Surviving the Superabundance of Audits: Impact and Implications

Don't be caught off guard with the increasing rigor of audit and authorizer requirements. Instead, understand audit trends and their impact on charter renewal.

Join this panel for a toolkit and survival guide and uncover the silver-lining of increased scrutiny and how to best position schools for successful charter renewal.

Topics will include:
- How and why of audits - what are they and why do we need them?
- Audits as they relate to charter renewal
- What are authorizers looking for?
- Fundamental components of an audit
- Selecting and engaging with auditors
- How to read and interpret financial and compliance audits

Presented by

Brenda Bock

Partner
Baker Tilly US

As a Partner at Baker Tilly US, one of the leading advisory, tax and assurance firms in the world, I leverage my CPA and MBA credentials and my 15+ years of public accounting experience to provide high-quality audit and assurance services to a diverse portfolio of clients. I work with range of clients from NFP social service organizations, advocacy organizations, and K-12 schools/ higher education schools, to for profit companies in the real estate, wholesaler/distributor and restaurant space, among others. I have extensive knowledge and skills in financial standards and regulations, including GAAP, GAS, and Uniform Guidance, and I ensure that my clients comply with the latest requirements and best practices. I also lead and mentor a team of talented professionals who share my commitment to excellence and client satisfaction. My goal is to build long-term relationships with my clients and help them achieve their financial and strategic objectives.

Chris Thibodeau

Senior Manager
Baker Tilly

Chris has over 20 years of experience providing audit, consulting and accounting services in both public and private accounting. He has significant experience performing audits and consulting with clients in a wide range of industries which include not-for-profit organizations, charter schools, school districts, manufacturing, distributions, construction and financial services, and served as the CFO for The Classical Academy, a charter school in San Diego county.

Greta Proctor

Partner
Procopio

Greta Proctor is the leader of Procopio’s Education practice. Greta advises on a wide range of operational, governance, and ever-changing regulatory issues for classroom and non-classroom based charter schools. Greta has worked extensively on charter renewals, including appeals. She also counsels schools through special proceedings ranging from OCR complaints to FCMAT extraordinary audits. Greta provides frequent trainings on topics such as teacher credentialing, Board governance, the Brown Act, Public Records Act, avoiding conflicts of interest under the Political Reform Act and Government Code section 1090, and new legislation impacting her clients.

Tom Nichols

Executive VP of Client Partnerships
CSMC (Charter School Management Co.)

Tom Nichols currently serves as Executive Vice President of Client Services and Operations at CSMC (Charter School Management Company.) In his current role, Tom focuses on improving client partner experiences through coordinated and innovative service delivery options. Tom also interacts with client partner administrators and governing boards, providing training on best practices while assisting them with identifying strategic development and growth opportunities. Tom brings the authorizer perspective, having served in LAUSD’s Charter Schools Division for six years– coordinating and managing oversight while assessing organizational capacity of existing charter schools and new petitioners. He understands the complex requirements and evolution of compliance and the nuance of maintaining effective relationships with authorizers. In addition to serving as a start-up charter high school principal and special education teacher, Tom has held numerous administrative positions related to school improvement initiatives; restructuring schools; opening newly constructed schools; student discipline; and crisis management.