FILE:  DID

 

AUDITS

 

 

The East Baton Rouge Parish School Board shall require all financial records and accounts, including business transactions, of the school system and each school to be examined periodically in conformance with prescribed standards and legal requirements.  The examination or audit of selected school board accounts shall be conducted by the office of the Legislative Auditor of the State of Louisiana or an independent certified public accounting firm in conformance with prescribed standards and legal requirements.  Said audits, upon completion, shall be presented to the Superintendent and School Board for examination.

 

Other financial audits shall also be made of appropriate accounts upon the transfer, resignation, or dismissal of personnel responsible for receiving and disbursing school funds, or whenever, in the opinion of the School Board, a financial audit is deemed advisable.  Internal Auditors, or a certified public accounting firm selected by the School Board shall conduct such audits as necessary.

 

All audits shall be conducted and filed in accordance with statutory provisions.  Should any error or discrepancies be found as a result of any audit, those personnel found responsible for such error may be subject to disciplinary action.

 

INTERNAL AUDIT RESPONSIBILITIES

 

The School Board shall create and maintain an Internal Audit Division which shall be responsible for furnishing the School Board, Superintendent, and other designated personnel with analysis, appraisals, recommendations, counsel, and information concerning the School Board fiscal and business operations and the varied activities that are included.

 

The School Board shall grant authority to employees of the Internal Audit Division to have full, free, and unrestricted access to any and all of the school system's records, physical properties, and personnel relevant to any function under review or examination by Internal Audit Division staff.  Employees of the school system are instructed to assist Internal Audit staff in any review or examination.  Personnel of the Internal Audit Division shall have full and unrestricted access to School Board members and the Superintendent.

 

All audit activities, including matters of audit scope, procedures, frequency, timing, or report content, shall remain free of influence by any element of the system to maintain proper objectivity.  Internal Auditors shall have no direct operational responsibility or authority over any of the activities they review.  They shall not prepare records or engage in any other activity which would normally be audited.  Without adversely affecting objectivity, Internal Auditors may determine and recommend standards and techniques of control to be applied in developing systems and procedures under review and may lend technical assistance to management in systematic analyses of operations or activities.

 

Reporting

 

A written report will be prepared and issued by the Internal Auditor following the conclusion of each audit and will be distributed to the School Board, the Superintendent, the Associate Superintendent for Operations and Budget Management, the auditee, and others as appropriate.

 

The Internal Auditor may include in the audit report the auditee's response and/or corrective action taken to be taken with regard to the specific findings and recommendations.  Management's response should include a timetable for anticipated completion of action to be taken and an explanation for any recommendations not addressed.

 

In cases where a response is not included within the audit report, management of the audited area shall respond, in writing, within thirty (30) days of publication to Internal Audit and those on the distribution list.

 

Internal Audit shall be responsible for appropriate follow-up on audit findings and recommendations.

 

ANNUAL AUDIT

 

Within six (6) months of the close of the fiscal year, the School Board shall require an annual examination of all financial statements, financial accountability, and review of all books and accounts of the School Board.  Such a complete examination shall be conducted by a licensed certified public accountant(s), who has been engaged by the School Board and such examination shall be performed in accordance with generally accepted governmental auditing standards and the Louisiana Governmental Audit Guide.  The accountant shall have access to and assistance privileges of all accounts, records, files, and any other forms of recordation of the School Board.  However, the accountant shall comply with any and all restrictions imposed by law on documents, data, or information deemed confidential by law furnished to him/her during the examination.  The report shall then be submitted to the Legislative Auditor.

 

Within thirty (30) days of notice of the approval and acceptance by the legislative auditor each year, the School Board shall post the most recent annual independent audit on its website.

 

Revised:  October 19, 2023

 

 

Ref:    La. Rev. Stat. Ann. ยงยง17:81, 17:88, 17:89, 17:196, 24:513, 24:514, 24:515

Board minutes, 8-26-99, 10-19-23

 

East Baton Rouge Parish School Board