Audit firm tells Goochland County it will not qualify as "low‑risk" for 2026 audit; staff say fixes are underway

An auditor for Goochland County told the Audit and Finance Committee the county will not qualify as a "low‑risk" audit this year, a classification that requires expanded testing of federal programs and other extended procedures.

The audit firm representative, speaking at the committee meeting, said the engagement will follow government auditing standards and that the firm will review county financial statements including component units such as the school system. The representative introduced the audit team — including staff member Betsy Hedrickk, Andrea Nichols, Michael and partner Nina Makavoy — and emphasized that partners will remain accessible throughout fieldwork.

The presenter said the "not low‑risk" determination means the team will audit more programs and perform extended testing. The auditor listed areas routinely identified as higher risk — treasury functions, investments, payroll, disbursements, financial reporting and compliance — and said the team will include work directed by the Virginia Auditor of Public Accounts, such as sheriff's office procedures and a landfill certification required by DEQ.

County officials told the committee they have already begun addressing prior findings. A board member noted the county has new finance staff; county leadership said they hired an interim director of finance and subsequently Denise (full name not stated in the transcript) to lead preparations, set weekly project meetings, and complete a 30‑item readiness checklist intended to prevent the "compression" of year‑end work that contributed to last year's material adjustments.

Denise said departments have limited spending to essentials and that monthly reconciliations are up to date through December, steps she said should reduce year‑end pressure and improve audit readiness. County staff asked auditors to surface any significant findings early in fieldwork so the county can respond promptly rather than waiting until the audit's conclusion.

The committee was briefed on deliverables (audit reports and single‑audit examinations for significant federal programs) and told the auditors will perform fraud inquiries and one‑on‑one staff interviews during fieldwork; the presenter said the team is not hired to find fraud but will report credible concerns immediately.

The committee closed the audit discussion and moved on to the afternoon agenda.