The Huntington School District has received an excellent independent financial audit from Cullen & Danowski, LLP, certified public accountants based in Port Jefferson Station.
The firm conducted an extensive examination and review of the district’s financial books, records and internal control procedures for the school year ending on June 30, 2018.
The audit was presented to the Huntington School Board’s Audit Committee by Jill S. Sanders during a public meeting of that body earlier this fall during which she reviewed the examination’s findings and recommendations.
The report was summarized during a regular public business meeting of the Huntington School Board in the Jack Abrams STEM Magnet School auditorium last Tuesday night. It is available on the district website at www.hufsd.edu.
Ms. Sanders’ assessment was very positive and noted the district’s effective internal controls and the sense of professionalism that exists among business office employees.
Huntington UFSD Assistant Superintendent for Finance & Management Services Dr. Kathleen Acker and her business office team cooperated in every aspect of the audit, providing the external auditing professionals with all the materials that were requested and making available to the auditors all of the individuals they sought for interviews.
The district has traditionally utilized stringent internal control procedures and cultivated a culture of honesty and professionalism. The audit showed effective segregation of duties among employees and revealed no discrepancies in the district’s books and records.
The audit included Cullen & Danowski interviewing employees and documenting the procedures in place. Sample transactions were tested for deficiencies and then checked to determine if purchasing was in line with both Board of Education policies and state law.
The audit process also included spot checks to insure employees were getting paid the correct amounts, that sick time was accurately accounted for along with any financial pay-out tied to it and that no employee was paid after their date of termination or retirement.
The accounting firm’s findings were presented in two volumes along with a management letter that included a handful of minor recommendations.
“We are particularly proud of the most recent audit report, which cited no shortcomings or recommendations related to budgeting, fiscal management or reporting,” Huntington Superintendent James W. Polansky said. “Thanks go out to Dr. Acker and our business office staff for the time, care and effort they continue to put in, as well as their attention to detail.”