“What’s New” for Audit

11/01/24	Top 10 Audit Findings Top 10 Audit Findings The latest top 10 findings in post-payment audits are now available. Findings include a description of the audit issue, proper procedure, and links to more information. See the Audit topic page for purchase policies and procedures, post-payment audit reports and more.
09/27/24	Reminder – Take Our Customer Service Survey Reminder – Take Our Customer Service Survey We care about what you think! Please take a moment to fill out Fiscal Management’s online customer service survey. We depend on your feedback to improve our operations and better meet your needs. The survey has three main questions that should take less than a minute to answer, plus an opportunity to provide additional feedback. You can access the survey until Friday, Oct. 4. Please share this email and survey link with any staff that may interact with Fiscal Management and our statewide systems. Thank you in advance for your time and thoughts. Email us at fiscal.documentation@cpa.texas.gov with any questions.
08/09/24	Late Payment Interest Rate for Fiscal 2025 Late Payment Interest Rate for Fiscal 2025 For fiscal 2025, the interest rate the state pays on a late payment to a vendor under the state’s prompt payment law will be 9.50 percent. The interest calculation is one percentage point higher than the prime rate published in the Wall Street Journal on the first business day of July. See Interest Rate on eXpendit (FPP I.005) for more information.
08/09/24	Third-Quarter Audit Reports Third-Quarter Audit Reports Fiscal 2024 third-quarter expenditure audit reports are available. See the Audit page for forms, fiscal policies and procedures, and audit contact information. Subscribe via GovDelivery for quarterly email notifications of audit reports posted.
06/21/24	Current Forms Always Available on FMX Current Forms Always Available on FMX Check the Forms page on FMX to ensure you use the current version. Previously downloaded forms might be outdated. The top of every FMX page has a link to the Forms page. Topic pages such as Appropriations and Payment Services link to their specific forms on the Forms page. Note: Payment Services forms on FMX are secured and require login to prevent unauthorized users from accessing them and submitting them to state agencies. If it is necessary for your agency to maintain any of these forms on your website, ensure the forms require login and that you are using the most current version.
06/14/24	Direct Deposit Fraud Direct Deposit Fraud Agencies must continue to guard against direct deposit fraud. The Comptroller’s office lists Fraud Prevention Recommendations on TexPayment Resource. Agencies can also: Encrypt or password-protect internal and external emails that include account and routing numbers. Require the existing account and routing numbers on file for change requests before making those changes to ensure the requests are from legitimate payees. Use daily direct deposit reports to verify your agency’s direct deposit setups and changes. Contact Payment Services with questions about direct deposits.
05/03/24	Fiscal 2023 SEFA and Single Audit Report Package Fiscal 2023 SEFA and Single Audit Report Package The following Financial Reporting reference topics have been updated with fiscal 2023 information: Summary of Federal Expenditures by State Agency — includes Notes to the Schedule of Expenditures of Federal Awards (SEFA). Single Audit Report Package for Texas — completed in conjunction with the State Auditor’s office. Contact your financial reporting analyst with questions.
04/12/24	Second-Quarter Audit Reports Second-Quarter Audit Reports Fiscal 2024 second-quarter expenditure audit reports are available. See the Audit page for forms, fiscal policies and procedures, and audit contact information. Subscribe via GovDelivery for quarterly email notifications of audit reports posted.
03/28/24	State Grant Requirement State Grant Requirement State agencies and institutions of higher education that award a state grant over $25,000 from funds appropriated through the General Appropriations Act must publish the purpose of the grant on the agency’s public website. See Requirement to Publish Purpose of State Grants (FPP S.010) for more information.
02/23/24	Encrypt Confidential Emails to Fiscal Management Encrypt Confidential Emails to Fiscal Management State agencies and institutions of higher education sometimes send documents with confidential information to Fiscal Management. An unencrypted email is not a secure transmission. Agencies must send confidential information in an encrypted email or as an encrypted email attachment as prescribed by your agency’s information security policy. See Confidential Information Must Be Encrypted Before Emailing to Fiscal Management (FPP D.004) for details.
