Audit Resources ALGA Awards Awards Committee Report - Summer 2011
| Awards Committee Report - Summer 2011 | | Print | |
| Written by Pamela Weipert |
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2010/2011 ALGA Awards Presented The 2011 Website Awards and 2010 Knighton Awards were presented to the winning audit shops at the annual conference in Charlotte on May 16th. Links to the award winning websites and reports can be found in the Auditing Awards Section of ALGA's website. Please join me and the Awards Program Committee in congratulating this year's award winners! The Awards Program Committee would also like to recognize and heartily thank the two groups who are responsible for making ALGA's Awards Program a success - the competitors and the judges.
ALGA's Awards Program is dynamic. The Committee is continuously seeking feedback, and input to identify better ways to recognize ALGA's member accomplishments. If you have comments, suggestions, or would like to volunteer as a judge or Committee member, please contact Pam Weipert at weipertp@oakgov.com or 248-858-0997. The 2010/2011 ALGA Award recipients are listed below with the judges' comments about the website and report. 2011 Website Awards Gold - Office of the Philadelphia City Controller http://www.philadelphiacontroller.org/ The Office of the Philadelphia City Controller's website earned the 2011 ALGA Website Gold Award. The website for the City of Philadelphia Office of the Controller was clear, informative, engaging, and easy to navigate. The site is well-organized and features timely information. The prominent use of news links and press releases draw readers into reports and the site effectively uses various types of media to convey information. In addition, the site highlights an innovative rewards program for City of Philadelphia and School District employees who make innovative suggestions to improve the performance of local government. Overall, it is an excellent website. Silver - Guam Office of Public Accountability The Guam Office of Public Accountability (OPA) has earned the 2011 ALGA Website Silver Award. Judges found that the home page provides current and easily accessible information such as new OPA releases, links to highlights and detailed reports. Drop down menus are used to expose the wealth of information available and help to make navigating the site effortless. The website demonstrates an excellent use of graphics that change from page to page. The ethics section, hotline forms, frequently asked questions, and contact us functions were among other areas that caused the website to stand out. All in all, it is an exceptional website. As one judge commented, "It's slick." Bronze - City of Portland Auditor's Office, Audit Services Division http://www.portlandonline.com/auditor/ The City of Portland Auditor's Office, Audit Services Division's website earned the 2011 ALGA Website Bronze Award. The City Auditor website provides connections to other city services, calendars, departments and research resources such as the code of ethics, city code and charter, city policies, city ombudsman, audit reports and the fraud hotline. Navigation is intuitive, consistent and user friendly. The design is clean, attractive and inviting. The site uses good formatting and consistent design throughout. The use of five languages is unique, as is the attractive slide show. The rich content, modern design and easy access to information serves as a portal to city services and the Office of the City Auditor. 2010 Knighton Awards - Small Shops Gold - City of Palo Alto Office of the City Auditor Audit of Fleet Utilization and Replacement The report identified significant, well-supported findings that focused on improving the efficiency and effectiveness of the organization. The level of detail led to persuasive arguments that management accepted. By sharing preliminary findings, management was able to promptly address the findings. The audit had significant impact as indicated by the demonstrated immediate and ongoing cost savings opportunities. The audit also demonstrated good use of benchmarking. Recommendations were specific, clear, and logically flowed from the findings with a focus on efficient and effective government. Silver - Capital Metro Internal Audit, Austin, TX MetroAccess Performance Audit The report impacted both financial and operational improvements for an area that serves individuals most in need, including validation of the effectiveness of management's performance measures. Of particular note was the report's use of a question and answer format. The report was very well organized, with detailed analysis of each issue, strong recommendations, in depth analysis of para-transit, and a clear presentation of the audit recommendation's financial impact. The focus of the recommendations on improving government and the persuasiveness of conclusions was evident. 2010 Knighton Awards - Medium Shops Gold - City of Portland Auditor's Office, Audit Services Division Emergency Management: Coordination limited and essential functions incomplete The Knighton Award judges selected the Portland, Oregon Office of the City Auditor's report on Emergency Management for the Gold Award. Not only is public safety a critical function of government, but because disasters can dramatically affect a community, this report has the potential for significant impact. It became even more relevant after a subsequent bomb scare in downtown Portland. The scope of the audit was well aligned with the risks identified. The conclusions were persuasive and supported by a good mix of best practices and specific examples to highlight the management issues identified. The recommendations were appropriate for the risks identified, were prioritized, and