ABOUT THE AUDITOR'S OFFICE

The position of County Auditor is filled by appointment by the State District Judges for a term of two years. The County Auditor is the Fiscal Officer of Harris County, the Toll Road Authority, and the Harris County Flood Control District. Harris County includes the Juvenile Probation and Community Development Departments as well as the Toll Road Authority. The Auditor is the Fiscal Officer for the Harris County Community Supervision and Corrections Department, and also serves, by agreement, as the internal auditor of the Hospital District. State law, sets the County Auditor's appointment, duties, and authority primarily in the Local Government Code, Chapter 84.

	Title	Description
	EXECUTIVE DIVISION	This division includes the County Auditor, the Executive Administration Department, the Human Resources Department, and the Budgets & Special Projects Department. Click here to see an Organizational Chart of the Executive Division Executive Administration The Executive Administration Department is an operational support group within the Harris County Auditor's Office. The Department reports to the County Auditor's Executive Assistant. The services provided are: Technical Support- Fields all computer-related issues and requests by the end users from the Auditor's Office. Identifies and resolves issues, and obtains assistance from CTS for issues beyond the scope of the position. Tracks CTS work tickets to completion and maintains monthly reports for management. Maintains equipment inventory log, monitors warranty status, and controls the purchase cycle for all computer-related Office equipment. *Payroll and Purchase Order Entry* - Conducts payroll timesheet entry for the Office employees. Creates purchase orders from approved quotes, and submits documentation for vendor payments for the Executive Division. *Facilities and Office Coordinator* - Assists the Auditor's Office regarding fixed assets, security door code changes, badges, office keys, repairs/services, and car assignments, and arranges for telephone and voicemail services and maintenance. Serves as the Fire Warden coordinator for the Office. *Senior Administrative Assistant* - Assists the Executive Assistant with various duties and special projects related to the Executive Division. Responsible for publishing the bi-annual newsletter. Maintains and runs various reports. *Receptionist* - Responsible for distributing incoming office mail and deliveries, routing of incoming telephone calls, as well as receiving and assisting visitors to the Harris County Auditor's Office. Receives and processes incoming wire transfers, as well as incoming checks. *Executive Assistant* - Assists the County Auditor in daily functions of her desk, monitors the Office budget, coordinates with the Departments and vendor in the creation of the cover for the Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR) and publication of the Popular Annual Financial Report (PAFR). Human Resources The Human Resources Department provides "Best Practices," focusing on leadership and people development, talent management, and performance management by partnering with the business units to complete performance goals which support the overall strategic direction of the Auditor's Office. The Human Resources Department is also responsible for Recruitment, Employee Relations, Compensation and Benefits Administration, and coordinating Employee Engagement and Recognition Events to recognize employees for outstanding accomplishments and years of dedicated service to the Auditor's Office of Harris County. Budgets & Special Projects The Budgets & Special Projects function assists the County Auditor to develop, apply, evaluate and administer policies and procedures that increase fiscal management effectiveness. Specific responsibilities include, but are not limited to: Developing, preparing, and monitoring the County Auditor's annual budget; Coordinating participation in the State Comptroller's "Transparency Stars" leadership award program; and Managing the County's escheatment process funds, as well as the County's requesting of unclaimed property from the State Comptroller.
	ACCOUNTING DIVISION	This Division includes the First Assistant/Chief Assistant County Auditor - Accounting Division, Financial Accounting, Accounts Payable, Revenue Accounting and Financial Controls, Payroll, Grants & Accounts Receivable Accounting, and the Systems & Procedures Departments. Click here to see an Organizational Chart of the Accounting Division Financial Accounting The Financial Accounting Department is responsible for recording financial transactions of the County and providing timely and accurate interim and annual financial reporting. Provides for communication to other County departments and outside parties relating to the financial information, capital projects, and debt financing undertaken by the County and related entities. Also, Financial Accounting is responsible for maintenance of the County's fixed asset records. Additionally, requests are forwarded to this department for account code changes, financial report design, and organizational changes in IFAS. The responsibilities of the Department include preparing the County's monthly and annual financial reports, accounting for the financial activities of the County's Toll Road, assisting in the preparation of offering documents for the County's bond sales. Accounts Payable The Accounts Payable Department is responsible for auditing all claims submitted for payment. These claims are for payment of goods and services purchased by Harris County, the Harris County Flood Control District, Harris County Juvenile Board, and the Community Supervision and Corrections Departments, including construction contracts, court appointed attorneys, special judges, interpreters, substitute court reporters, guardianships, all county utilities, travel of county personnel, purchase orders, term contracts, requests for payment, and many others. The claims are scanned for permanent retention, data entered, audited, and electronically routed to the appropriate department for approval for payment. After the claims are approved they are posted to the general ledger to record the associated liability or expense on the County's financial records. The claims are then selected for payment and checks and related reports are produced. The checks and reports are reviewed for accuracy before transferring the checks to the Harris County Treasurer for disbursing. The Accounts Payable Department resolves questions and problems of vendors, Harris County user departments, and others as well as the many research projects required to answer requests under the Public Information Act. Revenue Accounting and Financial Controls The Revenue Accounting Department maintains financial information for forecasting of receipts and disbursements to assist in the effective management of County funds. Accounts for fee officers' revenues, disbursements, and reporting