Maricopa County, Arizona
Internal Audit
Performance Report
Fiscal Year 2012

From the County Auditor’s Desk

1

Audit Department Independence

3

Performance Results

9

Dollar Recoveries & Savings 11
A Good Investment 13
Audit Summaries 24

Do the Right Things Right!

From the County Auditor’s Desk—Fiscal Year 2012

To: Max W. Wilson, Chairman, Board of Supervisors
Fulton Brock, Supervisor, District I
Don Stapley, Supervisor, District II
Andrew Kunasek, Supervisor, District III
Mary Rose Wilcox, Supervisor, District V
From: Ross L. Tate, County Auditor
Date: October 29, 2012

Fiscal Year (FY) 2012 was a period of productivity and major achievement for Internal Audit.
We appreciate the Board of Supervisors, the Citizen’s Audit Advisory Committee, and County
administration for their strong, continued support of the County’s audit function.
Significant Work
We published 24 audit reports. Some of the significant reports we issued are shown below. For
a complete summary of our work, see Appendix C on page 24.
Countywide Procurement

Planning and Development

Housing Authority of Maricopa County

Sheriff’s Office Jail Management System

Office Depot Contract

Sheriff’s Office Patrol Service Agreements

Payroll System Post Implementation

Sheriff’s Office Payroll

Internal Audit Issued 138 Recommendations
Internal Audit provides independent analysis and assurance that operations are efficient,
economical, and effective. We track implementation of audit recommendations that identify
efficiency gains, provide economical guidance, improve operational effectiveness, and ensure
controls are in place to prevent fraud, waste, and abuse.
In FY 2012, we made 138 recommendations, of which 136 (99%) were agreed to by the audited
agencies.
Internal Audit Achieves Audit Excellence
For the third year in a row, Internal Audit received the national Government
Finance Officers Association Award for Outstanding Achievement in Popular
Annual Financial Reporting. We have produced the Citizens Financial
Condition Report annually since FY 1998. See page 5.

1

Internal Audit is a Good Investment
In addition to strengthening the County’s internal control environment, Internal Audit identifies
hard dollar recoveries and cost savings,
while reducing various types of risks.
FY 2012 audit work would have cost
more than twice as much if external
auditors had been used instead of
Internal Audit staff.
The average cost per audit hour for an
external auditor was $185, compared
to $74 for an internal auditor (includes
overhead). See page 13.
Emphasizing the Need for a Strong Internal Audit Function
Bond rating agencies Fitch and Moody’s
consider the existence of an internal audit
function a key component of strong
management practices.

Internal Audit strengthens
Maricopa County by
promoting strong internal controls,
deterring fraud, and
initiating cost recoveries

Moody’s uses the Citizens Financial
Condition Report prepared by Internal
Audit to evaluate trends. Moody’s
considers the County’s audit function a
deterrent to fraud.

Credentials for a Strong Internal Audit Function
Internal Audit staff members invest the resources to further their education by studying for
professional certifications and graduate degrees, resulting in a more qualified staff. In addition,
auditors are involved in leadership positions in various
professional organizations (see page 17). In FY 2012, Ross Tate
was elected President of the Association of Local Government
Auditors (ALGA).
ALGA is an international organization committed to supporting
and improving local government auditing through advocacy,
collaboration, education and training, and upholding the highest
standards of professional ethics.
Mr. Tate presided over the 24th Annual Conference in Tempe,
Arizona in May 2012. Internal Audit was instrumental in
winning the bid for that conference, which annually attracts
hundreds of auditors from around the nation, Canada, and other
countries.

2

Audit Department Independence
The Maricopa County Internal Audit Department is effectively
organized, reporting directly to the Board of Supervisors, with an
advisory reporting relationship to the Citizen’s Audit Advisory
Committee.
Board of Supervisors

Fulton Brock
District I

Don Stapley
District II

Andrew Kunasek
District III

Max W. Wilson
District IV
(Chairman)

Mary Rose Wilcox
District V

Citizen’s Audit
Advisory Committee

County Management

Internal Audit

Tom Manos
County Manager

Ross Tate
County Auditor

3

The Citizen’s Audit Advisory Committee’s primary function is to assist the Board of
Supervisors in fulfilling its oversight responsibilities. The Committee accomplishes this
function by reviewing the County’s financial information, the established systems of internal
controls, and the audit process.
See Audit Committee Biographies (Appendix F, page 34) and Audit Committee Charter
(Appendix G, page 35).

Citizen’s Audit Advisory Committee

Vacant

Ralph Lamoreaux
District I

Shelby Scharbach
Maricopa County
Assistant County
Manager

Janet Secor
District II

Matthew Breecher
District III
(Chair)

David Benton
Maricopa County
Attorney’s Office

Ramon Ramirez
District IV

Ross Tate
Maricopa
County Auditor

4

District V

Jay Zsorey
Office of the
Auditor General

Awards
GFOA Award for Outstanding Achievement
in Popular Annual Financial Reporting
For the third year in a row, the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA)
presented Internal Audit with the Award for Outstanding Achievement in Popular
Annual Financial Reporting.
This is a prestigious national award recognizing conformance with the highest
standards for the preparation of state and local government popular reports.
In order to receive this award, a government unit
must publish a Popular Annual Financial Report.
The report must conform to program standards of
creativity, presentation, understandability, and
reader appeal. Internal Audit received the award
for its Citizens Financial Condition Report for FY
2011.
GFOA is a professional association of state/
provincial and local finance officers in the United
States and Canada, and has served the public
finance profession since 1906.
We have produced the Citizens Financial
Condition Report annually since FY 1998.

Chairman Max Wilson, Maricopa County Board of Supervisors, joins Internal Audit to celebrate the
GFOA Award for Outstanding Achievement In Popular Annual Financial Reporting

5

ALGA President’s Award
The Association of Local Government Auditors (ALGA) presented the
President’s Award to Ross Tate, County Auditor, for his leadership over
ALGA. With over 2,000 members and growing, ALGA is the professional
organization of choice for local government audit professionals.
Tate presided over the 24th Annual Conference in Tempe, Arizona in May 2012. Internal Audit
was instrumental in winning the bid for this four-day conference, which attracted over 300
auditors from around the nation, Canada, and other countries.
Tate looks on as Tom Manos,
County Manager, gives opening remarks

Ross Tate, County Auditor, welcomes
conference attendees to Tempe, Arizona

Tate receives the President’s Award from
Drummond Kahn, incoming president

Tate thanks Manos for speaking
at the conference

Chairman Max Wilson, Maricopa County Board of Supervisors,
joins Internal Audit to celebrate the ALGA President’s Award

6

Government Finance Officers Association
Award for Outstanding Achievement in Popular Annual Financial Reporting
Citizens Financial Condition Report
2012, 2011, 2010

Andrew Kunasek,
2011 Chairman,
joins Internal Audit
to celebrate the
GFOA Award
and the
ALGA Knighton
Bronze Award

Association of Local Government Auditors
2010 Best Audit Report: Knighton Bronze Award
Vehicle Usage Review
2008 Best Audit Report: Knighton Bronze Award
Air Quality Audit
2008 Website Gold Award
Internal Audit Website
2007 Best Audit Report: Knighton Gold Award
Environmental Services Audit

Don Stapley,
2010 Chairman,
joins Internal Audit
to celebrate the
NACo Award and
GFOA Award

7

National Center for Civic Innovation

Association of
Government Accountants

2007 Trailblazer Award
Government Performance Reporting
Demonstration Grant Program
Service Efforts & Accomplishments

2006 Certificate of Excellence
Service Efforts and Accomplishments

Max Wilson,
2009 Chairman,
joins Internal Audit
to celebrate the
NACo Awards and
the ALGA Knighton
Bronze Award

National Association of Counties
2010 Achievement Award: Tech Tips Training Program
2009 Best of Category Award & 2009 Achievement Award: Internal Controls Video Program
2006 Achievement Award: Internet Usage Risk Management

Andrew Kunasek,
2008 Chairman, joins
Internal Audit
to celebrate the
ALGA Knighton Gold
Award and the ALGA
Website Award

The Institute of Internal Auditors
2006 Recognition of Commitment
Professional Excellence, Professional Quality, Professional Outreach

8

Performance Results
Primary Strategic Goals
Internal Audit’s goals are designed with the Board of Supervisors (Board) in mind. Internal Audit
provides information so the Board can make informed decisions on the issues they deem most
important, and can provide fiscally responsible public services to citizens.
Customer Satisfaction
Our goal is to maintain a 100%
customer satisfaction rating from
our primary customers: the Board,
Chiefs of Staff, and Audit Committee
members.
For the past seven years we have
achieved 100%.

