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Peer Review Of State Auditor's Office Finds Deficiencies

Auditor Suzanne Bump fired 27 employees and is promising sweeping reforms after a national review concluded her office did not conform to government auditing standards.

The review by the National State Auditors Association produced a damning report of the final 18 months of her predecessor and fellow Democrat, A. Joseph DeNucci. DeNucci served as the state auditor for 24 years and did not run for reelection last fall.

"What the adverse report means is not that the work was without merit, [or] the audits were without foundation," Bump said. "But to know that the work that you have done isn't meeting the highest standards has really been a sobering reality."

Bump called for the review prior to taking office in January. A team of state auditors from around the country looked at the office's policies and procedures from July 1, 2009, through Dec. 31, 2010. She said such peer reviews should take place every three years, but that it had been 15 years since the last one was conducted.

The deficiencies found include audit planning, staff competence, audit documentation and audit reporting.

To respond to the findings, Bump has ordered the development of a new audit manual, and the implementation of a new job performance evaluation system. In addition to the 27 terminations, 12 other employees have been demoted and two others promoted.

This program aired on May 5, 2011. The audio for this program is not available.

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Steve Brown Senior Reporter/Anchor
Steve Brown is a veteran broadcast journalist who serves as WBUR's senior State House reporter.

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