requirements. Reconciles bank accounts, investments, and pooled cash on a timely basis. Prepares the annual statement of estimated available resources used by the Budget Office for the annual budget, and is involved in various elements of the tax rate adoption process. Prepares and distributes revenue reports and reference materials for use by Department Heads, Fee Officers, and Commissioners Court. Fulfills requests for analysis/projections on special revenue funds, new fees proposed, etc. Payroll Payroll information is originated in each County department. The Payroll Department verifies and processes the Payroll Authorization each pay period by using the information such as salaries, hourly rates, change of employee's status, deductions, etc., already stored in the County's financial records maintained by the CTS. Computer generated payroll reports, deduction and contribution registers, as well as exception reports are reviewed by Payroll before funds are disbursed by the County Treasurer. Payroll is also responsible for preparing the federal payroll tax deposits and related payroll reports. This Department works very closely with all the departmental payroll clerks and the County's Office of Human Resources & Risk Management in resolving payroll-related matters. Grants & Accounts Receivable Accounting The Grants & Accounts Receivable Department is responsible for the accounting and financial reporting of grants as well as billing, monitoring, and the pursuit of past due collections for grants and certain receivables of the County including inter-local agreements with other governmental entities. The department is also responsible for reporting all County receivables at fiscal year end including receivables related to fines, fees, and court costs. The Department provides for communication to other County departments and outside parties relating to the grant programs and amounts owed the County. The Department prepares and files reports on the status of the County's grant programs and ensures compliance with reporting and other requirements set forth in the grant award contracts and agreements. The Department ensures compliance with applicable accounting, contractual, and statutory requirements pertaining to the recording, monitoring, and collecting of amounts owed the County. The Department currently performs various degrees of billing and monitoring functions for a number of County departments. The Department is working towards the goal of a County-wide centralization of billing and collection activities. Systems & Procedures Systems & Procedures develops and maintains accounting policies and procedures through a formal written documentation process. This process involves the incorporation of standards, principles, and requirements established by state and federal statutes, and the accounting profession, into various policies and procedures which address control over County assets, streamlining and standardizing the method of handling transactions, fixing responsibility for performance, expediting training, and providing a source of reference. The accounting policies and procedures prescribed by the Auditor include those used by all County departments and the Harris County Flood Control District (the "Accounting Procedures Manual"), as well as those used specifically within the Harris County Auditor's Office (the "Auditor's Operations Manual," "Payroll Desk Manual," etc.). Systems & Procedures monitors legislation, coordinates financial analyses, prepares summary reports, and ensures that policy and procedures are revised to reflect any changes in statute. Other responsibilities include maintaining the Auditor's Office internet and intranet websites, researching statutes for other departments of the Auditor's Office, reviewing audit reports, designing and controlling Auditor prescribed forms, coordinating the Auditor's response to Public Records Requests, maintaining the Harris County Auditor's Office Help Line (non-IFAS related), providing departmental training, and handling special projects.
	AUDIT DIVISION	The Audit Division includes the Chief Assistant County Auditor - Audit Division, Audit Services, Compliance Audit, and the Continuous Auditing Departments. The responsibilities of the Audit Division are to assist the County, Flood Control District, other entities, and quasi-governmental organizations (e.g., Harris County Hospital District, Community Supervision and Corrections, Juvenile Probation Board, Harris County Sports and Convention Corporation) with the effective discharge of their fiscal responsibilities, including management's efforts to provide the public and concerned entities with financial accountability; minimize exposure to contingent liabilities; safeguard assets; and comply with applicable policies, laws, regulations, and covenants. The Division has adopted the professional standards of the Institute of Internal Auditors. Click here to see an Organizational Chart of the Audit Division Audit Services Performs engagements relative to elected and appointed County officials, external entities, quasi-governmental organizations, financial processes, and general ledger account balances. Engagements are selected for inclusion in the annual audit plan based upon the perceived level of inherent and control risk posed by the department or entity to the County. The Audit Services Department has adopted the professional standards of the Institute of Internal Auditors. Compliance Audit Performs monthly and quarterly reoccurring prescribed audit procedures as set forth in statutes. The Department also assists County departments in completing their required reporting. Audits are performed monthly to determine if receipts are properly accounted for and funds collected are properly deposited. Audits performed on a quarterly basis analyze rendomly selected transactions in detail. Compliance Audit is divided into two sections: *Tax Audit* - This section is responsible for auditing the reports and collections of the Tax Assessor-Collector. In addition to property tax collections, the group audits motor vehicle sales tax, hotel/motel occupancy tax, and alcoholic beverage license fees. Report Audit - Performs audits on collections of various elected and appointed officials. The section also performs audits of the County's fixed assets, payroll payoffs, and surprise cash counts. Continuous Auditing Continuous Auditing's primary focus is on providing assurances that internal controls are working properly within the County's financial system. This group principally uses automated audit techniques to identify weaknesses through the monitoring of individual controls and transactions against a set of control rules on a more frequent or continual basis. In addition, Continuous Auditing supplements the audit activities performed by Audit Services through assistance with planning and performance of specific audit engagements.

Auditor's Office

Harris County, Texas

ABOUT THE AUDITOR'S OFFICE