OSA Weekly Update - 9/27/2024

1. Message from Auditor Blaha

2. Meeting: Fire Relief Association Working Group

3. Avoiding Pitfall: Acceptance of Gifts to an Entity

4. Job Openings

1. Message from Auditor Blaha

Do you think your audit is the right match for your entity? The OSA Audit and Reporting Group (AaRG) is currently discussing the type of engagements (audits, agreed upon procedures (AUP), etc.) required of local government in Minnesota. We are considering how entities use their audits, looking at requirements in other states, and analyzing the impact of making changes. We formed this group to create a report for legislators and the wider public on a variety of audit and reporting topics. We would love your ideas about audits: send us your feedback to Outreach@osa.state.mn.us.

2. Meeting: Fire Relief Association Working Group

The State Auditor’s Fire Relief Association Working Group met on September 25 to discuss removing the statutory minimum retirement age for defined contribution plans, so that members could be paid retirement benefits as soon as practicable following separation from service. Working Group members also reviewed information regarding restrictions on member contributions or dues deposited into a relief association’s special fund.

Both topics will be revisited during the next, and final, meeting of this year’s Working Group scheduled for Tuesday, October 1, from 2:00-3:30pm. The meeting will be held in a hybrid format and will be live streamed for those who are interested in watching. The live-stream link, and the meeting agendas and materials, will be available on the Working Group page of the OSA website.

3. Avoiding Pitfall: Acceptance of Gifts to an Entity

Minn. Stat. § 465.03 allows the governing body of any city, county, school district or town to accept gifts for the benefit of its citizens in accordance with terms prescribed by the donor. However, the statute requires that each gift be accepted by a resolution approved by a two-thirds majority of the governing body. Any conditions placed on the use of the gift should be fully described in the resolution.

The Avoiding Pitfall is available on the OSA website.

4. Job Openings

Local Government Auditor (St. Paul)

The OSA is hiring up to three Local Government Auditor positions based in St. Paul. The candidate(s) hired and new to this job classification may be eligible to receive a $5,000 hiring bonus! This bonus will be paid in two increments, with the first payment made after successfully passing the probationary period.

As a team member of the Audit Practice Division, this entry-level auditor position assists in external financial and compliance audits of Minnesota local governments by performing procedures necessary to determine the reliability of clients’ financial statements and compliance with legal and federal requirements.

Start dates between October 1, 2024 - June 2, 2025 are available.

The job posting will close on September 30, 2024.

Local Government Auditor (Mankato)

The OSA is hiring a Local Government Auditor positions based in Mankato. The candidate hired and new to this job classification may be eligible to receive a $5,000 hiring bonus! This bonus will be paid in two increments, with the first payment made after successfully passing the probationary period.

As a team member of the Audit Practice Division, this entry-level auditor position assists in external financial and compliance audits of Minnesota local governments by performing procedures necessary to determine the reliability of clients’ financial statements and compliance with legal and federal requirements.

Start dates between October 1, 2024 - June 2, 2025 are available.

The job posting will close on September 30, 2024.