A report released Friday by the Iowa State Auditor’s Office shows Audubon County continues to face challenges concerning internal financial controls due to limited staffing in county departments. The Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 report highlighted issues in the segregation of duties across various county offices, including the County Recorder, County Engineer, County Treasurer, and County Conservation. The main findings include a lack of independent handling of incoming mail, improper segregation of cash-related responsibilities, and inadequate segregation of check-signing duties. Additionally, the County Treasurer was found to have overlapping responsibilities in investments and accounting. The report also noted delayed deposits, with some receipts not deposited for over three months, and the absence of a written employment agreement for the Conservation Director. State auditors did not note any mishandling or loss of county funds in their report. County officials acknowledged these issues and provided responses detailing steps being taken to address them, which state officials accepted. Planned corrections include utilizing additional staff for oversight, updating technology for better transaction tracking, and implementing new procedures for timely deposits and financial reporting. A link to the complete FY23 Audubon County audit is included below.
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