Pcard

INTERNAL AUDIT REPORT

PURCHASING CARD PROGRAM

LIMITED OPERATIONAL AUDIT

January 1, 2014  May 31, 2015

ISSUE DATE: October 6, 2015
REPORT NO. 2015-11

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 

AUDIT OBJECTIVES AND SCOPE 

The purpose of the audit was:
1. To determine whether department controls are adequate to ensure compliance with the
requirements of CPO-7.
2. To identify possible changes to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the program.
We reviewed information for the period January 1, 2014  May 31, 2015. Details of our audit's scope
and methodology are on page three.
BACKGROUND 
As of April 1, 2011, the Port of Seattle introduced a new procurement card program (P-card) and policy 
(CPO-7). The P-card is a credit card-based system used to purchase non-strategic goods and services.
This program provides a more efficient process for small dollar purchases because of direct contact
with suppliers and faster order processing. It additionally reduces the costs of purchasing routine goods
and services, as the transaction costs are significantly lower than using a Purchase Order. P-cards are a
commonly used tool by purchasing to reduce transactional costs.
The transaction limit on a single P-card purchase is $5,000, with a typical monthly maximum
expenditure of $25,000. A few cardholders have higher limits based on business needs.
During the audit period, there were 136 active cards. The total procurement card expenditures for the
period January 1, 2014 - May 31, 2015, were over $12 million.

AUDIT RESULT
Department controls are adequate to ensure compliance with CPO-7. We did not identify additional
significant changes to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the program.





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TABLE OF CONTENTS 

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY................................................................................................................................................. i
I.    TRANSMITTAL LETTER ................................................................................................................................... 1
II.     BACKGROUND ................................................................................................................................................ 2
III.     FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS................................................................................................................................ 2
IV.    AUDIT SCOPE AND METHODOLOGY ............................................................................................................. 3
V.   CONCLUSION.................................................................................................................................................. 4

PURCHASING CARD PROGRAM                                INTERNAL AUDIT 
JANUARY 1, 2014 MAY 31, 2015 

TRANSMITTAL LETTER
Audit Committee
Port of Seattle
Seattle, Washington

We have completed an audit of the Purchasing Card Program. We reviewed information for the period
January 1, 2014  May 31, 2015.
We conducted this performance audit in accordance with Generally Accepted Government Auditing
Standards and the International Standards for the Professional Practice of Internal Auditing. Those
standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain sufficient, appropriate evidence to
provide a reasonable basis of our findings and conclusions based on our audit objectives. We believe
that the evidence obtained provides a reasonable basis for our findings and conclusions based on our
audit objectives.
We extend our appreciation to the management and staff of the Central Procurement Department and
Accounting and Financial Reporting for their assistance and cooperation during the audit.


Joyce Kirangi, CPA, CGMA
Internal Audit, Director

AUDIT TEAM                    RESPONSIBLE MANAGEMENT TEAM
Brian Nancekivell, Senior Auditor         Nora Huey, Director, CPO
Jack Hutchinson, Manager            Tim Jayne, Sr. Manager Purchasing, CPO





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PURCHASING CARD PROGRAM                                INTERNAL AUDIT 
JANUARY 1, 2014 MAY 31, 2015 
BACKGROUND 
As of April 1, 2011, the Port of Seattle introduced a new procurement card program (P-card) and policy 
(CPO-7). The P-card is a credit card-based system used to purchase non-strategic goods and services.
This program provides a more efficient process for small dollar purchases because of direct contact
with suppliers and faster order processing. It additionally reduces the costs of purchasing routine goods
and services, as the transaction costs are significantly lower than using a Purchase Order. P-cards are a
commonly used tool by purchasing to reduce transactional costs.
The policy has limitations and restrictions on the type of purchases allowed. The P-card program is
operated under an agreement with Bank of America, which provides an on-line system, Works, for
recording and approving transactions. A purchase is initiated by an approved purchase request or
requisition. The cardholder then purchases the goods or services directly from the vendor using the P-
card. On a regular basis, the cardholder logs onto the Works application and allocates the transaction
to the appropriate accounting chart fields and signs off on the transaction. On a monthly basis, an
approver reviews the transactions and approves the purchases.
The transaction limit on a single P-card purchase is $5,000, with a typical monthly maximum
expenditure of $25,000. A few cardholders have higher limits based on business needs.
As of May 2015, there were 126 active cards. The total procurement card expenditures for the period
January 1, 2014 - May 31, 2015, were over $12 million.