Audit Plan Completion
We strive to complete 100% of the
Board-Approved Audit Plan and report
this information to the Board no later
than 90 days after fiscal
year-end.
We completed 24 out of 25 projects on
time.

Recommendations
Implemented
Change and improvement often begin
with audit recommendations. Our goal
is to facilitate the implementation of
98% of audit recommendations within
three years of being reported.

9

Secondary Operational Goals
Productivity
Productive time is considered time spent
working directly on audits; our goal is to
maintain a 75% productivity rate, which
is an industry average.
Other time, such as staff meetings,
training, vacation, and holidays, is not
considered productive time.

Secondary Customer Satisfaction
With each audit deliverable, we send
satisfaction surveys to the County Manager,
Deputy County Manager, Assistant County
Managers, and Department Directors.
Based on scores, comments, and
interaction, we are able to validate that
our secondary customers believe we are
doing a good job, and that we are
exceeding expectations.
County Leadership Satisfaction
Department Directors participate in an
annual County satisfaction survey.
Although they are not our primary
customers, we continue to monitor
feedback from Department Directors,
and implement improvements whenever
possible.

Internal Staff Satisfaction
Internal Audit has consistently maintained
a high employee satisfaction rate based on
survey results by the Office of Research
and Reporting.
In FY 2012, Internal Audit staff had the
third highest employee satisfaction rate
among all County departments.

10

Recoveries & Savings
Potential Dollar Recoveries & Identified Savings
The following table lists FY 2012 audits with a quantifiable economic impact, including actual and
identified increases in revenues, cost recoveries, and other savings. For additional information on
projects that have yielded benefits over time, see Audit Impact (Appendix E, page 33).
Audit

Impact

Description
Actual ($1.8M) and estimated ($3.6M) overpayments
resulting from noncompliance with low-price
guarantees

Office Depot Contract

$5,366,110

Sheriff’s Office Patrol
Intergovernmental
Agreements

$526,732

Understated costs and inadequate billing rates to
cities, towns, and a district

Sheriff’s Office Payroll

$127,668

Overpayments for shift differentials and other
payroll discrepancies

Justice Court
Minimum Accounting
Standards

$29,268

Cost savings attained by not using outside
consultants for this mandated review (dollars reflect
the variance between internal and external costs)

Clerk of Superior Court
Minimum Accounting
Standards

$24,070

Cost savings attained by not using outside
consultants for this mandated review (dollars reflect
the variance between internal and external costs)

Single Audit Review

$14,520

Cost savings attained by not using outside
consultants for this mandated review (dollars reflect
the variance between internal and external costs)

Payroll System Post
Implementation

$2,953

Unapproved maintenance charges

Court Tower
Construction Contract

$1,212

Disallowed bereavement pay charged to the project

Total Identified
Savings:

$6,092,533

11

Budget & Benchmarks
County
Population
The chart to the right
compares Maricopa
County’s population
to six benchmark
counties.

County Budget
The chart to the left
reflects what
percentage the
county’s audit
budget is when
compared to the
county’s total
budget.

Internal Audit
Budget
Maricopa County’s
Internal Audit costs are
about average
compared to other
benchmark counties.
Some counties include
co-sourcing dollars
within their budgets;
these were deducted
from the graph for an
accurate comparison.
12

Internal Audit—A Good Investment
Our Cost vs. the Cost to Outsource the Audit Function
FY 2012 audit work would have
cost the County more than twice
as much if external auditors had
been used instead of Internal
Audit staff.

The average cost per audit hour
for an external auditor was $185
compared to $74 for an internal
auditor (includes overhead).

Our Cost vs. Cost Savings to the County
Over the past 10 years, Internal Audit produced $21.6 million in savings (and $58.2 million in
potential savings/cost avoidance) to the County. During the same period, our costs (including cosourcing dollars) totaled $17.3 million, resulting in a net savings of $4.3 million to the County.
Our savings averaged $2.2 million
per year compared with average
annual resources of approximately
$1.7 million.
Internal Audit identifies potential
savings to the County by detecting
weak controls that can lead to
waste and abuse, and by deterring
fraud.

Internal Audit is a Good Investment

13

A well run internal audit function
is an investment that benefits
County management and citizens.

Customer Feedback
During FY 2012, our customers told us ...

“I must say that this certainly confirms what a good idea it is to have regular audits,
because it points out oversights in our procedures that we may then rectify.”

“Excellent report. Very useful for me.”

“This was a good, thorough look—certainly much broader in scope than what I expected.
Thanks for all of your efforts on this! ”
“We appreciate the professionalism of your staff.”
“Very helpful in understanding progress and gauging citizens financial condition..”

“Always a first-rate team in Internal Audit!”

“Appreciate the website, very informative.”

“Your team was excellent as always to work with.”

“Thank you! Quite helpful and let’s me know degree of compliance, etc.”

“We discussed the items she found as she was finding them; she
was very helpful throughout the process.”

“Enjoyed working with the auditor on this project.”

“Again, glad you had a productive visit—it certainly helped us out!”

"Thank you for the message and reports. Very timely since I have a site visit
this morning."
“Thanks much—and, as usual, good work from the Internal Audit department.”
“Thank you for doing this work.”

“Thanks. Good working with you again.”

14

Countywide Audits
Countywide audits allow for broader coverage with fewer resources. Countywide audits focus on
selected areas (e.g., contracts, network security) and/or transactions (e.g., cash handling,
expenditures, travel) that cross agency boundaries. FY 2012 Countywide coverage included:
Contracts
Network Security

Payroll
Performance Measures

Procurement
Single Audit

IT Audit Services
Information Technology (IT) is vital to County operations and requires a
significant investment in resources. In FY 2012 the County spent $121
million on IT hardware, software, security, and maintenance.
Knowledgeable and experienced IT auditors provide valuable insight into
whether County IT systems are achieving good results and are supporting
County goals. IT Auditors routinely review:
IT General Controls – protecting access to critical systems and guarding against intrusion
Software Controls – ensuring software is processing data completely and accurately
Network Security – protecting the network against inappropriate or unauthorized access
System Development – assessing whether internal and vendor developed systems are meeting
County needs
IT Governance – evaluating whether IT projects support County and agency strategic goals

Volunteer Work
AGA Fraud Prevention Work Group
Eve Murillo, Deputy County Auditor, was invited to participate with
federal, state, and local professionals from across the nation to work on the
Association of Government Accountants’ (AGA) Fraud Prevention ToolKit
Work Group in FY 2011. AGA reports that the Task Force “developed a
state-of-the-art, online Fraud Prevention ToolKit designed to help officials at all levels of
government to prevent, detect, and deter fraud. It was released on December 1, 2011.”
Audit Book Reviews
Ronda Jamieson, Senior Auditor, was invited to review and test
questions written for two self-study audit books: The Yellow Book
Interpreted, and Essential Skills for the Government Auditor.
Previously, Jamieson reviewed five other self-study audit books,
which are written by a well-known author that specializes in
government auditing.
15

Presentations / Speaking Engagements
2012 Annual ALGA Conference
In addition to Ross Tate, County Auditor, speaking as part of his
presidential duties, Richard Chard, Deputy County Auditor, and Patra
Carroll, IT Audit Supervisor, presented at the Association of Local
Government Auditors (ALGA) conference. Chard presented “Audits to
Go” and Carroll presented “Auditing Information Systems
Implementations.”

