§ 159-25. Duties of finance officer; dual signatures on checks; internal control procedures subject to Commission regulation. - North Carolina Statutes - USA Laws Searching

Statutes > North Carolina Statutes > Chapter 159 - Local Government Finance. > § 159-25. Duties of finance officer; dual signatures on checks; internal control procedures subject to Commission regulation.

§ 159-25. Duties of finance officer; dual signatures on checks; internal control procedures subject to Commission regulation.

§ 159‑25.  Dutiesof finance officer; dual signatures on checks; internal control proceduressubject to Commission regulation.

(a)        The finance officer shall have the following powers andduties:

(1)        He shall keep the accounts of the local government or publicauthority in accordance with generally accepted principles of governmentalaccounting and the rules and regulations of the Commission.

(2)        He shall disburse all funds of the local government orpublic authority in strict compliance with this Chapter, the budget ordinance,and each project ordinance and shall preaudit obligations and disbursements asrequired by this Chapter.

(3)        As often as may be requested by the governing board or themanager, he shall prepare and file with the board a statement of the financialcondition of the local government or public authority.

(4)        He shall receive and deposit all moneys accruing to thelocal government or public authority, or supervise the receipt and deposit ofmoney by other duly authorized officers or employees.

(5)        He shall maintain all records concerning the bonded debt andother obligations of the local government or public authority, determine theamount of money that will be required for debt service or the payment of otherobligations during each fiscal year, and maintain all sinking funds.

(6)        He shall supervise the investment of idle funds of thelocal  government or public authority.

(7)        He shall perform such other duties as may be assigned tohim  by law, by the manager, budget officer, or governing board, or by rulesand regulations of the Commission.

Allreferences in other portions of the General Statutes, local acts, or citycharters to county, city, special district, or public authority accountants,treasurers, or other officials performing any of the duties conferred by thissection on the finance officer shall be deemed to refer to the finance officer.

(b)        Except as otherwise provided by law, all checks or drafts onan official depository shall be signed by the finance officer or a properlydesignated deputy finance officer and countersigned by another official of thelocal government or public authority designated for this purpose by thegoverning board. If the board makes no other designation, the chairman of theboard or chief executive officer of the local government or public authorityshall countersign these checks and drafts. The governing board of a unit orauthority may waive the requirements of this subsection if the board determinesthat the internal control procedures of the unit or authority will besatisfactory in the absence of dual signatures.

(c)        The Local Government Commission has authority to issue rulesand regulations having the force of law governing procedures for the receipt,deposit, investment, transfer, and disbursement of money and other assets byunits of local government and public authorities, may inquire into andinvestigate the internal control procedures of a local government or publicauthority, and may require any modifications in internal control procedureswhich, in the opinion of the Commission, are necessary or desirable to preventembezzlements or mishandling of public moneys. (1971, c. 780, s. 1; 1973, c. 474, ss. 18‑20;1975, c. 514, s. 10; 1987, c. 796, s. 3(5).)