Citi Support: Techniques for Establishing a Successful Audit Process

Transcription

1 GSA SmartPay Conference Citi Support: Techniques for Establishing a Successful Audit Process David Ruda Product Manager / Director, Citi

2 11 th Annual GSA SmartPay Conference Phoenix, Arizona July 28 th - July 30 th, 2009

3 Techniques for Establishing a Successful Audit Process House Rules To ensure the best possible learning experience for participants, please adhere to the following house rules: Turn cell phones and pagers to vibrate Hold questions to end of session Must be scanned to receive CLP credits For each course Unanswered Questions Q-Cards & Ballot Boxes Answer to be ed after the conference - within 45 days

4 Techniques for Establishing a Successful Audit Process Goals & Objectives This session is designed to enhance your knowledge of techniques that will assist you to more effectively and proactively manage your card program and prepare for an audit.

5 Agenda Compliance Tools 6. Establishing an Audit Program Tips for Establishing Policies and Procedures Fraud, Waste and Misuse Indicators Summary

6 Basic Card Program Building Blocks 6 Steps to Remember Controls & Audit Reporting Back data integration, vendor spending review Have visibility into spending & audit triggers Reconciliation Have proper procedures in place Payment & Settlement Use automation & default accounting codes when possible Order Placement Match cardholder controls to your ordering guidelines Sourcing Transparency & knowing your contract terms & conditions

7 1. Establishing an Audit Program

8 1. Establishing an Audit Program Getting Started Why do you need an audit program? GAO s Mandate Strengthen internal controls Ability to detect fraud, waste and abuse Create your team Get your stakeholders involved Use technology when possible Mandate training Start before the card is used Implement peer reviews

9 1. Establishing an Audit Program Pre-planning is critical Project Plan Basics Setting objectives Establishing the scope What do you want to test? Not a fishing trip Creating a project charter Identifying business processes Sources of supply? Reconciliation? Identifying risks Identifying controls

10 1. Establishing an Audit Program Create Self Audit Control Questionnaire Identifies Where You Need Help Do cardholders, AO, A/OPCs understand the purpose, policies and procedures governing the use of cards? Have all cardholders received training on the use of their card prior to using? Do cardholders and approvers receive reminders when there are statements to review? Do cardholders and approvers know what the accounting cycle cut-off dates are, and the day of the month when transactions post? Do cardholders know who to contact if their card is lost, stolen or compromised?

11 1. Establishing an Audit Program Create Self Audit Control Questionnaire Identifies Where You Need Help (continued) Do cardholders know that splitting a purchase into more than on charge to stay under their approved transaction limit is prohibited? Are all original receipts or other supporting documentation retained per agency policy?

12 1. Establishing an Audit Program Start with the problem areas Purchase Cardholder reconciliation Approving Official review Split/Fragmented Payment Exceeded Cardholder Authority Training Program Travel Delinquencies Expense Report Submission Cash advances Declined authorizations Appropriate Travel Management Centers (TMC) Use of GSA City Pair Airfare Training Program

13 1. Establishing an Audit Program Main Components of an Audit Program THE TOP THREE! Ongoing Card Program Reviews Document Retention Audits Internal Periodic Audits

14 1. Establishing an Audit Program Ongoing Card Program Reviews Frequent card program reviews (e.g. weekly or monthly) should be conducted by the Program Administrator to identify any misuse Items to watch for: Split transactions (i.e. two or more transactions which show the following similarities: same date, same supplier, same cardholder, and same amounts) Unusual increase in the cardholder s average spend and/or highest spend amount Purchase amounts over transaction limits Purchase amounts within one percent to three percent below purchase limits Purchases with unauthorized suppliers

15 1. Establishing an Audit Program Document Retention Audits AOPCs should also conduct periodic audits to ensure compliance with the your documentation and retention policies. A documentation and retention audit specifically includes: Confirmation that all cardholders have completed the mandatory cardholder training Verification that all cardholders have a signed, upto-date Cardholder Agreement on file Analysis of all records to ensure that all card program or user profile changes are properly documented Review of card statements to ensure that cardholders are retaining purchase receipts with the statements

16 1. Establishing an Audit Program Internal Periodic Audits Internal audits should be performed periodically and include a review of card statements. Card statements should be audited for: Compliance with review, approval, and documentation/retention policies Frequency of exception requests (e.g. transaction limits and MCC blocks) Purchases with non-compliant suppliers and spend types

17 1. Establishing an Audit Program Internal Periodic Audits Finding the High Risk Population! Perform a random sample Start with 5 10 percent of active cardholders Include 50% of at risk cardholders At-risk cardholders typically meet one or more of the following criteria: Review high-dollar transactions Review high frequency of transactions within the billing cycle Look a prior history of non-compliance (e.g. spend with unauthorized suppliers or blocked MCCs)

18 2. Tips for Establishing Policies & Procedures

19 2. Tips for Establishing Policies & Procedures Policies Should Encourage Risk Management over Risk Avoidance Set specific policies to ensure proper controls are in place Create cross-functional team when establishing policies Involve auditors, IG representatives Publish procedures and widely distribute Develop agency-wide newsletters Use your intranet Incorporate policies into new cardholder training Use policies as the outline for training agenda

20 2. Tips for Establishing Policies & Procedures Communication is Key! Develop reminder messages for all cardholders and managers Use statement messages or broadcast s Review policies and procedures annually Modify according to audit findings and feedback received during training sessions

21 2. Tips for Establishing Policies & Procedures Suggested Elements for Your Formal Guidelines Identify and clearly outline the following in your formal guidelines: Who should / should not have cards How to obtain, change and close an account Training requirements References to FARs Don t buy list Supply sources Reconciliation procedures Audit procedures and frequency Review actual fraud / misuse cases Applying authorization controls Use MCC blocks to assist with enforcement of don t buy list Limit spending withing MCCs Review transactions and modify as necessary

22 3. Compliance

23 3. Compliance Record keeping and document retention Measure compliance with records Determine appropriate storage centralized / decentralized Investigate electronic storage Review proper record keeping techniques during training using actual examples Maintain attendance sheets from each training session Ensure all cardholders sign an agreement

24 3. Compliance Program Audit Tool NEW! For SmartPay 2 Program Audit Tool: An audit, assessment and compliance assistance tool Electronic record of enforcement of policies Identifies Transaction of Interest that meet predefined business rules Allows AOs, APCs and auditors ability to identify misuse, abuse and perform monthly audit requirements Rules-based filters Dashboard summary view Report cards Integrated with Citibank Custom Reporting System (CCRS)

25 4. Fraud Waste and Misuse Indicators

26 4. Fraud Waste and Misuse Indicators Account Management Exceptions Account credit limit in excess of <X> Single transaction limit in excess of <X> Account cash limits over <X> Account cash limits over <X>% of total account credit limit New account not activated within 30 days of open date New account not used within <X> months of account open date # of cardholder accounts per hierarchy unit <X> # cardholder account per billing account <X> # of inactive accounts per billing account, inactive = no activity for Y months NSF payment NSF payment with history of other NSF Posted payment amount that is <X>% of cardholder credit limit (111% recommendation)

27 4. Fraud Waste and Misuse Indicators Transaction Exception Rules Posted Transactions (s) causing over cardholder credit limit status Merchant city = cardholder account city <X>% of transaction from same merchant over <Y> billing cycles More than <X> # of merchant credits per billing cycle Merchant name = last name of cardholder Transaction amount in excess of account Single Credit Limit Single transaction amount within <X>% of credit limit Transaction amount over $<X> Posted transaction on closed account Suspect Merchant Names <X> Split Ticket -- multiple trans from same merchant, same tran date

28 5. Tools

29 5. Tools Program Audit Tool PAT! New menu option: Integrated into existing CCRS tool Automated mechanism to locate transaction and accounts of interest - We can spot the bad guys

30 5. Tools Program Audit Tool The Stop Light! Summary Report (example) Quick Recap - Red = Found violations - Green = No violations Drill down capability when violations are found

31 5. Tools Program Management is Easy with the Right Tools Here are some ideas: Employ electronic audit methods Test all transactions each month Use Citibank electronic tools to identify transactions requiring more research Transactions by MCC Review declined transactions

32 5. Tools Program Management is Easy with the Right Tools Here are some ideas: Similar transactions each month GSA s Blueprint for Success GAO Web site: Auditing and Investigating the Internal Controls of Government Purchase Card Programs (Publication no: GAO G) OMB: Improving the management of the government chargecard program

33 Techniques for Establishing a Successful Audit Process Summary This session was designed to enhance your knowledge of techniques that will assist you to more effectively and proactively manage your card program and prepare for an audit.

34 Navigating the GSA SmartPay Conference Reminders Thank you for attending! Visit the Citibank Welcome Center North Building, Outside Room 124A National Industries for the Blind will have a display of products Conference Slide Show come see yourself shine! Visit the Citibank One-on-One Mini Sessions! North Room 131 The GSA Survey Tell us your thoughts

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