Ross Tate

Information Systems Audit and Control Association
Patra Carroll presented “IT Control Practices” to Arizona State
University accounting graduate students.
Institute of Internal Auditors
Patra Carroll presented “Systems Implementations” to the Tucson
chapter.
Maricopa County Supervision 101 Training
Ross Tate presented “Internal Controls” to County supervisors at
the quarterly trainings.

Richard Chard

Regional Partnership Auditor Training
“How to Audit a Library” was presented by Stella Fusaro, Audit Supervisor;
Toni Sage, Law Enforcement Audit Supervisor; Scott Jarrett, Senior Law
Enforcement Auditor; and Lisa Scott, Senior Data Analyst.
Patra Carroll

Published Articles
Articles Featured in National Publications
Local Government Auditing Quarterly (Summer 2012)
President’s Message by Ross Tate
Local Government Auditing Quarterly (Spring 2012)
President’s Message by Ross Tate
Local Government Auditing Quarterly (Winter 2011)
President’s Message by Ross Tate
Local Government Auditing Quarterly (Fall 2011)
President’s Message by Ross Tate

16

Appendix A: Professional Development

Internal Audit staff members
have extensive knowledge of
auditing methods and
techniques, and specialized
training in information
systems and accounting.
Many hold advanced
professional certifications
and graduate degrees, as
shown in the acccompanying
table.
The total number of
professional certifications
held by Internal Audit staff is
54 (FY 2012).

Certifications and Graduate Degrees Held
by Maricopa County Internal Audit Staff

Number
Held

Certified Law Enforcement Auditor (CLEA)
Certified Internal Auditor (CIA)
Certified Public Accountant (CPA)
IT Service Management (ITIL)
Certified Government Auditing Professional (CGAP)
Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE)
Master of Business Administration Degree (MBA)
Master of Public Administration Degree (MPA)
Certified Government Financial Manager (CGFM)
Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA)
Certified Information Technology Professional (CITP)
ISO/IEC 20000 Foundation
Master of Science in Information Management (MSIM)
Certified ACL Data Analyst (ACDA)
Certified Management Accountant (CMA)
Master of Accounting

11
6
6
5
4
3
3
3
2
2
2
2
2
1
1
1

Total:

54

Congratulations on Your Achievements!

Master of Science in Information
Management (MSIM)

Certified Government Financial
Manager (CGFM)

Jacob Pacini

Stephanie Lopez

17

Internal Audit staff members actively participate in a variety of audit-related professional
organizations. Some serve as committee chairs and governing board members.

Professional Organizations
American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA)
Arizona City/County Management Association (ACMA)
Arizona Society of Certified Public Accountants (ASCPA)
Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE—National and Arizona Chapter)
Association of Government Accountants (AGA)
Association of Local Government Auditors (ALGA)
Audit Command Language (ACL) Users Group
Information Systems Audit and Control Association (ISACA)
Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA—National and Phoenix Chapter)
Institute of Management Accountants (IMA)
International City/County Management Association (ICMA)
International Law Enforcement Auditors Association (ILEAA)
National Association of Construction Auditors (NACA)

Positions
Held

Leadership Roles in Professional Organizations
Association of Local Government Auditors (ALGA):
President
Advocacy Committee
Awards Committee
Conference Committee
ALGA’s Liaison to ILEAA
Audit Command Language (ACL) Users Group:
Secretary/Treasurer
Information Systems Audit and Control Association (ISACA):
Co-Chair, Academic Affairs Committee
Academic Affairs Committee

1
1
1
1
1
1
2
2

Registration Coordinator

1

Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA):
1

Secretary
Total:

18

12

Appendix B: Organizational Chart & Staff Biographies
FY 2012 Internal Audit Department Organizational Chart

Board of Supervisors

Citizen’s Audit
Advisory Committee

Ross Tate
County Auditor

Eve Murillo
Deputy County Auditor

Richard Chard
Deputy County Auditor

Wendy Thiele
Administrative
Operations Specialist

Patra Carroll
IT Audit
Supervisor
Susan Adams
Senior IT Auditor
Jacob Pacini
Senior IT Auditor

Stella Fusaro
Audit Supervisor
Stephanie Lopez
Senior Auditor
Kristofer Wright
Staff Auditor

Toni Sage
Law Enforcement
Audit Supervisor
Scott Jarrett
Senior Law
Enforcement
Auditor

Christina Black
Audit Supervisor

Carla Harris
Audit Supervisor

Kimmie Wong
Senior Auditor

Lisa Scott
Senior Data
Analyst

Ronda Jamieson
Senior Auditor
Ryan Barber
Associate Auditor

19

Jenny Eng
Associate Auditor
Stacy Aberilla
Associate Auditor

Ross L. Tate, County Auditor
Mr. Tate is a Certified Internal Auditor, Certified Management Accountant,
and Certified Government Financial Manager. He has a bachelor’s degree from
Brigham Young University in business operations and systems analysis, with 26
years of professional internal auditing experience. Mr. Tate joined the Maricopa
County Internal Audit Department in 1989 and has been County Auditor since
1994. He is currently serving as Past President of the Association of Local
Government Auditors, an international audit organization.
D. Eve Murillo, Deputy County Auditor
Ms. Murillo is a CPA, Certified Fraud Examiner, Certified Law Enforcement
Auditor, Certified Information Technology Professional, and is certified in ITIL
v3 Foundation and ISO/IEC 20000. She has a bachelor's degree from the
University of Illinois, a master’s degree from the Florida Institute of Technology,
and 20 years of accounting and auditing experience. She is a member of AICPA,
Association of Certified Fraud Examiners, Institute of Internal Auditors, and is a
committee chair for the Information Systems Audit and Control Association.
Richard L. Chard, Deputy County Auditor
Mr. Chard is a CPA. He graduated from the University of Redlands with a
degree in history, sociology, and political science, with postgraduate work in
accounting and public administration. Mr. Chard worked as a financial auditor
for CPA firms in Los Angeles and Phoenix before joining the Maricopa County
Department of Finance in 1991. For the past 16 years, he has enjoyed working
for the County Auditor. Mr. Chard is a long standing and active member of
Toastmasters International.
Carla Harris, Audit Supervisor
Ms. Harris is a CPA, Certified Internal Auditor, and Certified Fraud Examiner.
She has a bachelor’s degree in business administration with a major in
accounting. Ms. Harris has more than 20 years of experience in internal auditing
and accounting. She is a former board member and training director for the
Arizona Chapter of the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners, and is a
member of the National Chapter of the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners
and the Institute of Internal Auditors.
Christina Black, Audit Supervisor
Ms. Black is a Certified Internal Auditor, Certified Government Auditing
Professional, and Certified Law Enforcement Auditor with over 16 years of
professional internal audit experience and 10 years of accounting and revenue
auditing experience. She has a bachelor's degree in accounting from Missouri
Western State College. Ms. Black serves as a secretary for the Institute of
Internal Auditors and is a member of the Association of Certified Fraud
Examiners and Association of Local Government Auditors.
20

