The Audit Connection Blog
Independent audits are trustworthy and key to public confidence, Washington State Auditor says
Washington State Auditor Pat McCarthy recently joined a presentation on issues facing the accountability community, including government auditors at the local, state and federal level. Her remarks, including an informative white paper, bring to light that in the current era of high uncertainty and skepticism across the country, public auditors provide facts that everyone can rely on – and they need to make that known. ... CONTINUE READING
Improvements to critical infrastructure, other work highlighted in cybersecurity reports
The State Auditor’s Office plays an important role in Washington’s cybersecurity efforts through our audits and outreach activities, with the goal of helping ensure IT security is improved at state, local and critical infrastructure government bodies across the state. We have developed a short overview of our work and findings in the area of cybersecurity over the course of fiscal year 2025. ... CONTINUE READING
Washington local governments, if you do just one thing to prevent fraud, do this
A simple scan of banking transactions can be the difference between deterring loss and identifying it early, or having it go undetected for a long period of time. This new SAO resource can help you stop potential fraud in as little as thirty minutes a month. Download it from our Resource Library today! ... CONTINUE READING
WFOA 2025 resource hub: Tools, tips and training from SAO
The Office of the Washington State Auditor looks forward to connecting with you at this year’s Washington Finance Officers Association (WFOA) conference in Bellevue! We put together this page to be your go-to resource hub for relevant topics to reference later, such as our brand-new fraud prevention guide! Read on for practical tools and updates to support the important work you do for your community. It’s everything referenced by our conference brochure – and more – all in one convenient place. ... CONTINUE READING
Preparing your annual report package? Check out SAO’s updated checklist today
The end of summer also means the end of another school district fiscal year. We’re here to help you close the books and prepare your financial reporting package with our 2024-25 Checklist for Preparing and Reviewing School District Financial Statements. ... CONTINUE READING
Have you heard? The Office of the Washington State Auditor has a podcast!
Did you know the Office of the Washington State Auditor has a podcast? It's called The Aud Pod, and it's a great chance to learn about all the different aspects of our Office. There's something for everyone including any Washingtonian who's wondered, "What does the State Auditor's Office do"? Listen in and find out! ... CONTINUE READING
SAO’s Scott DeViney and Stacie Tellers advocate on behalf of Washington's governments in GASB advisory roles
As part SAO's role in promoting accountability and transparency in government, our staff is committed to advocating for continual improvement in the accounting and financial reporting rules that governments follow. SAO's Scott DeViney and Stacie Tellers exemplify this commitment, as demonstrated by their recent participation in GASB advisory roles. ... CONTINUE READING
A new year's worth of data has arrived in the Financial Intelligence Tool (FIT)
Every summer, the majority of the 2,000+ local governments in our state submit their annual financial reporting to our Office which we integrate into our exclusive Financial Intelligence Tool (FIT). The data from fiscal year 2024 has now arrived and is in FIT. ... CONTINUE READING
Improve your cybersecurity without breaking your budget
Cyberattack warnings can leave small local governments stressed and overwhelmed as they try to balance the need for increased cybersecurity and finding funds to pay for it. What you may not know is that help is available to your government at little to no cost, and you can get started today! We’ve identified three important steps you can take to defend your government against cybercrime. ... CONTINUE READING
Add regular testing of your backup file system to your routine
How often are you testing your government’s backup file system? With the rapid rise in phishing and ransomware schemes, make sure to set a regular reminder to perform this critical task. ... CONTINUE READING