HomeMy WebLinkAbout2122-4 Follow-up Munis Part I-Security and workflows (Final 10-22-21)Follow-up County Accounting System (MUNIS) purchasing topics: Part I – Security and workflows #21/22-4 October 2021
2020
FOLLOW-UP REPORT
County Accounting System (MUNIS) purchasing
topics: Part I – Security and workflows
(Internal audit report #19/20-9 issued January 2021)
To request this information in an alternate format, please call (541) 330-4674 or send email to David.Givans@Deschutes.org
Deschutes County,
Oregon
David Givans, CPA, CIA
County Internal Auditor
1300 NW Wall St
Bend, OR 97703
David.Givans@deschutes.org
Audit committee:
Daryl Parrish, Chair - Public member
Jodi Burch - Public member
Tom Linhares - Public member
Scott Reich - Public member
Summer Sears - Public member
Stan Turel - Public member
Patti Adair, County Commissioner
Charles Fadeley, Justice of the Peace
Lee Randall, Facilities Director
Follow-up County Accounting System (MUNIS) purchasing topics: Part I – Security and workflows #21/22-4 October 2021
2020
TABLE OF
CONTENTS:
1. INTRODUCTION
1.1. Background on Audit …………..………………………………………….……….……..…. 1
1.2. Objectives and Scope …………….………………………………….…………….………… 1
1.3. Methodology …………………………………….…..………………………….…………….… 1
2. FOLLOW-UP RESULTS …………………….……….……………………………………….…… 2
APPENDICES
Appendix I – Updated workplan (status as of October 2021) …….…................ 3-8
Follow-up County Accounting System (MUNIS) purchasing topics: Part I – Security and workflows #21/22-4 October 2021
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1.
Introduction
1.1 BACKGROUND ON AUDIT
Audit Authority:
The Deschutes County Audit Committee has suggested that follow-ups occur within nine months of
the report. The Audit Committee would like to make sure departments satisfactorily address
recommendations.
1.2 OBJECTIVES and SCOPE
“Audit
objectives” define
the goals of the
audit.
Objectives:
The objective was to follow-up on recommendations from the original audit.
Scope:
The follow-up included eighteen (18) recommendations from the internal audit report for County
Accounting System (MUNIS) purchasing topics: Part I-Security and workflows (#1920-9), issued in
January 2021. The original internal audit report should be referenced for the full text of
recommendations and associated discussion. The follow-up reflects the status as of October 2021.
1.3 METHODOLOGY
The follow-up report was developed from information provided by Greg Munn, Treasurer and CFO.
Comments were sought for the status of the outstanding recommendations. Follow-ups are, by
nature, subjective. In determining the status of recommendations that were followed up, we relied
on assertions provided by those involved and did not attempt to independently verify those
assertions. The updates received are included in Appendix I.
Since no substantive audit work was performed, Government Auditing Standards issued by the
Comptroller General of the United States were not followed.
Follow-up County Accounting System (MUNIS) purchasing topics: Part I – Security and workflows #21/22-4 October 2021
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2. Follow-up Results
Figure I -
How were
recommendations
implemented?
The follow-up included eighteen (18) outstanding recommendation agreed to by Finance. Figure I
provides an overview of the implementation status of the recommendations.
With this follow-up, six percent (6%) of the outstanding recommendations have been addressed. As
indicated in the provided responses, many of the recommendations have not been fully addressed
as Finance has been recruiting a business systems administrator position.
The details of the follow-up is included at the end of the report in Appendix I. In interpreting the
status, the County Internal Auditor may sometimes raise or lower the status provided by the
department based on the communication(s) received from the department.
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APPENDIX Appendix I – Updated workplan for recommendations for #19/20-9
(status as of October 2021)
Items that are not completed are greyed out.
Rec
# Recommendations Status
Estimated
or Actual
Date of
Completion Updated Follow-up comments
1 It is recommended for segregation of duties
to be considered in the overall design of
roles given to users.
Underway We are in the final interview stages (Nov 4) for the
business systems administrator position that will work
with county Finance , internal audit and IT staff to
evaluation and make security and workflow
enhancement recommendations.
2 It is recommended Finance segregate
significant duties within the system and
provide greater guidance on approvals. This
might include additional policy and
procedural requirements to discourage self-
approvals and further describe proper
forwarding of approvals.
Underway Same as #1.
3 It is recommended that periodically IT and
Finance join forces to perform a segregation
of duties review by user of their assigned
permissions. Internal audit can provide
guidance on how to carry out this review.
Underway Same as #1.