02/02/24	Direct Deposit Fraud Direct Deposit Fraud Agencies must continue to guard against fraud with direct deposit payments. The Comptroller’s office lists Fraud Prevention Recommendations on TexPayment Resource. Agencies can also: Encrypt or password-protect internal and external emails that include account and routing numbers. Require the existing account and routing numbers on file for change requests before making those changes to ensure the requests are from legitimate payees. Use daily direct deposit reports to verify your agency’s direct deposit setups and changes. Contact Payment Services with questions about direct deposits.
01/19/24	First-Quarter Audit Reports First-Quarter Audit Reports Fiscal 2024 first-quarter expenditure audit reports are available. See the Audit page for forms, fiscal policies and procedures, and audit contact information. Subscribe via GovDelivery for quarterly email notifications of audit reports posted.
01/12/24	Comptroller Manual of Accounts Updated Comptroller Manual of Accounts Updated Effective Jan. 1, substantive changes have been made to the Texas Comptroller Manual of Accounts (FPP Q.009), reflecting legislation passed by the 88th Legislature, Regular Session, and resulting from the Nov. 7, 2023, election for Texas constitutional amendments. The Manual of Accounts provides current information on state agencies, appropriated funds, and accounts and object codes for recording accounting transactions.
12/14/23	Security Alert: Avoid Email Confirmation Security Alert: Avoid Email Confirmation Fiscal Management urges all agencies to review and further strengthen internal processes and procedures for requesting system or security changes. To avoid security threats, it is best to validate requests by a method other than email. In the past, hackers harvested credentials such as user IDs, passwords, email addresses, etc., then used the credentials to access systems and gather data or other sensitive information. Now, hackers target the credential with the most transparency — email addresses. They hijack an email account, change the password, then use the email address to request the agency to provide sensitive information or make detrimental changes to the user’s profile, such as changing direct deposit instructions. This is what makes these hacks so dangerous. Everything about the email appears legitimate, because it is. Since the email account is compromised, the traditional strategy of training users to identify illegitimate email will not work. Only a second level of validation will ensure the instructions received were from the intended user. See Fraud Prevention Recommendations for more tips, or contact your agency’s information security office for more information and/or to discuss and implement security improvements for your agency.
10/27/23	Top 10 Audit Findings Top 10 Audit Findings The latest top 10 findings in post-payment audits are available on FMX. Findings include a description of the audit issue, proper procedure, and links to more information. See FMX’s Audit topic page for purchase policies and procedures, post-payment audit reports and more.
10/20/23	Fourth-Quarter Audit Reports Fourth-Quarter Audit Reports Fiscal 2023 fourth-quarter expenditure audit reports are available. See the Audit page for forms, fiscal policies and procedures, and audit contact information. Subscribe via GovDelivery for quarterly email notifications of audit reports posted.
09/29/23	Direct Deposit Fraud Direct Deposit Fraud Agencies must continue to guard against fraud with direct deposit payments. The Comptroller’s office lists Fraud Prevention Recommendations in TexPayment Resource. Agencies can also: Encrypt or password protect internal and external emails that include account and routing numbers Require the existing account and routing numbers on file for change requests before making those changes to ensure the requests are from legitimate payees Use daily direct deposit reports to verify your agency’s direct deposit setups and changes Contact Payment Services with questions about direct deposits.
09/28/23	Reminder – Complete Our Customer Service Survey by Sept. 29 Reminder – Complete Our Customer Service Survey by Sept. 29 If you already completed our Fiscal Management customer service survey, thank you! If you haven't had a chance to take our online survey, it will be available until the close of business Friday, Sept. 29. We appreciate your feedback. If you have any questions about the survey, email us at fiscal.documentation@cpa.texas.gov.
09/15/23	Fiscal Management Customer Service Survey Fiscal Management Customer Service Survey How well are we meeting your customer service expectations? Please let us know by completing the online survey by Friday, Sept. 29. We appreciate your feedback. Email us at fiscal.documentation@cpa.texas.gov with any questions.
