UNIVERSITY OF WEST GEORGIA

ANNUAL REPORT

Fiscal Year 2008 (July 1, 2007 to June 30, 2008)

DEPARTMENT OF

INTERNAL AUDIT

Name of Department Head

Cathy Osborne

Name of Person Completing Report

Cathy Osborne

1*

Departmental Mission/Vision Statement (url only, required)

http://www.westga.edu/auditor/

2*

Departmental Statement of Goals, Process to Assess These Goals, and Assessment Results (url only, required)

http://www.bf.westga.edu/EffectEval/Assessments/Audits.asp

3*

Give an Example of How your Department Used the Assessment of Goals and Outcomes to Change/Improve a Process (required)

The Institute of Internal Auditing Inc definition of Internal Auditing…

“…is an independent, objective assurance and consulting activity designed to add value and improve an organization’s operations. It helps an organization accomplish its objectives by bringing a systematic, disciplined approach to evaluate and improve the effectiveness of risk management, control, and governance processes.”

The results of the Department of Internal Audit actions through audits, investigations, and various risk assessment exercises have impacted the following changes and/or provided reasonable assurances to the University’s management for requested areas.

• UWG implemented a third party anonymous reporting mechanism
• Issuance and payment processing of P-Card controls

4*

General Statement of Department Condition (required)

The Department of Internal Audit benefited from the staff auditor position being filled for eight months of fiscal year 2008.  The lead auditor position was filled for nine and half months of fiscal year 2008.  The first half of FY2008 saw an increase in training activities including exposure to current audit standards, applicable policies and procedures, and personnel.  The Department continues to be the training ground for the Controller’s office.  The list of recipients has expanded to include the Vice President for and Dean of Student Services.

Departmental audits dominated most of the auditors’ time.  It is a great learning tool for the auditor and it provides management with a greater sense of assurance for overall compliance with rules and regulations.

The Department’s future success will be dependent upon on its ability to maintain continuity in personnel.  This statement is as true today as it was yesterday, and it will be tomorrow!

5

Departmental Achievements

The Department does not gauge its achievements and success by the number of problems identified but rather how we can assist UWG’s “family.”  During the past year, the Department of Internal Audit achieved the following:

a.  Successful implementation of anonymous reporting mechanism, marketed primarily toward UWG’s employees

b.   Functioned as the liaison to the State Auditor’s audit/review of UWG’s annual financial report during their brief stay.

c.   Provided audit and investigative services for the campus.

d.   Successful development of Fiscal Year 2009’s Audit Plan.

6

Staff Productivity

   a)   Successful liaison to the State Auditor’s review of UWG’s annual financial report and other various reporting requirements. 

b)   Reduced the audit coverage of the campus

c)   Continued with the departmental audit program.

d)   Successful development of Fiscal Year 2009’s Audit Plan.

e)    The Department’s director

1.  Meets with the President once each month

2.  Meets with the Vice President for Business and Finance twice each month

3.  Submits Status Audit Reports to Associate Vice Chancellor for Internal Audit

f)      Staff members participated in the following:

1.      UWG’s training series

 i. P-card

ii. PeopleSoft upgrade

2.      BOR’s Fiscal Year-End training

3.    Association of College and University Auditors’ (ACUA)

                             i.  Annual conference

                            ii.  Mid-Year conference

                           iii.  Several webcasts

§      EthicsPoint

4.      Deloitte & Touche LLP webcasts 

5.      Tax Institute for Colleges and Universities

                                                              i.      Annual conference

g)    Audits (new and follow-up) and/or rendered Advisory Services

1.      Audits

                                i.      System-wide:

·        Residency requirement

·        P-card

                               ii.      Departmental Audits

·        Psychology

·        Political Science

                             iii.      FY end Inventories

·        Bookstore

·        Central Warehouse

                     2.      Investigations

                               i.      Anonymous reports

                               ii.    P-cards, UWG going “green”

7

Student Achievements

Not applicable – FY2008

8

Other Awards, Distinctions, and Achievements