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Committee adopts comptroller performance audit after discussion of self-audit and peer review
Summary
A joint select committee adopted the Comptroller of the Treasury’s performance audit covering select offices and processes; auditors reported no findings, and members questioned the practice of having the division of state audit audit the comptroller’s own office, noting an external peer review rated the division "pass."
A joint select committee of the Tennessee General Assembly voted to adopt the performance audit of the Comptroller of the Treasury’s office, which auditors said found no reportable findings. The audit covered the year ending June 30, 2024, and the committee heard questions from members about the independence of the audit process.
"For the comptroller's audit, we completed a performance audit report. The work covered the year end, June 30, 2024. Our audit work covered the office of small business advocate, higher education resource officer, and office wide conflicts of interest process. Our audit resulted in no findings to report," Aaron Kistler, legislative audit manager with the Division of State Audit, told the committee. He also said the National State Auditors Association completed an external peer review in August 2024 that "resulted in no deficiencies and a rating of pass."
Committee members asked for clarification about who audits the comptroller. Representative Parkerson asked, "who so this is the comptroller's audit and who audits the comptroller again?" Kathy Stickel, director of state audit, replied that it is "very common in state governments for the division of state audit to be considered, to be used in this way" and that the report itself describes "our lack of independence there because we are auditing ourselves as required by standards." Stickel added the arrangement is common and that the office participates in the larger statewide audit of the annual comprehensive financial report.
After the discussion, the committee chair called for a motion, which "was properly moved and seconded." The clerk recorded roll-call votes. Representatives recorded votes in the House were Hicks (Aye), Martin (Aye), Parkinson (Aye) and Williams (Aye). Senators recorded votes in the Senate were Lamar (Aye), Stevens (Aye) and Watson (Aye). The chair announced the select committee "adopts the report" and will transmit it to the appropriate chambers.
The committee did not direct additional immediate actions beyond transmitting the adopted performance audit to the legislative chambers. The record includes the auditors' acknowledgement of the unique nature of auditing an office that also oversees audit functions and the presence of an external peer review that found no deficiencies.
