CCP 06-08-1998 - Laserfiche WebLink

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~ City of Arden Hills ~~f1 May 14, 1998 . Page Two ~~~ Disagreements with Management For purposes of this letter, professional standards define a disagreement with management as a matter, whether or not resolved to our satisfaction, concerning a financial accounting, reporting or auditing matter that could be significant to the general purpose financial statements or the auditor's report. We are pleased to report that no such disagreements arose during the course of OUf audit. Issues Discussed Prior to Retention of Independent Auditors We generally discuss a variety of matters, including the application of accounting principles and auditing standards, with management each year prior to retention as the City's auditors. However, these discussions occurred in the normal course of our professional relationship and our responses were not a condition to our retention. Difficulties Encountered in Performing the Audit We encountered no significant difficulties in dealing with management in performing our audit. Reportable Conditions In planning and performing our audit of the general purpose financial statements of the City of Arden Hills for the year ended December 31, 1997, we considered its internal control in order to determine our auditing procedures for the purpose of expressing our opinion on the financial statements and not to provide assurance on internal control. However, we noted certain matters involving internal control and its operation that we consider to be reportable conditions under standards . established by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, Reportable conditions involve maners coming to our attention relating to significant deficiencies in the design or operation of internal control that, in our judgment, could adversely affect the City's ability to record, process, summarize and report financial data consistent with the assertions of management in the fmancial statements. A material weakness is a reportable condition in which the design or operation of one or more of the internal control components does not reduce to a relatively low level the risk that errors or irregularities in amounts that would be material in relation to the fmancial statements being audited may occur and not be detected within a timely period by employees in the normal course of performing their assigned functions. Our consideration of internal control would not necessarily disclose all matters in internal control that might be reportable conditions and, accordingly, would not necessarily disclose all reportable conditions that are also considered to be a material weakness, as defined above. However, we noted the following reportable condition that we believe to be a material weakness. Segregation of Duties Our study and evaluation disclosed that because of the limited size of your office staff, your organization has limited segregation of duties. Good internal control contemplates an adequate segregation of duties so that no one individual handles a transaction from inception to completion. \Vhile we recognize that your organization is not large enough to permit an adequate segregation of duties in all respects, it is important, however, that YOll be aware of this condition. Other Matters The following are areas that came to our attention during the audit that we feel should be reviewed: . -----