Dear Sisters and Brothers:

We are writing to provide you with an update on the status of the overdue audits for 2011, 2012, and 2013, embarked upon last February, which must be still be completed.  In December, when we wrote to distribute to you the completed 2010 audit letters and reports, we informed you the work on the 2011 audit had already begun. At that time we also noted that by February the accounting functions were to be consolidated from four different general ledgers in two different outdated accounting packages into one ACS software package, the state-of the-art and integrated accounting system for churches, thereby allowing for greater accuracy, resulting in fewer misstatements, and making better use of staff time. We stated priority would be given to getting this system up and running so that all of 2015 accounting can be done on ACS.

Since the first of the year, the focus has been on closing out 2014, putting new and improved policies and procedures for 2015 accounting into practice, installing the new software, and getting it up and running.  Both Charlie Barebo, our diocesan treasurer, and Melissa Grube, the CPA who is overseeing the audit process, have informed us that it is realistic to expect that new work on the past audits will resume in March.

We understand and endorse the necessity and importance of transitioning to the new software and best practices so that our accounting staff does not continue to use outdated programs and time-consuming methods. This software, in fact, is being implemented, in part, for the long-term support of our audit process. Nevertheless we do regret the delay this implementation will cause in completing the remaining audits. We want to be sure that you are aware of the accounting advances that are being put in place at this time and to assure you of our commitment to return to the important work of auditing the financials for the years 2011, 2012, and 2013 as soon as possible.

Thank you for your patience and understanding.

libby_house_signature

Libby House, Chair of the Audit Committee

For the Members of the Audit Committee:

Raymond Arcario, Standing Committee
Charlie Barebo, Treasurer, Diocesan Council, Incorporated Trustees
Richard Guyer, Cathedral Church of the Nativity
Peter Hilgert, Incorporated Trustees