09/15/23	Updated Interagency Payment Policy Updated Interagency Payment Policy State agencies must use the interagency transaction voucher (ITV) process in USAS for interagency payments when the funding sources for both agencies are held in the state treasury. However, agencies may use a procurement card to: Purchase surplus property Purchase supplies from Texas Correctional Industries Pay the fees for an attorney general opinion See Interagency Payments and Receipts for Goods and Services (APS 014) (FPP A.028) for more information.
09/08/23	Comptroller Manual of Accounts Updated Comptroller Manual of Accounts Updated Effective Sept. 1, substantive changes have been made to the Texas Comptroller Manual of Accounts (FPP Q.009) reflecting legislation passed by the 88th Legislature. The Manual of Accounts provides current information on state agencies, appropriated funds, accounts and object codes to record accounting transactions.
08/11/23	88th Legislature GAA Updates 88th Legislature GAA Updates The 88th Legislature updated Article IX of the General Appropriations Act (GAA); changes take effect Sept. 1. See Changes to Article IX of the GAA and Other Bills of Interest to State Agencies (FPP F.008) for a summary of GAA changes and other legislation that affects state agencies.
08/04/23	Late Payment Interest Rate for Fiscal 2024 Late Payment Interest Rate for Fiscal 2024 The interest rate the state pays on a late payment to a vendor under the state’s prompt payment law will be 9.25 percent for fiscal 2024. The interest calculation is one percentage point higher than the prime rate published in the Wall Street Journal on the first business day of July. See Interest Rate on eXpendit (FPP I.005) for more information.
07/21/23	Third-Quarter Audit Reports Third-Quarter Audit Reports Fiscal 2023 third-quarter expenditure audit reports are available. See the Audit page for forms, fiscal policies and procedures, and audit contact information. Subscribe via GovDelivery for quarterly email notifications of audit reports posted.
07/14/23	Updates to Comptroller Manual of Accounts Updates to Comptroller Manual of Accounts Substantive changes have been made to the Texas Comptroller Manual of Accounts (FPP Q.009) reflecting legislation passed by the 88th Legislature, Regular Session effective before Sept. 1. The Manual of Accounts provides current information on state agencies, appropriated funds, and accounts and object codes to use when properly recording accounting transactions.
05/19/23	Current Forms Always Available on FMX Current Forms Always Available on FMX Check the Forms page on FMX to ensure you use the current version. Previously downloaded forms might be outdated. The top of every FMX page has a link to the Forms page. Topic pages (such as Appropriations and Payment Services link to their specific forms on the Forms page. Note: Payment Services forms on FMX are secured and require login to prevent unauthorized users from accessing them and submitting them to state agencies. If it is necessary to maintain any of these forms on your agency’s website, ensure the forms require login and are the most current version.
05/12/23	Fiscal 2022 SEFA and Single Audit Report Package Fiscal 2022 SEFA and Single Audit Report Package The following FMX Financial Reporting reference topics have been updated with fiscal 2022 information: Federal schedules — includes Notes to the Schedule of Expenditures of Federal Awards (SEFA). Single audit report package — completed in conjunction with the State Auditor’s office. Contact your financial reporting analyst with questions.
03/24/23	Second-Quarter Audit Reports Second-Quarter Audit Reports Fiscal 2023 second-quarter expenditure audit reports are available. See the Audit page for forms, fiscal policies and procedures, and audit contact information. Subscribe via GovDelivery for quarterly email notifications of audit reports posted.
02/24/23	Encrypt Confidential Emails to Fiscal Management Encrypt Confidential Emails to Fiscal Management State agencies and institutions of higher education sometimes send documents with confidential information to Fiscal Management. An unencrypted email is not a secure transmission. Agencies must send confidential information in an encrypted email or as an encrypted email attachment as prescribed by your agency’s information security policy. See Confidential Information Must Be Encrypted Before Emailing to Fiscal Management (FPP D.004) for details.
02/03/23	First-Quarter Audit Reports First-Quarter Audit Reports Fiscal 2023 first-quarter expenditure audit reports are available. See the Audit page for forms, fiscal policies and procedures, and audit contact information. Subscribe via GovDelivery for quarterly email notifications of audit reports posted.
