FY21 OAG Risk Assessment & Audit Plan Fairfax County Public - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

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FY21 OAG Risk Assessment & Audit Plan

Fairfax County Public Schools Office of Auditor General

Revised: June 2020

June 17, 2020

(1) To accomplish OAG’s mission: Independently determine if existing Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) processes are adequately designed, operating in an efficient, effective manner and fully accountable to the Fairfax County citizens, and (2) To promote FCPS’ achievement of strategic goals, in particular, the area of resource stewardship. (3) According to Policy 1105, Auditor General Authority:

“The Auditor General shall submit annually to the Audit Committee a work plan for the coming fiscal year which is to be presented for approval by the School Board. The plan serves as a guide and proposed changes to the plan shall be approved by the Audit Committee.”

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Objectives

(1) Identification of audit topics (2) Prioritization of audit topics

a) Interviewed FCPS employees (54) b) Solicited feedback from School Board and Audit Committee members (12 out of 14 received) c) Examined benchmarking data (29 equivalent internal audit departments) d) Considered financial, reputational, and operational risks; frequency of audits and prior audit issues e) Evaluated emerging relevant risks because of COVID-19 pandemic

(3) Determination of FY21 audit plan, secondary and long-term priorities

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Risk Assessment Procedures

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Key Outcomes

To prioritize OAG FY21 operational plan: FY20 Carried Over Engagements

(1) Construction Contract Management Audit (2) Procurement and Contract Management Audit (3) Local School Activity Funds Audit, June 30, 2020

New Engagements

(4) Comprehensive Program Review of FCPS’ Special Education Review (5) Fidelity of Implementation of School Board Actions Audit (6) Hiring and Onboarding Practices Audit (7) Business Continuity Plan Audit (8) Local School Activity Funds Audit, June 30, 2021 (9) Continuous Monitoring

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FY21 OAG Operational Plan

Source: Appendix II of the FY21 Risk Assessment and Audit Plan document

• Operating Status of Schools and Offices
• Emerging risks that may require efforts to be re-

focused

• New working conditions and increased reliance on

technology when conducting audits

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COVID-19 Pandemic Impacts

• n Audit Plan

Description Objectives / Scope Stakeholders Schedule

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(4) Comprehensive Program Review of FCPS’ Sp Special l Education Se Services

This review will be provided by external subject matter expert. OAG serves as the project liaison with the main goals to (1) provide oversight, (2) monitor completion and delivery of key milestones and timeline. (1) Department of Special Services (2) Department of Instructional Services (3) Department of Information Technology (4) Schools and Centers (1) To evaluate the design, structure and established processes of special education services, degree of fidelity of implementation and continuous monitoring; (2) to evaluate the adequacy of human capital resources; (3) to analyze alignment with evidence-based practices; and (4) to evaluate the effectiveness of communication strategies Two years to complete, with annual reporting to the School Board

Description Objectives / Scope Stakeholders Schedule

This audit is estimated to take approximately five months to complete.

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(5) (5) Fid Fideli lity of

• f Im

Implementation of

• f Sc

School l Boa

• ard

Actions Audit

Fairfax County School Board is charged by statutes of Virginia and regulations of the Virginia Board of Education to operate the public schools of Fairfax County by setting general school policy and establishing guidelines that will ensure the proper administration of FCPS programs. It is thus critical to ensure actions approved by the School Board are implemented in a timely manner by FCPS management.

(1) School Board Office (2) Office of Superintendent (3) School Board Members (4) FCPS leadership team (1) To review and evaluate the processes used by FCPS management to track, respond to, and implement School Board approved actions; (2) to identify

• pportunities to improve existing process; and (3) to determine the costs and

resources to track, respond to, and implement School Board approved actions.

Description Objectives / Scope Stakeholders Schedule

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(6) (6) Hirin iring an and Onboarding Practic ices

A well-established hiring and onboarding process is critical to the success of these new employees and to FCPS accomplishing its mission. Onboarding is defined as the process of (a) Human Resources onboarding, and (b) initial content supports provided to FCPS new hires. (1) Human Resources (Office of Talent Acquisition Management) (2) Office of Professional Learning and Family Engagement (3) Schools, Offices, and Departments (1) To evaluate hiring policies & procedures of new employees and review for consistent adherence at schools and offices; (2) to test for non-existing employees; (3) to evaluate effectiveness & efficiency of onboarding process; and (4) to determine if current process ensures maintenance of necessary information & documentation This audit is estimated to take approximately five months to complete.

Description Objectives / Scope Stakeholders Schedule

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(7) (7) Busi siness ss Con

• ntin

inuit ity Plan lan

A comprehensive business continuity plan provides a roadmap for continuance and/or restoration of mission-critical functions during and after a disaster or even a disease epidemic. Being able to continue critical business functions while responding to a major disaster, and subsequently being able to return to normal operations efficiently and cohesively, is a critical success factor for all organizations.

(1) Chief Operating Office (2) Other Stakeholders to be identified (1) To evaluate the existence of a business continuity plan; (2) to determine if the plan defines mission critical operations and responsibilities; (3) to evaluate the reasonableness of the plan; and (4) to confirm that the plan has been reviewed, updated, and tested periodically to ensure feasibility of implementation. This audit is estimated to take approximately five to six months to complete.

Description Objectives / Scope Stakeholders Schedule

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(8) (8) Lo Local l Sc School Activ ivity Fu Funds Audit, Jun June 30 30, , 2021 2021

In accordance with the Code of Virginia (8VAC20-240-40), all LSAF (i.e. including all the approximate 200 FCPS sites) shall be audited annually. (1) Financial Services (2) Schools, Offices & Departments (with LSAF)

(1) To verify local school financials and year-end cash reporting are not materially misstated, and (2) to review selected revenue and expenditure transactions for compliance (including procurement card transactions)

Ongoing (OAG performs school site visits* and desk continuous audit during the year)

* Subject to change, pending operating status of schools.

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(9) Continuous Monitoring

• Utilizing technology-based audit techniques to analyze patterns

and trends, and select and test transactions,

• These methods will enable OAG to further understand risks and

identify exceptions in a timely and efficient manner.

• Technology-based resources allow users to import an infinite

amount of records and execute audit specific commands to search for duplicates, detect gaps in numeric sequences, group data by categories, and filter numerous rows and columns of data in seconds.

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(10) Other OAG Duties

a) Mid-Year and Annual Audit Reports b) Recommendations Follow-Up c) Business Process Audits d) Continuous Enhancement of Audit Software e) FCPS Fraud, Waste and Abuse Inquiry f) OAG staff Professional Development g) Preparation for FY22 Risk Assessment

(1) School Board Presentation of FY21 Risk Assessment and Audit Plan – July 9, 2020 (2) School Board Work Session – July 13, 2020 (3) School Board Approval – July 23, 2020

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Next Steps