For Questions, contact:
Beatriz Mena-Ortiz
Executive Branch Audit Manager
Division of Internal Audits
775-687-0123
NRS 353A.025 requires each agency to periodically review its system of internal accounting and administrative control. To meet the requirements of this statute, each agency is required to perform at a minimum, a biennial internal control review and evaluation to identify potential areas of weaknesses and non-compliance. The review should include:
1. An evaluation of the agency’s actual
procedures by completing the “Self-Assessment Questionnaire” (SAQ) and
comparing to the agency’s written procedures to ensure compliance with the
minimal internal control standards as set forth in the SAQ.
2. A comparison of the
existing written procedures to procedures actually performed to evaluate the
adequacy of procedures and identify potential internal weaknesses.
3. Testing
of a sample from each compliance area applicable to the agency. Agencies may
use the Sample Transaction Testing Checklist or an equivalent document.
4. The SAQ and the transaction testing checklist
must be maintained by the agency, but does not need to be submitted to the
Division.
Upon completion of the above evaluations, each agency shall address any areas of weakness or non-compliance and document a corrective action plan. Findings and correction action plans should be summarized on the Report on Internal Controls. For departments with multiple agencies, findings and corrective action plans for each agency should be summarized on one department Report on Internal Controls. Findings and corrective actions should be identified by individual agencies. The Report on Internal Controls should be submitted to the Director of the Governor's Finance Office on or before July 1 of each even-numbered calendar year. Submission of the report to the Administrator of the Division satisfies this requirement.
Some agencies use a centralized fiscal office to perform their fiscal and accounting services. A centralized fiscal office may complete one SAQ for all the agencies it assists as long as the procedures used by the centralized fiscal office are the same for all agencies for whom it provides services. Both the department director over the centralized fiscal office and the lead supervisor of the centralized fiscal office must sign the SAQ. An agency using a centralized fiscal office must complete the SAQ for any procedures it performs directly, and must coordinate with the centralized fiscal office to ensure all applicable questions are answered. The centralized fiscal office must make any agency for which it provides services aware of any non-compliance noted in the SAQ.
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