New firm conducting Albemarle County’s audit for FY23

In recent years, Albemarle County has joined a list of Virginia localities with a total yearly budget in excess of a half billion dollars. The adopted budget for the current fiscal year is $554.8 million, for instance. 

Work is underway now to develop a budget for FY25 and that includes a review of the audit for the fiscal year that ended on June 30 which took place at a meeting of the Audit Committee on Monday. 

“Unfortunately we had some of our challenges from FY22 spill over to FY23,” said Shenandra Usher, the assistant chief financial for operations in Albemarle County. “Those things include staff turnover, a lack of positions being filled. We went an entire year without having a controller in place. But we also had additional leadership transitions that took place in the spring of FY2023.”

That includes the departure of former Chief Financial Officer Nelsie Birch, who pursued a private sector career. 

Usher said the county was able to hire new auditors, but there were some complications related to new human resources and payroll software. She was glad to report that the controller’s office is now fully staffed.

“So we have a controller, we have a deputy controller, we have a payroll manager, we have all of the accountants and payroll specialists we need to fully support the organization,” Usher said.

The Committee got some highlights of the audit which has been conducted by the firm Brown & Edwards, a new company for Albemarle County. 

“This initial year is a lot of extra work where we’re getting to know each other, we’re learning how to work closely together, particularly on the timelines,” said Jacob Sumner, the interim Chief Financial Officer for Albemarle County. 

The full report including the final numbers for expenditures and revenues will be presented to the Board of Supervisors on December 13. However, auditor Megan Argenbright with Brown & Edwards told the committee it may still be in draft form. 

“New auditors, transitions, new employees on the county side, it has taken a massive effort from all parties involved and we’re learning about the county and the schools as they are learning about us,” Argenbright said. 

Audits involve things like making certain that federal rules are being followed and this year there are six specific programs being tested for compliance. The Virginia Auditor of Public Accounts has a deadline of December 15 to receive a transmission of the county’s bookkeeping. 

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