Stella J. Fusaro, Audit Supervisor
Ms. Fusaro is a Certified Internal Auditor, Certified Government Auditing
Professional, Certified Fraud Examiner, and Certified Law Enforcement Auditor
with over 20 years of auditing experience. She has a bachelor’s degree in
business administration with an accounting concentration from California State
University, Fullerton. Ms. Fusaro is a member of the Association of Certified
Fraud Examiners, Association of Local Government Auditors, and Institute of
Internal Auditors.
Patra E. Carroll, IT Audit Supervisor
Ms. Carroll is a CPA, Certified Internal Auditor, Certified Information
Technology Professional, and Certified Law Enforcement Auditor with 17 years
of public sector performance and IT auditing experience. She is ITIL v3
Foundation and ISO 20000 Foundation certified. She has a bachelor's degree
from Arizona State University and a master’s degree in information management.
Ms. Carroll serves on the Association of Local Government Auditors Advocacy
Committee and the local ISACA Academic Relations Committee.
Toni Sage, Law Enforcement Audit Supervisor
Ms. Sage is a Certified Law Enforcement Auditor. She has a bachelor's degree in
psychology from Brooklyn College of the City University of New York, an MBA
from Fairleigh Dickinson University, and postgraduate work in public
administration at Arizona State University. She has 13 years of IT management
experience in the private sector and 6 years of performance, IT and law
enforcement audit experience at Maricopa County. She is a member of ALGA,
IIA, and ILEAA and served on the 2012 ALGA annual conference committee.
Kimmie Wong, Senior Auditor
Ms. Wong is a Certified Law Enforcement Auditor. She has a bachelor's degree
in business administrative services from Arizona State University and a master’s
degree in public administration from Western International University. She has
a business background and professional internal auditing experience. Ms. Wong
is a member of the Association of Local Government Auditors, Association of
Certified Fraud Examiners, Institute of Internal Auditors, and International Law
Enforcement Auditors Association.
Lisa Scott, Senior Data Analyst
Ms. Scott is a Certified Information Systems Auditor, Certified ACL Data
Analyst, Certified Law Enforcement Auditor, and is certified in ITIL v3
Foundation. She has a bachelor’s degree in computer science from Jacksonville
State University and a post-baccalaureate certificate in accountancy from
Arizona State University. Ms. Scott is a member of the Association of Local
Government Auditors, Information Systems Audit and Control Association, and
International Law Enforcement Auditors Association.
21

Ronda Jamieson, Senior Auditor
Ms. Jamieson is a CPA, Certified Government Auditing Professional, and
Certified Law Enforcement Auditor. She has a bachelor’s degree in accounting
from Rocky Mountain College, Montana. She has ten years of governmental
auditing and eight years of general ledger experience. Ms. Jamieson is a member
of the Institute of Internal Auditors, Arizona Society of Certified Public
Accountants, Association of Certified Fraud Examiners, and the International
Law Enforcement Auditors Association.
Stephanie Lopez, Senior Auditor
Ms. Lopez is a CPA with over four years of governmental auditing
experience. She has a bachelor’s degree in business administration with an
accounting concentration and a master’s degree in accounting from the
University of Arizona. Ms. Lopez is a member of the AICPA and the Arizona
Society of CPAs. Ms. Lopez recently passed all three examinations for the
Certified Government Financial Manager designation and is awaiting her
official notice of certification.
Susan Adams, Senior Information Technology Auditor
Ms. Adams is a Certified Information Systems Auditor and a Certified Law
Enforcement Auditor. She has a bachelor's degree in accounting from Utah
State University and a master’s degree in business administration from the
University of Utah. She has 19 years of professional auditing experience, with
13 years as an information systems auditor. Ms. Adams serves on the ISACA
Phoenix Chapter’s Academic Relations committee and is a member of the
Association of Local Government Auditors.
Jacob Pacini, Senior Information Technology Auditor
Mr. Pacini started working for the Maricopa County Department of Finance in
February 2006. Mr. Pacini made the transition to Internal Audit in July
2011. Mr. Pacini has a bachelor’s degree in accounting and a master’s degree in
information management from the W.P. Carey School of Business at Arizona
State University in Tempe Arizona. Mr. Pacini is a member of ISACA and
ILEAA. He is currently working towards the Certified Information System
Auditor certification.
Scott Jarrett, Senior Law Enforcement Auditor
Mr. Jarrett is a Certified Internal Auditor, Certified Government Auditing
Professional, Certified Law Enforcement Auditor, and is certified in ITIL v3
Foundation. He has a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Arizona State
University. He served four years in the United States Coast Guard and has six
years of professional internal auditing experience. Mr. Jarrett is a member of the
Institute of Internal Auditors and he participates on the Awards Committee for
the Association of Local Government Auditors.
22

Jenny M. Eng, Associate Auditor
Ms. Eng started as an Internal Audit intern in May of 2007 and became an
auditor in October 2007. She has a bachelor’s degree in accountancy and
computer information systems from the W.P. Carey School of Business at
Arizona State University. Ms. Eng is a member of the Institute of Internal
Auditors and the Association of Local Government Auditors. She is currently
working towards the Certified Internal Auditor and Certified Government
Auditing Professional certifications.
Stacy Aberilla, Associate Auditor
Ms. Aberilla joined Internal Audit in October 2010. She has a master’s degree in
public administration from the Arizona State University School of Public Affairs
and was a member of the Pi Alpha Alpha national honor society. She graduated
from ASU magma cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in sociology and minor in
women’s studies. She formerly worked as an auditor in the credit services
industry. She is a member of the Association of Government Accountants, the
Association of Local Government Auditors, and the Institute of Internal Auditors.
Ryan Barber, Associate Auditor
Mr. Barber joined Internal Audit in January 2012. He has a bachelor’s degree in
accounting from Brigham Young University – Idaho. He has one year of public
accounting experience and three years of government auditing experience. Mr.
Barber is a member of the Institute of Internal Auditors, the Association of Local
Government Auditors, and the Arizona Chapter of the Association of Certified
Fraud Examiners. He is currently working towards the Certified Internal Auditor
certification.
Kristofer Wright, Staff Auditor
Mr. Wright joined Internal Audit in January 2012. He has a master’s degree in
public administration from the Arizona State University School of Public Affairs,
where he was a member of the Phi Kappa Phi national honor society. He
graduated from Brigham Young University with a bachelor’s degree in history. He
is a member of the Association of Government Accountants, Association of Local
Government Auditors, and the Institute of Internal Auditors. He is currently
working towards the Certified Internal Auditor certification.
Wendy Thiele, Administrative Operations Specialist
Ms. Thiele joined Internal Audit in December 2006. Prior to relocating to
Phoenix, she performed medical chart audits for a major healthcare system in
Milwaukee, WI. She has 15 years of experience in internal auditing. She also
has experience in human resources and home health care within a hospital
setting. Ms. Thiele is a member of the Arizona Chapter of the Association of
Certified Fraud Examiners and has attended numerous auditing conferences and
seminars, which has contributed to her overall knowledge of the audit process.
23

Appendix C: Audit Summaries

Report Title

Page

Citizens Financial Condition Report ........................................................... 25
Clerk of the Superior Court Minimum Accounting Standards ..................... 25
Contracts:
Court Tower Construction ............................................................... 25
Electronic Healthcare Services........................................................ 26
Flood Control District Construction .................................................. 26
Legal Arizona Workers Act .............................................................. 26
Office Depot .................................................................................... 27
Countywide Mobile Devices ....................................................................... 27
Countywide Procurement ........................................................................... 27
Housing Authority of Maricopa County ....................................................... 28
Justice Courts Minimum Accounting Standards ......................................... 28
Payroll System Post Implementation Review ............................................. 28
Performance Measure Certification ............................................................ 29
Planning and Development: Building Inspection Services ......................... 29
Sheriff’s Office Data Center Review ........................................................... 29
Sheriff’s Office Jail Management System................................................... 30
Sheriff’s Office Patrol Service Agreements ................................................ 30
Sheriff’s Office Payroll ................................................................................ 30
Sheriff’s Office Risk Assessment ............................................................... 31
Sheriff’s Office Vehicle Usage Review ....................................................... 31
Single Audit—Grant Compliance Review ................................................... 31

