ACH payment fraud is becoming more common, and it is believed that the fraudsters target certain types of individuals. Unfortunately, school districts are one of those targets. Financial institutions play a crucial role in safeguarding bank accounts from fraud;...
Tips to Prevent Wire and ACH Frauds
Utility Bill Auditing
NYSLRS Enhanced Reporting – Gold Certification
Zero-emission School Bus Mandate – Update
National Efforts to Improve K-12 School Cybersecurity
In early August, the White House and the Department of Education announced a federal effort to bolster K-12 cybersecurity at a summit and not a moment too soon. Shortly after the announcement, the New Haven Connecticut public schools suffered a $6 million breach as the email of one of the school officials was compromised. Schools are known to have a lot of sensitive data that is marketable on the dark web. Hackers also know that many schools do not have sufficient resources, both in staff and dollars, to adequately mitigate the risks.
New Rule Amends Community Eligibility Provision
Guest Article: Creating a Robust Travel & Expense Reimbursement Policy
New Form I-9
The new version of Form I‑9, Employment Eligibility Verification (PDF, 483.6 KB) along with new instructions are now available for use. This version contains changes to the form and instructions, including shortening the Form I‑9 to one page and reducing the instructions to eight pages.
30 Years of Connecting with Cerini & Associates, LLP
A Diamond in the Rough: How Transparency & Documentation Produces Incomparable Audits
Utility Bill Auditing
Apr 11, 2024
For many school districts, especially larger districts, reviewing the utility invoices can be a cumbersome process as schools have multiple accounts. We have noted that recently late fees have been added and are cropping up across the Island. Many districts have asked...
NYSLRS Enhanced Reporting – Gold Certification
Nov 2, 2023
Reminder: The New York State & Local Retirement System is requiring that all employers must switch to enhanced reporting by the end of 2023. There are many benefits of enhanced reporting.For employers: Maximize efficiency and improve service to employees...
Zero-emission School Bus Mandate – Update
Nov 2, 2023
In early August, the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) released proposed eligibility guidelines for the Public School Bus Electrification Program being designed under the $4.2 billion Clean Water, Clean Air, and Green Jobs...
National Efforts to Improve K-12 School Cybersecurity
Nov 2, 2023
In early August, the White House and the Department of Education announced a federal effort to bolster K-12 cybersecurity at a summit and not a moment too soon. Shortly after the announcement, the New Haven Connecticut public schools suffered a $6 million breach as the email of one of the school officials was compromised. Schools are known to have a lot of sensitive data that is marketable on the dark web. Hackers also know that many schools do not have sufficient resources, both in staff and dollars, to adequately mitigate the risks.
New Rule Amends Community Eligibility Provision
Nov 2, 2023
This final rule amends the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) regulations by lowering the minimum identified student percentage (ISP) from 40 percent to 25 percent. Lowering the minimum ISP will give states and schools greater flexibility to offer meals to all...
Guest Article: Creating a Robust Travel & Expense Reimbursement Policy
Nov 2, 2023
One of the top issues we encounter when auditing travel reimbursement claims is determining what is considered an appropriate expense and does it comply with the district policy. As we are back out and traveling again, now is a good time to assess your travel and...
New Form I-9
Nov 1, 2023
The new version of Form I‑9, Employment Eligibility Verification (PDF, 483.6 KB) along with new instructions are now available for use. This version contains changes to the form and instructions, including shortening the Form I‑9 to one page and reducing the instructions to eight pages.
30 Years of Connecting with Cerini & Associates, LLP
Aug 2, 2023
Celebrate Cerini & Associates, LLP's 30th Anniversary with Ken Cerini, Founder & Managing Partner! Today, we celebrate a milestone: the 30th Anniversary of Cerini & Associates, LLP. From a humble garage start-up to a leading firm with seven partners and...