Title
2026 Audit Plan Endorsement
Presenter:
Natalie Lovell, City Auditor, Office of the City Auditor
Barry Baum, Audit Committee Member
Jim Godfrey, Audit Committee Member
Body
Summary:
The 2026 Audit Plan was prepared by the City Auditor and presented to the Audit Committee in November 2025, following a dedicated workshop with citizen members of the Committee on November 7, 2025. The Audit Committee reviewed the plan, provided feedback, and fully supports the final version being submitted for City Council endorsement.
Background:
The 2026 Audit Plan is based on a comprehensive risk assessment conducted by the City Auditor, in accordance with professional auditing standards. As part of this process, input was gathered from City Council, City Administration, Colorado Springs Utilities, Colorado Springs Airport, and other stakeholders.
A key enhancement to this year's planning process was the collaborative preview of the draft Audit Plan with executive leadership from each of these entities. This early engagement helped ensure alignment with organizational priorities and emerging risks.
The resulting Audit Plan serves as the primary work plan for the Office of the City Auditor. Most audits will be conducted by internal staff, though funds may be allocated to external resources when specialized expertise is required.
Some audits are mandated by City Code or City Charter. In addition, the governance model for Colorado Springs Utilities requires certain external reporting responsibilities that have been delegated to the City Auditor. Elective audits are prioritized based on their risk assessment scores, with only the highest-risk items included in the 2026 Audit Plan.
Previous Council Action:
The last formal review of the Annual Audit Plan by City Council at a work occurred in 2021. Beginning in 2022, the Audit Plan was shared with Council via memorandum rather than through a formal presentation. As City Auditor, I am restoring the practice of...
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