24

Citizens Financial Condition Report ~ February 2012
The Citizens Financial Condition Report is based on the County’s FY 2011
Comprehensive Annual Financial Report and summarizes the County’s key
financial information and trends. The report uses graphics for a highly visual,
interesting, and understandable report for the benefit of elected officials,
management, and the public. The report presents significant financial trends and
national benchmark analyses.
Highlights
FY 2011 governmental fund revenues fell below expenditures
The General Fund spendable (unrestricted) fund balance remained healthy
Key County financial indicators compared very favorably to national benchmarks
County net assets, an indicator of long term financial health, continued to increase
State retirement plans covering County employees saw funding deficits continue to
increase

Clerk of the Superior Court Minimum Accounting Standards ~ July 2012
The Clerk of the Superior Court (COSC) performs cash collections and
disbursements at various locations throughout Maricopa County. Our audit work
was performed at the following COSC locations: Central Court Complex,
Northeast Regional Center, South Court Tower, and Southeast Regional Facility.
Highlights
COSC was in compliance with 34 of 49 procedures (69%)
Most exceptions were related to cash handling, reconciliations of financial records, and
disbursements

Contract: Court Tower Construction ~ April 2012
The Board of Supervisors approved the construction of the Maricopa County
Downtown Court Tower through a series of Guaranteed Maximum Price contracts
with Gilbane Building Company (Gilbane). The overall budget for the project
was $340 million. As of September 30, 2011, $241 million was committed to the
contracts with Gilbane. Under the direction of Internal Audit, the consulting firm
of Moss Adams LLP reviewed expenditures charged under 11 construction contracts in various
stages of completion.
Highlights
Construction controls could be improved for approving change orders and vendor charges
Good construction practices observed included reviewing stored materials and project
inventories, holding regular project status meetings, and communicating project
information through website
25

Contract: Electronic Healthcare Services ~ August 2012
In December 2010, the Office of Procurement Services issued a Request For
Proposal (RFP) for Electronic Healthcare Services. The contract was to provide
electronic health services to Maricopa County employees and their dependents
that are enrolled in a County-sponsored medical plan. The purpose of this review
was to determine whether certain RFP requirements for electronic healthcare
services were met when the contract was awarded in May 2011.
Highlights
The successful bidder, MDLiveCare, did not provide a written guarantee that proper
physician credentialing had been completed, as required
MDLiveCare physicians did not appear to possess one of the Emergency Medicine
qualifications, as required
MDLiveCare physicians were all licensed in the State of Arizona
Contract term was not inappropriately changed after the contract was awarded

Contract: Flood Control District Construction ~ April 2012
The Board of Supervisors, serving as the Flood Control District (FCD) Board of
Directors, approved the construction of the Camelback Road Storm Drain, 59th to
75th Avenues, through a Low Bid Lump Sum contract with T & T Construction,
Inc. (T&T). The overall budget for the project was $10.5 million, of which $10.0
million was paid to T&T through September 30, 2011. Under the direction of
Internal Audit, the consulting firm of Moss Adams LLP reviewed contract expenditures and
project controls for the Camelback Road Storm Drain project.
Highlights
Construction controls could be improved for food expenditures, policies and procedures,
safety plan, and insurance coverage
Good construction practices observed included weekly meetings, detailed project status
tracking, and public communication

Contract: Legal Arizona Workers Act ~ June 2012
The Legal Arizona Workers Act went into effect in January 2008, and was
amended in several respects in May 2008. The Act prohibits businesses from
knowingly or intentionally hiring unauthorized aliens after December 31,
2007. The law also requires employers in Arizona to use the E-Verify system (a
free Web-based service offered by the Federal Department of Homeland Security)
to verify employment eligibility of all new employees hired after December 31, 2007. Under
the Act, the County may bring suit against employers for knowingly hiring unauthorized
aliens. Arizona Revised Statute § 41-4401 requires government entities to conduct random
verifications to ensure that contractors/subcontractors are complying with the Act.
Highlight
One contractor was randomly selected for review; no unauthorized employees were identified.
26

Contract: Office Depot ~ October 2012
Maricopa County participated in a cooperative purchasing contract between the
County of Los Angeles and Office Depot, Inc. for office supplies from January
2006 through December 2010. County expenditures to Office Depot totaled
$22.5 million during this period. We conducted this audit due to the total dollars
expended, and the potential for significant overcharges if contract pricing terms
were not adhered to. Our objective was to determine if pricing terms were properly applied
during the County’s participation in the contract.
Highlight
The County was overcharged $5,366,110 (actual and estimated overcharges, combined), due to
Office Depot’s failure to honor low-price guarantees. We recommended that the Office of
Procurement Services work with the County Attorney’s Office to obtain reimbursement in this
amount, plus interest.
Countywide Mobile Devices ~ July 2012
Assessing mobile device risk assisted County leadership in determining how to
deploy and use mobile technology safely. Internal Audit will also use this
information to guide future audits. Mobile devices, such as laptops, mobile
phones, and tablets, are popular tools that can improve productivity. The security
of the County’s network, however, is a high priority.
Highlights
With the assistance of mobile device security consultants, we identified and ranked 18 County
mobile device risk areas. Three of these areas were assessed as high risk:
Tracking and support of non-County owned devices
Monitoring the network
Encrypting software and hardware
Countywide Procurement ~ August 2012
Maricopa County procures a wide variety of goods and services needed to support
dozens of County agencies. In 1987, the County Board of Supervisors adopted
the Maricopa County Procurement Code (P-Code) to facilitate County
procurement. The P-Code outlines the requirements and related procedures that
must be followed when procuring goods and services with public monies. The
focus of this review was on Article 3 (non-construction) and Article 5 (construction)
procurement types. In FY 2011, the County expended $581 million on construction and nonconstruction procurements.
Highlights
The County does not have a reliable system to report total expenditures by contracts
The Procurement Code was followed for procurements we reviewed
Contracts do not always include required clauses for terms and conditions
Policies and procedures over user access management were not developed for the
procurement application
Most vendors (83%) are satisfied with the County’s procurement process
27

Housing Authority of Maricopa County ~ August 2012
The Housing Authority of Maricopa County (HAMC) meets a wide range of
affordable housing needs throughout the County. Core duties include managing
the Housing Choice Voucher Program and the Public Housing Program. HAMC
also administers a Capital Fund Program and the Resident Opportunities and
Support Services Program. The County Board of Supervisors began sitting as
HAMC’s Board of Commissioners in December 2010.
Highlights
35 of 54 U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development recommendations need to
be implemented and closed
Financial administration practices need improvement
HAMC has not complied with state unclaimed property laws
User access controls need improvement to ensure access aligns with job responsibilities

Justice Courts Minimum Accounting Standards ~ February 2012
The Maricopa County Justice Court system has 25 courts at 12 locations. The
Justice Courts handle criminal traffic, misdemeanor, and a variety of civil cases
when the amount involved is $10,000 or less. The Minimum Accounting
Standards review is an Agreed-Upon Procedures engagement. The
Administrative Office of the Arizona Supreme Court sets forth standard audit
procedures to be conducted by an independent accountant every three years. The purpose of the
engagement is to ensure that County justice courts maintain effective internal controls over
financial accounting and reporting systems.
Highlight
Most exceptions were related to cash handling, reconciliations of financial records,
disbursements, segregation of duties, external reviews, and safeguarding of monies.