01/27/23	Recovery Audit Reports Recovery Audit Reports The Comptroller of Public Accounts is statutorily required to report to each Legislature the results of overpayment recovery audits of certain state agencies by Feb. 1 on odd-numbered years. See the State of Texas Overpayment Recovery Audit, Report to the 88th Legislature on the Recovery Audit Reports page for more information.
12/30/22	Current Forms Always Available on FMX Current Forms Always Available on FMX Check the Forms page on FMX before submitting a form to ensure you submit the current version. Previously downloaded forms or stored links might be outdated. The top of every FMX page has a link to the Forms page. Topic pages (such as Appropriations or Payment Services) link to their specific forms on the Forms page.
12/09/22	Top 10 Audit Findings Top 10 Audit Findings The latest top 10 findings in post-payment audits are available on FMX. Findings include a description of the audit issue, proper procedure and links to more information. See FMX's Audit topic page for purchase policies and procedures, post-payment audit reports and more.
10/21/22	Fourth-Quarter Audit Reports Fourth-Quarter Audit Reports Fiscal 2022 fourth-quarter expenditure audit reports are available. See the Audit page for forms, fiscal policies and procedures, and audit contact information. Subscribe via GovDelivery for quarterly email notifications of audit reports posted.
09/23/22	Reminder – Fiscal Management Customer Service Survey Reminder – Fiscal Management Customer Service Survey How well are we meeting your customer service expectations? Please let us know by completing the online survey by Friday, Sept. 30. We appreciate your feedback. Email us at fiscal.documentation@cpa.texas.gov with any questions.
09/16/22	2022 Fiscal Management Customer Service Survey 2022 Fiscal Management Customer Service Survey How well are we meeting your customer service expectations? Please let us know by completing the online survey by Friday, Sept. 30. We appreciate your feedback. Email us at fiscal.documentation@cpa.texas.gov with any questions about the survey.
07/29/22	Late Payment Interest Rate for Fiscal 2023 Late Payment Interest Rate for Fiscal 2023 The interest rate the state pays on late payments to vendors under the state’s prompt payment law will be 5.75 percent for fiscal 2023. The interest calculation is one percentage point higher than the prime rate published in the Wall Street Journal on the first business day of July. See Interest Rate on eXpendit (FPP I.005) for more information.
07/29/22	Third-Quarter Audit Reports Third-Quarter Audit Reports Fiscal 2022 third-quarter expenditure audit reports are available. See the Audit page for forms, fiscal policies and procedures, and audit contact information. Subscribe via GovDelivery or quarterly email notifications of audit reports posted.
05/06/22	Fiscal 2021 SEFA and Single Audit Report Package Fiscal 2021 SEFA and Single Audit Report Package The following FMX Financial Reporting reference topics have been updated with fiscal 2021 information: Federal schedules (includes Notes to the Schedule of Expenditures of Federal Awards). Single audit report package (completed in conjunction with the State Auditor’s office). Contact your financial reporting analyst with any questions.
04/01/22	Second-Quarter Audit Reports Second-Quarter Audit Reports Fiscal 2022 second-quarter expenditure audit reports are available. See the Audit page for forms, fiscal policies and procedures, and audit contact information. Subscribe via GovDelivery for quarterly email notifications of audit reports posted.
03/18/22	Encrypt Confidential Emails to Fiscal Management Encrypt Confidential Emails to Fiscal Management State agencies and institutions of higher education sometimes send documents with confidential information to Fiscal Management. Email is not a secured transmission. Agencies must send confidential information as an encrypted email attachment as prescribed by your agency’s information security policy. See Confidential Information Must be Encrypted Before Emailing to Fiscal Management (FPP D.004) for details.
02/18/22	Comptroller Manual of Accounts Updated Comptroller Manual of Accounts Updated Effective Jan. 1, substantive changes have been made to the Texas Comptroller Manual of Accounts (FPP Q.009) reflecting legislation passed by the 86th and 87th Legislatures, Regular Session. The Manual of Accounts provides current information on state agencies, appropriated funds, and accounts and object codes for recording accounting transactions.