MLS Expense Report Requirement

A clerk asked me if the MLS Expense Report is required to be printed and signed since the Bishop's signature is on the payment request form and Monthly Financial Statement.

As the auditor looking trying to answer his questions while looking at Audit Question 16. "Did the bishop review and authorize each payment?" The auditor's instruction says: • Look at the payment records. Make sure the bishop has reviewed and authorized the payments by signing at least one of the following: original invoice, original bill, original receipt, or payment request form. The bishop’s signature on the MLS Expense Report is also acceptable proof of his review and authorization.

So I determined that not having the MLS Expense Report printed and signed would not be an audit exemption since the Bishop's signature is on the two other forms. So is there any other reason that this form is required or is it not really necessary?

evlarson wrote:So I determined that not having the MLS Expense Report printed and signed would not be an audit exemption since the Bishop's signature is on the two other forms. So is there any other reason that this form is required or is it not really necessary?

In some wards, this report is the only one the bishop signs, showing his approval of the expense. Where a lot of checks are written at the same time, he only needs to sign once after his review.

In my recent audit I was told that both had to be signed. The signing of the expense approval form is needed because the expense report is signed after the funds have already been released.