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Rec
# Recommendations Status
Estimated
or Actual
Date of
Completion Updated Follow-up comments
4 It is recommended for the County to consider
how it might address the additional
resources (staffing time) necessary to help
Finance and IT maintain ongoing support;
document systems controls (such as roles
and workflows); and reinforce segregation of
duties.
Underway Same as #1.
5 It is recommended periodically IT and
Finance review the history for the “Munis”
roles and make sure that it is not being
assigned without reason and that it is not
being used to approve any transactions.
Underway
Same as #1.
6 It is recommended for the procedures for
establishing new Munis users be updated to
include a provision to include the association
with their employee number, if applicable.
Underway
Same as #1.
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Rec
# Recommendations Status
Estimated
or Actual
Date of
Completion Updated Follow-up comments
7 It is recommended for the County
Administrator be included in workflow for all
disbursements in excess of department
limits.
Underway
The CAO is included in workflow that includes
disbursement requests in excess of individual
department head limits. However, the workflow has a
manual step in it that is reviewed and processed by the
CFO. Disbursements for county expenses above $50K
(for the Health Dept. director) and those above $25K for
all other dept. heads are manually forwarded by the CFO
to the CAO for approval. Disbursements for tax related
activities (normal tax distributions to taxing districts,
refunds, etc.) are approved by the CFO in the agent role
of tax collector regardless of amount as these are not
county expenditures but rather disbursement of funds
to taxing districts. However, along with the review
mentioned in #1 above, we will review this workflow to
determine if there is a way to automate it within Munis
or confirm a manual method if necessary.
8 It is recommended the Board of County
Commissioners have the County
Administrator (or designee) review all
payments over $150 thousand before they
go to them.
Underway
As mentioned in #7, the CAO approves all payments
over the department director's limits ($50K for Health,
$25K for all others) which includes those that exceed
$150K. Once the CAO has approved, and if the amount
is over $150K, the CFO determines whether or not the
Board has approved the expenditure by way of contract,
resolution or motion. If there is evidence of Board
approval then the CFO will approve on the Board's
behalf.
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Rec
# Recommendations Status
Estimated
or Actual
Date of
Completion Updated Follow-up comments
9 It is recommended the County Administrator
(or designee) receive the Finance designed
disbursement control reports on at least a
monthly basis and review for any anomalies
(approvals made without the County
Administrator or Board designee). The
Information Technology department should
assure the monitoring reports are working as
designed.
Underway
Weekly accounts payable batch reports are approved by
the CFO and sent to the CAO for review. Each
disbursement on the report is linked back to Munis
where the backup documentation can be reviewed. It
has also been practice for the CAO to forward this report
to the Board for their review/info.
10 It is recommended for the Board of County
Commissioners (or designee) assure that
disbursements over $150 thousand have
their approval. They might consider staffing
this review through Administration/BOCC to
lend additional segregation of duties over
Finance.
Underway
This step is completed by the CFO by confirming that the
>$150K spend is supported by a Board approved
contract, resolution, motion or similar mechanism.
11 It is recommended the Board of County
Commissioners clarify by policy (perhaps in
Policy F-15 – Department purchasing
thresholds) that the purchasing approval
thresholds also apply to all payments being
made and excluding certain payments that
by statute can be made by the County
Treasurer. It would also be a place where
they direct whether the County Administrator
should review and approve any payments
coming to them for approval.
Underway
Same as #1.
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Rec
# Recommendations Status
Estimated
or Actual
Date of
Completion Updated Follow-up comments
12 It is recommended for Finance to work with
departments on the rollout of using the
purchase card rebate program and who
should benefit from the purchase card
rebate.
Underway
We will be issuing an RFP for banking services early in
2022 that will include a component for purchase card
services which we will have the option to award together
with traditional banking services or independently.
Since it is a possibility that we will have a new pcard
provider, the plan is to roll out information on the new
program (assuming we change) along with other
information and guidance on pcard protocols including
the rebate program.
13 It is recommended for the department
considering use of a purchase card to see
what payment arrangements can be made
with their vendor that maximizes the
potential discount on timely payment.
Underway
See #12.
14 It is recommended for vendors who are to be
setup for payment through purchase card be
setup from the beginning by the department.
Underway
See #12.
15 It is recommended for Finance to regularly
collect on purchase card rebates and post
them to the County accounting records.
Underway
See #12.
16 It is recommended for Finance to improve
segregation of duties over vendor additions
and changes by requiring a separate person
approve any additions or changes.
Completed
17 It is recommended for the County to consider
some of the workflows they have not been
using.
Underway
See #1.
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Rec
# Recommendations Status
Estimated
or Actual
Date of
Completion Updated Follow-up comments
18 It is recommended for the County to consider
and document how they are controlling roles,
permissions, and workflows for Munis.
Underway
See #1.
{End of Report}