Payroll System Post Implementation Review ~ July 2012
Payroll is the County’s largest expenditure at $900 million annually. To increase
efficiencies, County management implemented the new County Payroll System at
a cost of $15.6 million. Our review of the payroll system (called a post–
implementation review) focused on whether the new system accurately and
promptly processes payroll, and whether the County received the anticipated
value for the new system.
Highlights
Controls over data accuracy and completeness appear to be effective
Project management practices could be improved
Formal policies and procedures for user access and sensitive information need to be
developed
Custom payroll reports need to be tested for accuracy
28

Performance Measure Certification ~ July 2012
The Board of Supervisors adopted a performance measurement initiative called
Managing for Results in FY 2001. We review agency-reported performance
measures to ensure reported results are accurate and reliable. This year, we
examined 43 performance measures from 5 County agencies.
Highlights
22 of the 43 measures reviewed were certified (51%)
Measures were not certified because of the lack of supporting documentation,
inconsistencies between the measure definition and calculation, and inadequate
procedures for collecting, measuring, and reporting performance
The percent of certified measures increased from 38% in FY 2011

Planning and Development: Building Inspection Services ~ February 2012
Planning and Development is responsible for the planning, zoning, and building
safety functions, including ensuring that construction is performed in
conformance with adopted building codes. Our primary objective was to
determine if internal controls are in place to ensure that building inspections are
timely and effective.
Highlights
Building inspections are performed timely
Inspection requirements are undefined
Inspector qualifications are not properly verified
IT user account and security management processes need improvement

Sheriff’s Office Data Center Review ~ March 2012
Our objective was to determine if data center controls provide reasonable
assurance that access to computer resources (data, equipment, and facilities) is
appropriate and restricted to authorized individuals. We reviewed 81 key data
center controls in six categories (physical security, environmental controls,
backup and restoration, equipment protection, data center operations, and disaster
recovery planning). This audit was a carryover from the FY 2009 audit plan.
Highlights
82% of the data center controls tested complied with recommended standards
Physical security, environmental controls, backup and restoration, data center operations,
and disaster recovery planning could be improved

29

Sheriff’s Office Jail Management System ~ May 2012
The Jail Management System (JMS) is critical to jail operations. JMS is the
primary computer system used by the Sheriff’s Office to manage jail operations
and inmates. JMS includes information on booking, fingerprinting, food services,
housing, transportation, health, inmate property, and bonding. JMS processes
approximately 105 million transactions per year. This audit was a carryover from
the FY 2009 audit plan.
Highlights
The IT control environment generally aligns with industry standards
An IT strategic plan and project management processes has not been adopted
JMS policies and procedures need to be formalized

Sheriff’s Office Patrol Service Agreements ~ July 2012
The Sheriff’s Office Patrol Service Agreements generate $10 million in County
revenues annually. The purpose of this review was to determine the extent of the
Sheriff’s Office financial accountability and compliance with these agreements.
The audit focused on controls over pricing calculations, cost recovery, revenue
collections, level of service, and compliance with statutes and policies.
Highlights
Patrol charges reasonably reflect agreed-upon costs but lack consistency
The actual cost to provide services is not sufficiently tracked
The Sheriff’s Office is not recovering all Stadium District costs

Sheriff’s Office Payroll ~ July 2012
The Sheriff’s Office is a 24/7 law enforcement and detention operation with
approximately 3,550 employees. Payroll was reviewed because it is the largest
expenditure in the Sheriff’s Office budget, and a $100 million funding issue was
identified in FY 2011. In addition, the new Countywide payroll system (ADP)
significantly changed processing procedures.
Highlights
Use of correct funding source has improved
Supervisors are not always approving employee’s time
Payroll is mostly accurate

30

Sheriff’s Office Risk Assessment ~ January 2012
We engaged KPMG to assist us in performing a risk assessment of the Sheriff’s
Office to identify key functions and gain an understanding of the key risks that
may prevent the Sheriff’s Office from achieving its objectives. We interviewed
36 Sheriff’s Office personnel, reviewed policies, observed processes while
conducting facility tours, and obtained input from other County agencies. We
used the information to assign risk levels of high, medium, or low based on the area’s
significance and the likelihood of an adverse event occurring.
Highlight
We assigned a risk ranking to 30 key functions and 13 were rated high risk. Based on the risk
assessment results, Internal Audit has prepared an audit plan through FY 2016.
Sheriff’s Office Vehicle Usage Review ~ December 2011
This review focused on the Sheriff’s Office compliance with vehicle-related
policies, and was originally scheduled as part of the Countywide Vehicle Usage
Audit from FY 2010. In that Countywide audit, we reviewed driver
accountability and fleet management; this review completes that work. In
addition to Internal Audit’s review, the Sheriff’s Office and County management
are conducting a vehicle utilization review within the Sheriff’s Office.
Highlights
Adherence to certain provisions in policies guiding employee use of vehicles for County
business needs to be strengthened
Employees are not required to provide proof of insurance prior to driving private vehicles
on County business
Some employees were reimbursed for mileage without a current County Vehicle Use
Permit
Justification for County vehicles taken home overnight is not documented
Single Audit—Grant Compliance Review ~ July 2012
In 1984, the United States Congress passed the Single Audit Act. The Federal
Office of Management and Budget implemented the Single Audit Act. Currently,
non-federal entities that expend $500,000 or more in federal assistance during a
fiscal year are required to undergo a comprehensive financial and compliance audit
each year (Single Audit) by an independent auditor.
In our annual compliance reviews for federal grant funds distributed through Maricopa County
to various subrecipients, we examined the audited financial and grant compliance reports of 68
federal grant subrecipients ($46.6 million) to determine compliance with the Single Audit Act.
Highlights
40 of 41 subrecipients included in our review complied with Single Audit Act
requirements.
42 of 68 reports contained 121 findings, with 37 material weaknesses related to federal
grant compliance or internal controls. However, the findings reported by the independent
auditors do not appear to impact funds passed through by the County.
31

Appendix D: Other Projects
Detention Fund
Based on the recommendation of the Board of Supervisors, the Office of Management and Budget
(OMB) initiated a task force in FY 2011 consisting of members from the Department of Finance,
Internal Audit, and OMB to provide assistance in determining the amount of potential misspending
that occurred between the County’s General and Detention Funds from January 2004 to March
2011. The objective was limited to calculating the amount of the Sheriff’s Office payroll
misspending. Other funds (Inmate Services and Grant) were also included in the analysis. In FY
2012, we continued our work and reviewed payroll for the time period of April 2011 to June 2011.
Audit Follow-Up
The goal of Internal Audit is to increase the overall effectiveness of County operations and
procedures. Audit recommendations for improvement become meaningful only when needed
changes are recognized and implemented by clients. Following up on audit recommendations is an
integral part of the audit process.
On a regular basis, Internal Audit sends a Status Report Request to clients with open audit
recommendations. This process may also include site visits, interviews, phone calls, or a review of
additional documentation. When all recommendations for an audit have been implemented, a
closing memo is sent to the client.
Risk Assessment / Audit Planning
Effective internal auditing is based on systematically reviewing an organization’s operations at
intervals commensurate with associated risks. The annual risk-assessment process produces an
audit plan that maximizes audit coverage and minimizes risk. Auditing every County activity
on a regular basis would not be cost effective; therefore, Internal Audit uses an annual risk
assessment, along with professional judgment, to ensure resources are focused on high-risk
areas.

