and
internal control environment. The results of the risk assessment will be used
to determine the priorities and focus of internal audit activity. Staff may use
contractors to assist with this process.
C.
Prior to
implementation of new financial systems and significant system changes, a review
of the controls is required by the Finance department. Financial systems are a
combination of applications and processes used to collect, process, maintain,
accumulate information used to budget, plan, or report financial
data.
D.
Special
facilities, projects, contractual arrangements and notable transactions may be
reviewed at any time to ensure proper internal controls are in place and
functioning to mitigate risk.
E.
Periodic,
random operating reviews will be conducted to ensure internal controls are
functioning as they are designed.
F.
Special
reviews may be conducted at the request of management or council.
III. References
Other financially related Town Policies include: