Reno Audit Report Wins National Recognition

Press release from the City of Reno:

April 27, 2021

A 2020 Distinguished Knighton Award for best performance audit in the Extra-Small shop category has been awarded to the City of Reno, Office of the City Auditor by the Association of Local Government Auditors (ALGA). The award will be presented virtually during ALGA’s annual conference on May 4, 2021.

The report, Deposit Assistance Program, was judged on several key elements, such as the potential for significant impact, the persuasiveness of the conclusions, the focus on improving government efficiency and effectiveness, and its clarity and conciseness.

The City of Reno Office of the City Auditor performed an audit of the Community Development Department’s deposit assistance program. The auditor initiated the audit in response to information on possible fraud in the program. The audit’s objectives were to perform an overall assessment of the program’s internal controls, review disbursements within the scope period, and evaluate the risk of fraud.

According to ALGA, the report was well written and concise. Findings were easy to understand and supported by clear and relevant evidence. The report resulted in several feasible, specific recommendations that addressed the causes of the findings. The auditee accepted these recommendations and began to implement them before the publication of the report.

Each year, local government audit organizations from around the U.S. and Canada submit their best performance audit reports for judging. The purpose of the competition is to improve government services by encouraging and increasing levels of excellence among local government auditors. Judges from peer organizations determined that this audit was among the best of 2020.

This press release was produced by the City of Reno. The views expressed are the author's own.