32

Appendix E: Audit Impact
Some audits have an immediate impact while others yield organizational benefits over time. Some
recommendations have a measurable financial impact (e.g., increased revenues, cost recoveries)
while others add value over time (e.g., operational efficiencies, improved controls, decreased risk of
fraud, waste, and abuse). The audits below illustrate this.
FY 2007 to FY 2012 - Contracts
Each year our audit plan includes contract audits. Over six years, we identified $7,721,178 in
potential recoveries and identified savings, an average of $1,286,863 per year.
FY 2011 - National Impact
In FY 2011, we found how far reaching our audits can be as a federal bulletin quoted issues from
our FY 2007 Treasurer’s audit report.
FY 2010 - Countywide Vehicle Usage
We identified 21 separate County policies and found that (a) many are outdated and are not
effectively communicated, and (b) some agencies tasked with enforcing the policies do not have
sufficient authority to do so. Greater oversight is needed to ensure the fleet is properly sized and
effectively utilized. We estimate that approximately $292,000 could be saved by expanding the
fleet, given excessive employee mileage reimbursements at ten agencies. In addition, the County
could save nearly $2,500 in fuel costs by using County fuel stations more effectively. The County
Manager has established a task force to address our findings and implement our recommendations.
FY 2009 - Licenses, Fees, and Permits
We found that agency user fee reviews are not timely or effective, Countywide user fee studies are
infrequent, and the gap between fee revenues and expenditures has increased significantly in the past
10 years. At the direction of the County Manager, the Department of Finance assembled a team to
address our findings, and an outside consultant was hired to assist in implementing our
recommendations. We estimate that fee revenues could increase by more than $1 million annually.
FY 2009 - Employee Health Initiatives
We found that benefit costs could be reduced by verifying dependent eligibility at open enrollment
and during new employee hiring. Research shows the County could save between $1.6 and $3.3
million in the first year by verifying dependent eligibility. Our recommendations were implemented
and new and existing employees with dependent additions are now required to submit
documentation.
FY 2008 - Justice Court Administration
We found that collection activities were not clearly defined and monitoring activities were not well
documented. We shared our observations with court administrators. Subsequently, in April 2010,
the Justice Courts began sending out notices to collect unpaid tickets as far back as the early 1980s.
The Justice Courts have recovered millions in unpaid fees and sanctions by sending out thousands of
letters to those with unpaid fines.
33

Appendix F: Audit Committee Biographies
Ralph Lamoreaux, Chairperson, District I
Ralph Lamoreaux, CPA, has a master of business administration degree from the University of Utah and
a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Southern Utah University. He worked for the U.S. Government
Accountability Office (GAO) for 33 years. Mr. Lamoreaux was involved in audits of many federal
departments and agencies. He retired from GAO in July 2000.
Janet L. Secor, District II
Janet L. Secor, CIA, has 20 years of internal auditing experience: nine years in Washington, D.C. at the
GAO and ten years as the City of Scottsdale’s Assistant City Auditor. She consulted for the Maricopa
County Internal Audit for over two years. She is past president of the Arizona Local Government
Auditors Association, and served as the Government Relations Chairman of the local chapter of the
Institute of Internal Auditors. Ms. Secor is retired.
Matthew E. Breecher, District III
Matthew E. Breecher, CPA, CISM, CISA, is an accounting and information systems specialist, with over
17 years professional experience. He currently provides information technology and management
advisory services to local Arizona governments and small-to-medium businesses. Mr. Breecher is the
managing partner of Breecher & Company, PC, a Phoenix-based professional services firm and a
shareholder in Assurance Professionals, PC, a Scottsdale-based public accounting firm.
Ramon A. Ramirez III, District IV
Ramon A Ramirez III, CIA, has over 30 years of internal auditing experience. He established the City of
Surprise’s Internal Audit function 2 years ago and has 21 plus years of municipal audit experience which
includes 17 years with the City of Scottsdale and 3 years with the City of Chandler. He conducted
congressional audits while working for the GAO for 8 years. He also has experience verifying the
accuracy and appropriateness of defense contractor costs submitted for reimbursement to the Department
of Defense.
Jay Zsorey, Financial Audit Director, Office of Auditor General
Jay Zsorey, CPA, graduated from the University of Nevada and is the financial audit director of the
Arizona Office of the Auditor General. During his career, Mr. Zsorey has managed the audits of many
governmental entities in Arizona and was the audit manager for the annual financial statement and
compliance audit of Maricopa County. He has extensive knowledge of government finance and
governmental financial reporting requirements.
David H. Benton, Deputy County Attorney, Maricopa County Attorney’s Office
Shelby Scharbach, Assistant County Manager
Shelby Scharbach, CPA, CGFM, has a bachelor’s degree in accounting and a master’s degree in public
administration. Ms. Scharbach joined the Maricopa County Department of Finance in 1993, served as
Deputy Finance Director from 2000-2008, was appointed Chief Financial Officer in 2009, and is
currently an Assistant County Manager. She serves on the National Association of Counties Financial
Services Advisory Committee and is the appointee to the Public Finance Authority. She is Chair of the
Maricopa County Deferred Compensation Committee, President of the Maricopa County Public Finance
Corporation, and serves on the Board of Directors for the International Genomics Consortium.
34

Appendix G: Citizen’s Audit Advisory Committee Charter

The committee’s primary function is to assist the board of supervisors in fulfilling its oversight
responsibilities. The committee accomplishes this function by reviewing the County’s financial
information, the established systems of internal controls, and the audit process.
In meeting its responsibilities, the committee shall perform the duties outlined below.
1.

Provide an open avenue of communication between the county auditor, the auditor general,
and the board of supervisors.

2.

Review the committee's charter annually and seek board approval on any recommended
changes.

3.

Inquire of management, the county auditor, and the auditor general about significant risks or
exposures and assess the steps management has taken to minimize such risks to the county.

4.

Consider and review the audit scope and plan of the county auditor, and receive regular
updates on the auditor general’s county audit activities.

5.

Review with the county auditor and the auditor general the coordination of audit efforts to
assure completeness of coverage, reduction of redundant efforts, and the effective use of all
audit resources including external auditors and consulting activities.

6.

Consider and review with the county auditor and the auditor general:

7.

a.

The adequacy of the county's internal controls including computerized information
system controls and security.

b.

Any related significant findings and recommendations of the auditor general and the
county auditor together with management's responses thereto.

At the completion of the auditor general’s annual examination, the committee shall review
the following:
a.

The county's annual financial statements and related footnotes.

b.

The auditor general's audit of the financial statements and report thereon.

c.

Any serious difficulties or other matters related to the conduct of the audit that need
to be communicated to the committee.

35

8.

Consider and review with management and the county auditor:
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.

Significant audit findings during the year and management's responses thereto.
Any difficulties encountered during their audits, including any restrictions on the
scope of their work or access to required information.
Any changes required in the planned scope of their audit plan.
The internal audit department's budget and staffing.
The internal audit department's charter.
The internal audit department's overall performance and its compliance with
accepted standards for the professional practice of internal auditing.

9.

Report committee actions to the board of supervisors with such recommendations as the
committee may deem appropriate.

10.

Prepare a letter for inclusion in the annual report that describes the committee's composition
and responsibilities, and how they were discharged.

11.

The committee shall meet at least four times per year or more frequently as circumstances
require. The committee may ask members of management or others to attend the meetings
and provide pertinent information as necessary. Committee meetings are subject to the
Open Meeting Law (A.R.S. § 38-431).

12.

The committee shall perform such other functions as assigned by the board of supervisors.

