School District Claims Auditing (Online)

Magnum Trainings: Fiscal Workshop

 

School District Claims Auditing (Online)


Schedule, Registration, and Payment
[HERE]
Two 2.5-hour sessions

This foundation online workshop covers the basic knowledge, skills, techniques, and strategies required for Claims Auditing in school districts: training in applicable NYS Law, Board of Education policies, internal control components, implementation strategies, and reporting.

Audience
For school district Claims Auditors and Deputy Claims Auditors, and of interest to Accounts Payable Clerks, Purchasing Agents, Internal Auditors, District Administrators, and Board of Education Member.

Why this Workshop is Important
Chapter 263 authorizes the appointment of a Claims Auditor in New York State school districts. Most school districts have appointed a Claims Auditor. New York State school districts reacting to external audits, internal audits, and NYS Comptroller audits seek training for their appointed Claims Auditor, Purchasing Agents, Accounts Payable Clerks, Purchasing Agents, Internal Auditors, and school district administrators. In addition, many school districts have a requirement for Claims Auditor training in their Board of Education policies [See Erie 1 BOCES, Policy Service, Policy #5570, “Fiscal Accountability”]. This foundation workshop meets all policy training requirements. Dr. Merrins is the Executive Program Administrator for the New York State School District Internal Auditing Alliance (SDIAA). This presentation reviews the laws and highlights the needed actions of the Claims Auditor to meet NYS accountability legislation and sound fiscal practice.

Workshop Topics
Session 1 – Introduction & Law
School District Claims Auditing Law, Regulation, Policies
School District Culture
Proactive Claims Auditor Characteristics
Authority, Power, and Control
Duties and Responsibilities
Funds to be Audited
Standard Information Needed to Audit
Required Authorization for Payment
Session 2 – Processes
Second Level Questioning – Challenge Records
Risk and Fraud
Reports to the Board
Questions and Answers

Faculty:
Michael Wolff, CIA
Michael Wolff Advisory Services provides internal auditing and claims auditing services to School Districts and Boards of Cooperative Educational Services. Michael is the sole owner/officer of the firm and is a Certified Internal Auditor. He has been performing internal audits since 1992 and has focused on school districts and BOCES since February 2011 while working for the Rensselaer City School District. At the Rensselaer City School District he was the Audit Manager supervising three part-time staff and completing annual risk assessments for twenty-seven school districts. Michael Wolff is currently the Internal Auditor for several school districts in the Capital District and Hudson Valley Region. In addition to internal auditing, Michael is the appointed Claims Auditor of the Capital Region BOCES, Dutchess County BOCES, and four school districts in the Capital District area.
Prior to working with school districts, Michael was the Director of Internal Audit for the investment banking firm Gleacher Securities Group. As Director of Internal Audit, Michael oversaw the annual completion of the audit plan and all aspects of Sarbanes-Oxley compliance. Michael is a Past President of the Albany Chapter of the Institute of Internal Auditors.
Michael Wolff Advisory Services
Internal Controls, Auditing, Training and Consulting
50B Raylinsky Lane
Mechanicville, NY 12118
518-618-8107
Michael@mwadvisory services.com

Administration:
James M. Merrins, Ed.D., SDA, SBA
Dr. Jim Merrins is Executive Program Administrator of the Educational Leadership Institute at NYSAWA, and the New York State School District Internal Auditing Alliance (SDIAA). He has trained over 1200 claims auditors, deputy claims auditors and business office personnel. He has administered the Claims Auditors Conferences and teaches numerous fiscal workshops for superintendents and school business personnel, including Fiscal Navigation for Superintendents, and Introduction to Extraclassroom Activity Funds trainings. Jim has over 40 years experience in school administration, including 16 years as a Superintendent in Fredonia and Honeoye, New York. Dr. Merrins is NYS certified as a School Business Administrator. Dr. Merrins taught school finance and school law at SUNY colleges for several years.

Costs
The cost of this workshop is $245 for the first participant, plus $225 for the second participant, plus $195 for the third and subsequent participants from the same school district or firm.

Materials
Each workshop participant will receive workshop-related materials, guides, and reports.

Hosted and administered by ESS
James M. Merrins, Ed.D., Executive Program Administrator

ESS Policies, Terms, and Conditions [HERE]
Method of Payment Information
Registration Information
Cancellation Policy

Contact James Merrins, Ed.D.
Comments, corrections, source documents, and questions welcome
Educational Support Services
42 Rosalyn Court, Fredonia, New York 14063
(716) 672-5473, FAX (716) 672-5472, jmerrins@cecomet.net