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS 
TOP TEN DEPARTMENTS AND VENDORS OF P-CARD PROGRAM 
January 2014  May 2015 
TOP 10 DEPTS   (in 000's)          TOP 10 VENDORS     (in 000's) 
Av. Maint.         $4,712   39%    Keeney's Office Supply       $ 544    4% 
Marine Maint.       1,594   13%    Aramark Uniform            469    4% 
Port Const. Svcs.      717    6%    Grainger                  407    3% 
ICT               489    4%    Cummins NW               187    2% 
Police              363    3%    Amazon Marketplace*         175    1% 
Public Affairs         360    3%    Act 3 Catering               169    1% 
Fire                315    3%    Google                    168    1% 
Av. Bus. Dev.         269    2%    Amazon.com*              134    1% 
HR              236   2%   The Part Works            132    1% 
Av. Landside         151    1%    National Safety             122    1% 
Top 10 Total      $ 9,206   76%                        $2,507   19% 
Grand Total      $ 12,165  100%                      $ 12,165  100% 
Data Source: Bank of America
*Amazon Marketplace is third party vendors selling thru Amazon. Amazon.com is direct sales with that company 

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PURCHASING CARD PROGRAM                                INTERNAL AUDIT 
JANUARY 1, 2014 MAY 31, 2015 

AUDIT SCOPE AND METHODOLOGY 
We reviewed information for the period January 1, 2014  May 31, 2015. We utilized a risk-based
approach from planning to testing. We gathered information through research, interviews,
observations, and data analysis, in order to obtain a complete understanding of the purchasing card
program. We assessed significant risks and identified controls to mitigate those risks. We evaluated
whether the controls were functioning as intended.
We applied additional audit procedures to areas with the highest likelihood of significant negative
impact as follows:
1. To determine whether department controls are adequate to ensure compliance with the
requirements of CPO-7:
We interviewed personnel in the Central Procurement Office and Accounting and Financial
Reporting.
Reviewed applicable policies, procedures, and program documentation.
Performed data analytics using specialized audit software on all P-card transactions during the
audit period.
Selected 10 departments with 35 cardholders, representing about 75% of P-card spend for the
audit period, for detailed testing:
o  We interviewed at least one cardholder and one approver in each department and reviewed
the department's P-card process and controls.
o  We tested a risk-based sample of at least 30 P-card transactions in each department
selected from detailed analytics for the following: 
? Approval obtained prior to purchase.
? Monthly reconciliation performed.
? Monthly reconciliation approved.
? Proper use of S-contracts, where applicable.
? Proper retention of original receipts.
? Proper evidence that purchased item received.
? Proper compliance with threshold limits.
? Proper compliance with prohibition against splitting purchases.
? Purchases related to business purpose.
? Appropriate chart field allocation.
? Sales/use taxes accurately calculated/included, where appropriate.
We selected 4 departments with the highest P-card spend and analyzed as follows:
? Selected 3 high-spend months.
? Selected the cardholders with the highest spend  3 cardholders each for the
maintenance departments and 1 cardholder each for the other departments.
? Tested the monthly transactions for proper inclusion of sales/use taxes, in most cases
100% of the transactions.


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PURCHASING CARD PROGRAM                                INTERNAL AUDIT 
JANUARY 1, 2014 MAY 31, 2015 

2. To identify possible changes to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the program:
We interviewed over 30 program participants for possible improvements.
We performed data analytics on all P-card transactions during the period.

CONCLUSION 
Department controls are adequate to ensure compliance with CPO-7. We did not identify additional
significant changes to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the program.















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