Committee Composition and Terms
The membership of the committee shall consist of five voting members and three non-voting
members. The voting members shall be board of supervisor appointees from the public and shall
serve two-year terms. The non-voting members shall be the county’s chief financial officer, the
county attorney, the auditor general, or their designees. The chairman of the board of supervisors
shall appoint a committee chairman from the voting members. The committee chairman shall serve
a one-year term.
Member Qualifications
Committee members must have an understanding of financial reporting, accounting, or
auditing. This understanding can be demonstrated through educational degrees (BS, MBA,
PhD) and professional certifications (CPA, CMA, CIA), or through experience in managing an
organization of more than 25 employees or $20M in revenues. Committee members should be
familiar with local government operations and should have sufficient time to effectively
perform the duties listed herein.
Adopted by the Board of Supervisors—3/26/97
Last Amended—6/26/02

36

Appendix H: Internal Audit Charter
Purpose
The Maricopa County Board of Supervisors (Board) hereby establishes the Maricopa County
Internal Audit Department. The mission of the Internal Audit Department is to provide
objective, accurate, and meaningful information about County operations so the Board and
management can make informed decisions to better serve County citizens.
Responsibility
County management has primary responsibility for establishing and maintaining an effective
system of internal controls. Internal Audit evaluates the adequacy of the internal control
environment, the operating environment, related accounting, financial, and operational
policies, and reports the results accordingly.
Authority and Access
Internal Audit is established by the powers granted to the Board in A.R.S. § 11-251. The
Board is authorized to supervise the official conduct of all County officers, to see that such
officers faithfully perform their duties, and present their books and accounts for inspection
(A.R.S. § 11-251.1). The Board is also authorized to perform all other acts and things
necessary to fully discharge its duties (A.R.S. § 11-251.30). Internal Audit will report
directly to the Board, with an advisory reporting relationship to the Board-Appointed
Citizen’s Audit Advisory Committee. In addition, the County Auditor will meet, as needed,
with an oversight committee comprised of the County Administrative Officer and two Board
members appointed by the Board Chairman. While conducting approved audit work,
Internal Audit will have complete access (except where restricted by legal privilege) to all
County property, records, information, and personnel.
Premise and Objectives
Internal Audit’s basic premise is that County resources are to be applied efficiently,
economically, and effectively to achieve the purposes for which the resources were
furnished. This premise is incorporated in the following four objectives:
A. Compliance with Laws and Regulations
Those entrusted with County resources are responsible for establishing and maintaining
effective controls to ensure identification of and compliance with applicable laws and
regulations.
B. Effective Program Operations
Those entrusted with County resources are responsible for establishing and maintaining
effective controls to ensure that programs meet their goals and objectives.

37

C. Validity and Reliability of Data
Those entrusted with County resources are responsible for establishing and maintaining
effective controls to ensure that valid and reliable data are obtained, maintained, and fairly
disclosed.
D. Safeguarding of Resources
Those entrusted with County resources are responsible for establishing and maintaining
effective controls to ensure that resources are safeguarded against waste, loss, and misuse.
Independence
The Internal Audit Department will remain outside the control of management. Internal
Audit employees will have no direct responsibility for, or authority over, any of the activities,
functions, or tasks reviewed by the department. Accordingly, Internal Audit staff should not
develop or write policies and procedures that they may later be called upon to evaluate. They
may review draft materials developed by management for propriety and completeness.
However, ownership of and responsibility for these materials will remain with management.
Audit Standards and Ethics
Internal Audit will adhere to applicable industry standards and codes of ethics issued by
authoritative sources (such as those issued by the Institute of Internal Auditors and the U.S.
General Accounting Office). Each member of the department is expected to consistently
demonstrate high standards of conduct and ethics as well as appropriate judgment and
discretion.
Audit Planning
The County Auditor will prepare an annual audit plan that will be reviewed by the Citizen’s
Audit Advisory Committee and approved by the Board. Additions, deletions, or deferrals to
the annual audit plan will also be approved by the Board.
Follow-Up
Internal Audit will follow up on the status of its report recommendations on a regular basis.
Adopted by the Board of Supervisors—6/11/97
Last Amended—12/18/02

38

Appendix I: Internal Audit Profile
Definition
Internal auditing is an independent, objective assurance and
consulting activity that adds value and improves operations.
Internal auditing helps an organization reach objectives by
bringing a systematic, disciplined approach to improve the
effectiveness of risk management, control, and governance
processes.
Our Value Statement (Motto)
Do the Right Things Right!
Our Mission
The mission of the Internal Audit Department is to provide objective information on the
County’s system of internal controls to the Board of Supervisors so they can make informed
decisions and protect the interests of County citizens.
Our Vision
To promote the effective, efficient, economical, and ethical use of public resources.
Our History
The Board of Supervisors appointed the first County Auditor in 1978 and established an
internal audit function. In 1994, the Board of Supervisors created a Citizen’s Audit Advisory
Committee comprised of private citizens and County officials. (See Appendix G, page 35, for
charter.) In 1997, the Board of Supervisors formalized the County’s internal audit function by
adopting a department charter, which was amended in December 2002. (See Appendix H, page
37, for charter.)
Citizen’s Audit Advisory Committee (Audit Committee)
The Board Appointed Citizen’s Audit Advisory Committee supports further strengthening of
the County’s Internal Audit Department. This committee, comprised of accounting and
business professionals, actively engages in analyzing risk throughout the County and making
recommendations. This committee is an important link between the Board of Supervisors and
the County’s auditors, both internal and external. The Maricopa County Citizen’s Audit
Advisory Committee meets regularly to review and comment on audit reports, County financial
statements, and other audit information (audit plan, special requests, etc.).
Organizational Independence
Auditors should be removed from organizational and political pressures to ensure objectivity.
As our charter designates, the Maricopa County Internal Audit Department reports directly to
an elected Board of Supervisors, thereby establishing an effective level of independence from
management. This structure provides the Board of Supervisors with a direct line of
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communication to Internal Audit and provides assurance that County officials cannot influence
the nature or scope of audit work performed.
Government Auditing Standards support locating internal audit departments outside the
management function in order to encourage independence. Routine meetings with an
independent audit committee further enhance independence.

Reporting Structure of the Internal Audit Department
Board of
Supervisors
Citizen’s Audit
Advisory Committee

Internal Audit

County Management

Resources
A fully staffed, professional Internal Audit Department provides value-added services to the
County. Each year, Internal Audit analyzes and adapts its resources to meet upcoming County
auditing and consulting needs. To provide flexibility and diversified strength, the audit staff
has broad-range education and experience in various audit areas: accounting, contracts,
finance, performance evaluation, information systems, and management services. Each audit is
performed by a team that collectively possesses the necessary knowledge and skills to fit the
assignment.
Government operations are inherently complex; certain functions cannot be properly reviewed
without specialized expertise. Hiring a wide variety of staff specialists, however, would not be
cost effective. While Internal Audit has invested in qualified internal staff, it has also reserved
resources for specialized contractors. In FY 2012, $360,000 was budgeted for this purpose.
This partnership (called “co-sourcing”) provides the County with the collective expertise
required by Government Auditing Standards at an affordable price.
Professional Internal Audit Staff
Internal Audit staff members have extensive knowledge of auditing methods and techniques,
plus specialized training in information technology and accounting. (See Appendix B, page 19,
for biographies.) Each auditor is responsible for maintaining Government Auditing Standards
requirements of 80 continuing education hours every two years; 24 hours must be directly
related to government operations.
Who Audits the Auditors? (Peer Review)
An independent audit firm conducts a peer review of Internal Audit every three years, as
required by national Government Auditing Standards. The Maricopa County Citizen’s Audit
Advisory Committee oversees these reviews. The FY 2000, FY 2003, FY 2006, FY 2009, and
FY 2012 reviews by a local CPA firm were positive and showed no findings.
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Maricopa County Internal Audit
301 W. Jefferson, Suite 660
Phoenix, AZ 85003 ~ 2148
Telephone: 602 ~ 506 ~ 1585
Facsimile: 602 ~ 506 ~ 8957
E-mail: Thielew@mail.maricopa.gov

Visit our website @
www.maricopa.gov/internal_audit
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Annual Report Project Members
Richard Chard, CPA, Deputy County Auditor
Carla Harris, CPA, CIA, CFE, Audit Supervisor
Kimmie Wong, MPA, Senior Auditor
Jenny Eng, Associate Auditor

Internal Audit’s Mission
To provide objective information on the County’s system of internal controls to the Board
of Supervisors so they can make informed decisions and
protect the interests of County citizens

Vision
To facilitate positive change throughout the County

Value Statement
To promote the effective, efficient, economical, and ethical use of public resources

Motto
Do the Right Things Right!