Town of Ephratah – Supervisor’s Records, Reports and Deposits (2016M-311)

Issued Date
November 21, 2017

Purpose of Audit

The purpose of our audit was to assess the Town’s internal controls over financial operations for the period January 1, 2014 through March 31, 2016.

Background

The Town of Ephratah is located in Fulton County. The Town, which has approximately 1,700 residents, is governed by an elected five-member Town Board. Budgeted appropriations for the 2016 fiscal year totaled approximately $1.4 million.

Key Findings

  • The bookkeeper, who maintains the accounting records for several other municipalities, told us that it is difficult to dedicate time to update the prior years’ accounting records.
  • The Supervisor did not provide adequate oversight of the bookkeeper’s duties during our audit period.
  • The Supervisor did not ensure all deposits were made intact and in a timely manner.

Key Recommendations

  • Ensure the bookkeeper dedicates sufficient time to perform her duties and require the bookkeeper to maintain accurate, complete and timely accounting records.
  • Periodically review the bookkeeper’s work to ensure that all financial activity is accurately and completely accounted for and that monthly bank reconciliations are prepared and any discrepancies are promptly investigated and corrected.
  • Ensure all collections are deposited intact and in a timely manner.