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Auditor Discussion Forum

Posted: Thu Oct 18, 2012 9:15 am
by wrigjef
There are auditors with various levels of experience and I was wondering if it might be good to have a place where they could exchange ideas ask specific questions and really become more aligned with their duties. As a clerk, the best auditors I’ve worked with are those with broad common sense but little financial experience beyond the normal reconciling your checkbook and maybe doing taxes. Brothers who are committed to and understand the training and directions given. I am having real difficulty with brothers who have a very broad accounting of even CPA experience and easily lose sight of the goal of the church audit because they get so wrapped around the axle looking at details.

I think it might be good to have a place where they can collaborate and help remind each other what we are all working for. Some newer auditors legitimately have questions and it would be helpful to have a place for answers. I think a group would be great, but if not a wiki that we could grow and edit as the need occurs, might also be of benefit. Then we could have a place to send auditors to get supplemental training when they are called.

Posted: Thu Oct 18, 2012 9:20 am
by aebrown
Currently discussions related to auditing occur in the Local Unit Finance section of this forum. There have been many good discussions on that topic. Are you suggesting that we need a more specific section? Or is the "place" you are contemplating something other than a section on this forum? As far as the wiki is concerned, we have the LDSTech wiki already in place, and anyone is welcome to start creating relevant articles.

So to my thinking, we already have the foundation in place for what you suggest; people just need to use the tools that are already available.

Posted: Thu Oct 18, 2012 1:48 pm
by wrigjef
aebrown wrote:Currently discussions related to auditing occur in the Local Unit Finance section of this forum. There have been many good discussions on that topic. Are you suggesting that we need a more specific section? Or is the "place" you are contemplating something other than a section on this forum? As far as the wiki is concerned, we have the LDSTech wiki already in place, and anyone is welcome to start creating relevant articles.

So to my thinking, we already have the foundation in place for what you suggest; people just need to use the tools that are already available.

What I had in mind was a place, not exclusive, but geared specifically for auditors. A section of this forum would be fine. The Local Unit Finance forum is very helpful to clerks, and it could be for auditors as well, but it gets rather crowded with clerks discussing clerk topics that may or may not have anything to do with an audit.
I guess a similar outcome would be achieved if someone (an auditor or clerk user) created a thread on the Local Unit Finance forum titled something like “Audit discussion” each time and audit rolls around. That way stake clerks, audit committees, and audit trainers could suggest that auditors browse and/or comment for information on current issues and Q&A.

My motivation is primarily getting more auditor alignment then we have now. We deal with extremes between auditors and it’s hard to imagine that we are the only ones. The biggest concern is auditors who are so eager to do their duty that sometimes they get caught up in details and forget the primary objectives that are spelled out for them in the handbook. A clerk reminding an auditor of one of those objectives sometimes does not go well, but if auditors had an opportunity to remind each other, it might be better received.

Posted: Thu Oct 18, 2012 2:03 pm
by jdlessley
I do not want to appear to dissuade the use of such recommendations as wrigjef is suggesting. My comments are in addition to his recommendations that others may not be pursuing.

I have found that the auditor training given (or, as in some cases, may not be given) just before the audit cycle is a good time for the audit committee to identify and clarify audit issues. These issues are not just the ones found as audit exceptions but feedback from clerks and bishops regarding the conduct of an audit. I had one such issue that had to be elevated to the area auditor for resolution. My point being an audit is not just a one way examination of records and procedures. There can be feedback from the units to the audit committee, and further up channel if needs be.

Posted: Thu Oct 18, 2012 2:19 pm
by wrigjef
jdlessley wrote:I do not want to appear to dissuade the use of such recommendations as wrigjef is suggesting. My comments are in addition to his recommendations that others may not be pursuing.

I have found that the auditor training given, or may not be given, just before the audit cycle is a good time for the audit committee to identify and clarify audit issues. These issues are not just the ones found as audit exceptions but feedback from clerks and bishops regarding the conduct of an audit. I had one such issue that had to be elevated to the area auditor for resolution. My point being an audit is not just a one way examination of records and procedures. There can be feedback from the units to the audit committee, and further up channel if needs be.

You are exactly right!

I just wished it worked that way more often. Often the audit committee could benefit from the hands on, practical knowledge a clerk can provide. Not all give the opportunity or take advantage. I'm sure you can understand or even relate to the fact that there is unsally a "spirit" of apprehension regarding the approachability of auditors or audit committees on a mission.