Are Employees Stealing From You?

Published September 06, 2008
You have spent a year as trustee of St. Etheldreda's. You have attended all the meetings. Recently you were appointed to the finance committee. The nagging question keeps chewing at you. "How do we know that our employees aren't stealing from us?" Ask these tough questions of your auditor and business manager.
 
 
    1.   Does one person have control over all of your accounting functions?
    2.   Are two signatures required on checks over a pre-determined amount - say, $500.
    3.   Are checks ever pre-signed?
    4.   Are your bank accounts consolidated so that your book keeping accurately reflects the school's true financial position?
    5.   Is there petty cash lying around?
    6.   Are different people assigned to the deposit and account reconciliation functions?
    7.   Do you have a purchase order system?
    8.   Does your committe review expenses and supporting vouchers carefully and frequently?
    9.   Does an outside auditor review your books annually?
    10. Do you run background checks and speak to references before you hire?
 
Insist that your school be run like a business
Some schools find it difficult to implement standard business practices. Even when they do, they can find it even more difficult to stick to those practices. Be careful of the trusted old employee who's been there forever and resists your updated business procedures. Reassigning him or her to some other function and bringing in some new blood is probably a good idea. Off the shelf accounting software such as QuickBooks makes short work of financial reporting and day-to-day management.
 
Be watchful!
Part of your fiduciary responsibility as a trustee is to observe. Ask lots of questions. Insist on answers. People are less likely to steal if they know they are being watched.
 
Resources

 

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