The Coweta County School System has received the Georgia Department of Audits and Accounts’ “Award of Distinction for Excellent Financial Reporting” for the fourth consecutive year.
The school system was presented the award following the receipt of an unmodified opinion for the 2016 fiscal year audit of the school system. Department of Audit and Accounts Senior Auditor Linda Becham and Audit Supervisor Anna Durham delivered the award to Superintendent Steve Barker, Assistant Superintendent for Financial Services Keith Chapman, and Comptroller Chris Latimer, during the Coweta County Board of Education’s May regular meeting.
Becham said that the award was received by only 20 percent of Georgia school system’s this year. The auditors said the school system’s distinction placed it among the top systems in terms of financial reporting and practices.
Superintendent Barker commended Chapman, Latimer and the school system’s financial and business service staff for their stewardship and their roles in maintaining sound financial practices.
The Georgia Department of Audits and Accounts is an independent agency, and the organization’s Award of Distinction is presented to organizations that submit quality financial statements and supporting documentation in a timely manner, whose annual financial report is given an unmodified audit opinion and is free of any significant deficiencies or material weaknesses, and complies with all Transparency in Government requirements.
The school system’s fiscal year 2016 audit was concluded earlier this school year, and covered the school system’s previous fiscal year which ending June 30, 2016. The process included such activities as examining expenditure from all funds, auditing of federal funds for compliance with applicable federal and state laws and regulations, and concluded with an in-depth examination of the school system’s financial statements involving all departments within the school system, including business services, payroll, human resources, and federal program offices, as well as schools.
The audit delivered an “unmodifed opinion” of the system’s financial practices, with no deficiencies or weakness in accounting standards, practices or internal controls. The complete Coweta County Board of Education 2016 Audit Report, including key financial highlights, can be found by visiting the State Auditor’s website at www.audits.ga.gov and following the link for “Reports.”
