The once-touted Office of Independent Internal Audit (OIIA) and its publicized policy manual have disappeared from Clerk Pam Childers’ website.
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- Background: Last summer, Childers launched her Office of Independent Internal Audit to oversee government spending and prevent fraud. The department, which began operations in May under experienced Chief Audit Executive John Greene, was supposed to systematically review over 30 identified high-risk areas, including vehicle fleets and contractor spending within the county’s $748.6 million annual budget. According to Childers, the office aims to identify potential fraud, waste, and procedural weaknesses in county operations. She also established a dedicated fraud hotline at 850-595-0150 for anonymous tips about suspicious spending or potential misuse of county resources and assets.
Vanished or Banished
After one year in operation, the OIIA, with a six-figure budget, produced zero audit reports. Read more.
- On June 2, I reported that Greene and his right-hand CPA, Scott Baretta no longer worked for the Clerk. I emailed the Clerk and asked why Greene and Baretta no longer worked for her and what her plans were for the OIIA. She did not reply. A voice message left on Greene’s phone was not returned.
Website Changes
Childers had created a webpage for OIIA that described Greene’s job, and even had an OIIA Policy Manual. Today, when you enter https://escambiaclerk.com/DocumentCenter/View/5061/OIIA-Policy-Manual, you get: “We’re sorry, but there is not a web page matching your entry.”
The webpage no longer mentions OIIA. It’s now all about Internal Audits:
Internal Audit Mission
Our purpose (why we exist) is to provide independent, objective assurance and consulting services designed to add value, improve, and protect Escambia County operations.
Our promise (what we do) is to accomplish this by bringing a systematic, disciplined approach to evaluate and improve the effectiveness of governance, risk management, and control processes by providing risk-based and objective assurance, advice, and insight.
Internal Audit Vision
Excellence in our products and services as we promote positive change throughout Escambia County with an inspired team that strives for continuous improvement.
Fraud Hotline
The fraud line is still active: 850-595-0150.
Here is the current message on the line:
Sorry.
This is a Clerk and Comptroller fraud hotline. Messages left are monitored by Pam Childers, the elected clerk and comptroller for Escambia County
…is not available. Record your message at the tone. When you are finished, hang up or press pound for more options.