Auditor conflict?

[maxmcgregor-p40]

I've been a Stake Auditor for five years now. I've been a Stake Computer Specialist for four years. I've never thought about a conflict of interest before, except when auditing my own Ward. This thread answers the home Ward question, but what about my Stake Clerk position?

I guess the only issue I see is that I happen to have Admin access to all computers and MLS databases in the Stake where a normal Stake Auditor has no access, but must rely on the Ward Clerk and or Bishop to open MLS during the audit. I have used my access as a Stake Clerk to research a Ward's messy "Other Account" issues as part of a followup assignment from the Stake Presidency to try and help the Ward cleanup the problems. At times, the two callings have helped each other out and seem to work in harmony.

Any thoughts?

[lajackson]

I have used my access as a Stake Clerk to research a Ward's messy "Other Account" issues as part of a followup assignment from the Stake Presidency to try and help the Ward cleanup the problems. At times, the two callings have helped each other out and seem to work in harmony.

Personally, I would keep you on the cleanup committee. Anyone who can help straighten out an Other Account is a valuable person around here. [grin]

I guess it goes back to what we will discuss tonight. I had never thought about anything other than a ward conflict if an auditor was a ward clerk or assistant. And I would not assign a stake clerk to audit, because he will be the one responsible, in most cases, to oversee the correction of findings and to provide training to clerks to avoid future audit findings.

I suppose the theory is that the clerks ought to clerk, and the auditors ought to audit. And they should be independent of each other.

And I see that as a good approach to start from.

I can see where, from a strict auditing standpoint, it might be better if anyone involved in stake clerking were not to audit.

I suppose that our assistant ward clerk who audits other units could hold us hostage for additional budget money in return for his services if we did not keep a close eye on him. [hehehe]

[russellhltn]

I guess the only issue I see is that I happen to have Admin access to all computers and MLS databases in the Stake where a normal Stake Auditor has no access, but must rely on the Ward Clerk and or Bishop to open MLS during the audit.

Since you have access and audit responsibility, it could create the appearance that you were in a position to cover your own actions. I don't know if that's a problem from the "letter of the law" standpoint, but I do see a problem from an "appearance" standpoint.