Coughlin Foundotos Cullen & Danowski, LLP provides services to many school districts, incorporated villages, fire districts and public libraries.


Governmental - Auditing and Accounting

A major portion of our practice is devoted to providing services for governmental entities, in particular, auditing school districts, incorporated villages, fire districts and public libraries. Consequently, all staff members spend considerable time servicing our governmental clients. They have acquired the special knowledge, skills, and experience needed to service our governmental clients effectively and efficiently.

New York State requires all professionals to receive at least forty hours of continuing professional education (CPE) per year. Firm members involved in municipal audits are also required by the Single Audit Act to fulfill the CPE requirements of the U.S. Comptroller General (GAO). Individuals from our firm are also actively involved in the training of governmental personnel.

Firm members actively participate in the New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants (NYSSCPA) the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA). Two of our partners have earned the AICPA Governmental Accounting and Auditing Certificate of Educational Achievement.

Our Firm actively participates in the Governmental Finance Officers Association (GFOA), the Association of School Business Officials International (ASBOI), the New York State Association of School Business Officials (ASBO) as well as the Nassau and Suffolk Chapters. We have served as guest speakers at technical conferences, and on technical committees.

The Firm maintains memberships in the AICPA and the NYSSCPA. As a member of the AICPA's Division of Firms, the Firm undergoes a mandatory peer review of the accounting and auditing practice every three years. This triennial review is conducted in accordance with standards issued by the AICPA. The Firm always meets the objectives of quality control standards issued by the AICPA and, accordingly, the reviewer has issued an unmodified report for each peer review the Firm has undergone.

As previously mentioned, two of the Firm's partners have received the AICPA Certificate of Educational Achievement in Governmental Accounting and Auditing. Included in this Certificate Program was an extensive review of all requirements for a complete Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR). We are on the Panel of Review of CAFR for ASBO International's Certificate of Excellence Program. A properly prepared CAFR is required in order for the school district to receive either the ASBOI Certificate of Excellence in Financial Reporting by School Systems or the GFOA Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting. We have assisted in the preparation of the CAFR.

Governmental - Consulting

Over the years, we have been engaged to provide various management consulting services for our school district, incorporated village, fire district and public library clients. Our consulting services included reviews of the payroll function, purchasing and disbursement function, capital project expenditures, school lunch program, cash management systems, fixed asset accounting systems, internal control procedures, self-insured medical programs, and data processing systems. We have also provided assistance in the hiring and training of employees (e.g. business manager, purchasing agent, etc.), have performed efficiency studies of the business office and developed client's accounting policies and procedures manuals. We also serve as the internal auditor for one of our school district clients.

Our firm has consulted with its school district, incorporated village and fire district clients in regard to the submittal of its Official Statements. We continue to provide our clients with up-to-date information regarding the many changes promulgated by the state and Federal governments as well as the Governmental Accounting Standards Board, especially GASB Statement No. 34. We are experienced in dealing with the major bond counsels and fiscal advisors servicing school districts and incorporated villages. Our firm maintains associations with attorneys, bankers, insurance agents, and other professionals who are also helpful in providing a variety of services to governmental entities. We have interacted on behalf of our clients with Federal and state government agencies on a variety of matters.

We hold several informative workshops during the year for school district business officials and staff members. Some of the topics we have discussed include GASB Statement No. 34, payroll reporting and fund balance management.