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AHOSKIE – An effort that began nine months ago to strengthen financial and management accountability here at Roanoke-Chowan Community College has led to a ‘clean’ audit by the Office of the State Auditor (OSA).

A report filed by the OSA stated that its recent audit of RCCC disclosed no instances of noncompliance or other matters that are required to be reported under Government Auditing Standards.

That audit (for fiscal year ending June 30, 2021) was presented to the RCCC Board of Trustees on Jan. 30.

“I am extremely pleased to report the findings of the government audit,” stated RCCC President Dr. Murray J. Williams. “Our outstanding trustees, leadership team, faculty and staff have worked together in day to day financial management to achieve all governmental accounting requirements. I am proud of the excellent team we have assembled in the office of administrative and fiscal management for Roanoke-Chowan Community College.”

Dr. Williams, who arrived at RCCC in May of last year, spent the majority of her time performing “damage control” in the wake of the OSA’s 2020 audit. That financial check-up was full of red flags, to include 2,644 checks totaling $10,305,204 with invalid signatures (they were signed by the former President and former Controller, even though they both resigned in 2019). As a result, the OSA noted an increased risk of fraud for the college.

The second major finding by the state auditor’s investigation last year was the college, between February and May of 2020, overpaid the salary of three employees. As a result, the college incurred unallowed expenses of $45,008 that could have been used for business purposes.

The final major infraction noted in the 2021 OSA report involved late contributions (from November 2019 to May 2020) to the State Retirement System after the deadlines had passed. As a result, RCCC incurred $3,564 in late penalty fees.

“Since May 2021, the college’s administration has put internal controls in place and we will continue to monitor those internal controls to ensure that they are providing the necessary checks and balances for present and future financial accountability,” Dr. Williams stressed in an earlier interview.

“As president, I want to thank the Board of Trustees for entrusting me with this opportunity to build a stronger Roanoke-Chowan Community College. The college values public accountability and operates with transparency,” she concluded.