External auditors give Detroit a clean FY24 opinion but flag year‑end adjustments and five federal‑award findings

Plant Moran, the City of Detroit—s external auditor, told the Budget, Finance and Audit Standing Committee that it issued an unmodified — or "clean" — opinion on the city—s fiscal year 2024 financial statements, while also reporting internal control deficiencies and several findings in the single audit of federal awards.

The opinion and accompanying letters were presented to the committee by Plant Moran partners Ali Hejazi and Stacy Reeves and by Manju Pudnaik, who summarized single‑audit testing. "We have issued an unmodified or clean opinion," Hejazi said, describing that result as the highest level of assurance auditors can provide on a set of financial statements.

The nut graf: the clean opinion means the city—s consolidated financial statements are presented in accordance with accounting requirements, but the audit identified areas where processes and controls should be strengthened. Auditors reported one internal control deficiency related to journal entries and year‑end adjustments that were significant enough collectively to be categorized as a material weakness. In the…