tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3209280003747771086.post9095278451262898735..comments2024-03-24T05:25:16.444-04:00Comments on Fraud Talk: Illinois Woman Charged With Embezzling More Than $30 Million From MunicipalityChris Marquethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15453599146058412239noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3209280003747771086.post-73616208112708755502012-04-19T00:36:34.572-04:002012-04-19T00:36:34.572-04:00local reports and the mayor's own statement ye...local reports and the mayor's own statement yesterday indicate two cpa firms were contracted by the city - clifton larson allen, which assembled the city's accounts into financial statements, and andrew card cpa, a sterling illinois auditor. queries: why weren't the financials prepared by the city controller? why was an apparent sole proprietor cpa who also advertises personal tax preparation services appointed auditor for this multi-fund, mid-size city? where was the city's director of finance in all of this, and what was he doing to provide any oversight and internal control over the controller? how did the controller manage to take 4months of leave and vacation every year, and convince others at city hall that she was completing her work and handling the accounts aptly? anyone who knows anything at all about the 'showhorse business' that the controller operated would have observed that there is no profitability in the 'business'. it is an enormously expensive, costly and egotistical hobby. the only way one can hope to profit in the trade is to sell horses. breeding, studding and showing is nickel ante. shame on dixon's overseers - its elected officials and paid managers for trusting this (ok, yeah, this is america - 'alleged') nefarious thief!. and woe to the cpa's, director of finance and the poor bonding company (western casualty, i believe). this one was a whopper, and makes the townsfolk of the fabled burg of river city, iowa from meredith wilson's 'the music man' look like derivative traders on wall street or canary wharf! this is one for a 'new yorker' piece or a coen brothers production...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com