Cherokee County; Board of Education; require an internal audit function and establish position of internal auditor

Cherokee County schools require internal audits

The law requires the Cherokee County school board to maintain an internal audit function, paid for with local school funds. The board appoints the auditor from candidates nominated by state legislators representing all or part of the school district. The auditor must be a Certified Internal Auditor or Certified Public Accountant with at least five years of experience. The auditor can be a board employee or the account manager of a hired firm. Residency is not required, but the auditor cannot take part in partisan politics or school-system political affairs. With board approval, the auditor can hire and remove staff, subject to the board's budget process and personnel policies. One-year and five-year financial and performance audits check whether school activities are authorized, legal, effective, and using resources wisely. Audits also check results, report accuracy, internal controls, management weaknesses, and signs of fraud, abuse, or illegal acts. School officials must give immediate access to requested records and access to school property, equipment, and facilities. Outside contractor and subcontractor contracts must allow audit access for projects funded partly or fully with school money. Annual reports to the board and district legislators cover completed audits, major findings, corrective actions, and significant unresolved issues. Audit reports are open for public inspection or copying at a reasonable cost. Confidential information must be handled in regularly scheduled closed board sessions and cannot be publicly disclosed. The auditor can address the board after superintendent reports and must perform other duties assigned by the law or board. The audit section is repealed on July 1, 2030.