An often-volatile economy, changing demographics, and technological innovations in educational delivery are among the dramatic changes across higher education that have forced boards and institutions to question the viability of the existing business model. Flat or declining state support in real terms, lower investment returns in some years,…

As schools are in the business of educating students, academic performance should be the primary outcome by which a charter school is evaluated. But a charter school cannot provide students with a good education if it cannot meet payroll, afford to keep the lights on in the building, or worse yet, improperly uses public funds that should be spent…

This report contains the results of an audit of selected financial management practices at the State University of New York (SUNY) at Brockport for the period April 1, 1992 through November, 30, 1994. The objectives of the audit were to determine whether SUNY Brockport instituted an adequate system of internal controls over the funds received and…

Outlines procedures that will provide a school with the ability to accurately record and account for the sales and cash receipts for a ticketed event. Two sample box office reconciliation sheets and one box office issue sheet illustrate the procedures. (MLF)

Discusses the use of undergraduate accounting students to assist the one-person internal audit department at Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio, in conducting a low-cost audit of the school. The audit, conducted as part of the accounting department's Auditing II course, helped students develop interviewing and documentation skills and…

The results of a Colorado State audit of the consolidated financial statements are reported, along with the statements of appropriations, expenditures, transfers and reversions for state-funded Student Financial Assistance Programs for the four State Colleges in Colorado for the year ended June 30, 1995. Specific recommendations are given for each…

The Single Audit Act of 1984 requires most school districts receiving over $25,000 in federal funds to undergo financial audits. This article highlights requirements for selecting certified public accountants to perform the audit and suggests factors to be considered before drafting a contract or letter of engagement. A sample letter is included.…

The State University of New York (SUNY) consists of 29 State-operated campuses. Campuses of the SUNY system each operate and manage their own telephone systems. Campuses may own or lease their own telephone system called a private branch exchange (PBX). A PBX makes a campus a miniature telephone company with the ability to add and delete telephone…

This manual provides instructions and sample documents for all tax-exempt organizations required to file Form 990 "Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax" or Form 990-1 "Exempt Organization Business Income Tax Return." The short introductory section covers who must file and summarizes the changes in the 1996 forms. The section "Who Must…

Reviews current school district risk management practices and the related accounting requirements. Summarizes the Governmental Accounting Standards Board's proposed accounting standards and the impact of these on school districts' risk management practices and on their financial statements. (11 references) (MLF)

Use of a bank rating service can help school financial officers make sure that school assets are protected and available at all times. Explains how a bank rating system works. (MLF)

This chapter of "Principles of School Business Management" reviews the functions, procedures, and reports with which school business officials must be familiar in order to interpret and make decisions regarding the school district's financial position. Among the accounting functions discussed are financial management, internal auditing,…

Discusses a Government Accounting Standards Board (GASB) publication designed to provide financial statement users with information to assess a government's actual and future deposit and investment market and credit risk. (MLF)

Current knowledge of Governmental Accounting Standards Board standards will assist the school business official in maintaining the books of account, preparing budgets and financial reports, and explaining the annual financial report to the school board and the public. (MLF)

Sequential and retrievable records combined with listed internal control techniques are the basics of accounting. (MLF)