INTERNAL CONTROL AND FRAUD PREVENTION

"Given the emphasis which the President, Congress and federal agencies have placed on transparency and accountability, the maintenance of sound internal control processes and procedures for Recovery Act programs will complement the independent oversight activities currently underway by the U. S. Government Accountability Office, Federal Inspectors General, and others." 

- Memorandum to Economic Recovery and Reinvestment Cabinet Members
from Timothy Gilchrist, Senior Advisor for Infrastructure and Transportation

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Recovery Act) has made it clear that every taxpayer dollar spent on our economic recovery must be subject to unprecedented levels of transparency and accountability. The Governor’s Economic Recovery and Reinvestment Cabinet has therefore convened a Working group on Internal Controls and Fraud Prevention. The primary purpose of this working group is to provide guidance to assist State agencies/departments in meeting the requirements and the intent of the Recovery Act.

New York State has long had a robust Internal Controls Program.  However, since the focus on internal controls may be new to some managers who are responsible for Recovery Act-funded programs, we expect the working group will develop a comprehensive work plan that includes:   information regarding best practices; an internal control risk assessment tool for use at the program level; strategies for  fraud prevention; Single Audit guidelines; establishment of mentoring relationships between agencies; creation of an external accountability web page and internal web board; and assistance for internal auditors.

Read Senior Advisor Gilchrist’s memorandum to Economic Recovery and Reinvestment Cabinet Members. And, to learn more about what specific actions the working group is taking, visit Recovery Act Accountability and Transparency.