were effective at highlighting the series of decisions and activities needed to move the City towards a more useful emergency management system. The report itself was easy to read, aided by the clear report structure, clean format, and a direct but casual writing style. Innovative aspects of the report included a survey and research of national best practices. Silver - City of San Jose Office of the City Auditor Pension Sustainability: Rising Pension Costs Threaten the City's Ability to Maintain Service Levels - Alternatives for a Sustainable Future This report focused on a topic with which many government entities are currently struggling with. Given the importance of San Jose's Pension System and the amount of funds involved, the audit had the potential for a significant impact on San Jose's operations. The report included recommendations that were well-designed to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of San Jose's pension system and ultimately their operations in general. While lengthy, the report maintained clarity on a complex topic using innovative approaches, such as a glossary of technical terms at the beginning of the report to assist the reader. The report contained an impressive amount of detail demonstrating the thoroughness of their audit while supporting the auditor's conclusions. Tables and graphs were used effectively throughout the report helping the reader digest not only the current status of the pension system, but also critical trends. Bronze - City of Seattle Office of the City Auditor Anti-Graffiti Efforts: Best Practices and Recommendations This performance audit covered a unique topic. The report's potential for impact was elevated when it connected the level of graffiti with higher rates of crime. This was a very solid report with good information and thorough criteria. The report effectively used peers for best practices and had good use of surveys and focus groups. The auditors conducted a physical inventory of graffiti and graphically presented the information by location and what gets tagged. The combined use of data, maps, survey results, and best practices was a comprehensive way to address the audit topic. It was innovative how the report included the additional costs and potential benefits related to each recommendation addressing all the issues identified. The report was clear and easy to read. Honorable Mention - City of Edmonton's Office of the City Auditor Overtime Review The Office of the Auditor's Overtime Review report was well organized, clear and concise. The audit contained high quality analysis with a good balance of quantitative and qualitative information. The report made good use of case studies and did a great job of presenting support for its conclusions. Recommendations were appropriate and had the potential for significant impact. Honorable Mention - The Office of the Inspector General of the South Florida Water Management District Audit of the SAP Solution Center The SAP Solution Center report demonstrates that the results of a complex audit - in this case an information technology audit - can be communicated in a clear and concise manner. The report was well-written and easy to read from beginning to end. Given the large investment in system implementation and ongoing support, the proposed recommendations have the potential for significant recurring and one-time cost savings, including an estimated $4.7 million from moving support functions in-house. Management concurred with all recommendations, illustrating the persuasiveness of the audit. The report is a model of effective writing that includes the necessary report quality elements. 2010 Knighton Awards - Large Shops Gold - City of Los Angeles Office of the Controller Audit of the Photo Red Light Program The audit focused on whether the program was achieving the goal of improving public safety by reducing accidents at the most dangerous intersections. The audit found that the methodology used to select the intersections actually excluded some of the highest risk intersections in an effort to allow for at least one red light camera per Council District. Because the program was fairly new, the review was very timely. The recommendations were appropriate and flowed well from the findings. In addition, the report was well-written and well-presented. Overall, the audit made a complicated analysis very persuasive and easy to follow. Silver - City of San Diego Office of the City Auditor Street Maintenance: City Needs to Improve Planning, Coordination, and Oversight to Effectively Manage Transportation Assets The scope of this audit was timely, and the report made substantial recommendations on a vital area of concern for all levels of government and citizens. It is clear that the conclusions were based on extensive research and data collection. The writing is clean, concise and convincing. The use of illustrations clearly demonstrates the importantance of the issues and can't help but convince decision-makers to take action. Bronze - Maricopa County Internal Audit Department Vehicle Usage: Controls over County Vehicles and Related Areas Need Strengthening This innovative and high-impact audit report identified numerous weaknesses and inadequate controls over driver accountability and vehicle management. While this review of vehicle usage resulted in 45 separate departmental reports, the primary report was presented in a succinct and accessible style. The report effectively used charts and graphs and was visually enhanced by using Google Maps to identify mileage and calculate fuel usage findings. The recommendations will definitively have an impact on the efficiency and effectiveness of vehicle usage and management. |
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