Aviation Overtime Audit Report

Port of Seattle 

Internal Audit Report 

Aviation Division Overtime Performance Audit

Current Practices in 2010 




Issue Date: January 11, 2011 
Report No.: 2011-04

Internal Audit Report 
Aviation Division Overtime Performance Audit 
Audit Period: Current Practices in 2010 

Table of Contents Audit Audit 

Internal Auditor's Report ............................................................................................................................. 3 Compliance Audit 
Executive Summary....................................................................................................................................... 4 Compliance Audit 
Scope of the Audit ......................................................................................................................................... 7 
Audit Approach .............................................................................................................................................. 7 
Conclusion ....................................................................................................................................................... 7 
















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Internal Audit Report 
Aviation Division Overtime Performance Audit 
Audit Period: Current Practices in 2010 

Audit Audit 
Internal Auditor's Report 
We have completed a performance audit of Overtime in the Aviation Division.                  A total of 27
separate work units in the Aviation Division reported Overtime in 2008 and 2009. The auditCompliance Audit 
focused on the departmentsCompliance Audit with over 8,000 hours of reported Overtime annually. These
departments were within Facilities and Maintenance, Operations and Customer Service, and 
Security & Emergency Preparedness. 
The purpose of the audit was to determine whether Port management has effectively
managed Overtime usage in the Aviation Division. 
Specifically, whether management: 
o  Provides adequate oversight to ensure discretionary Overtime is driven by
operational necessity, as opposed to non-value-added or low risk tasks. 
o  Manages Overtime results with transparency based on achievable and/or realistic
assumptions within established budgetary goals/targets. 
o  Manages Overtime hours with an emphasis on cost/benefits and an awareness of
risk-based alternatives. 
Management has the primary responsibility to establish and implement effective controls
over the use and reporting of Overtime. Our audit objective was to assess, and test those
controls in order to establish whether the controls were adequate and operating effectively. 
We conducted the audit using due professional care. We planned and performed the audit
to obtain reasonable assurance that the risks impacting Overtime were sufficiently mitigated. 
The Aviation Division has established adequate and effective controls related to Overtime.
There were no significant issues noted during the audit.  We however, noted an
opportunities to strengthen the visibility and accountability of Overtime reporting. 
We extend our appreciation to management and staff for their assistance and cooperation
during the audit. 


Joyce Kirangi, CPA 
Director, Internal Audit 


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Internal Audit Report 
Aviation Division Overtime Performance Audit 
Audit Period: Current Practices in 2010 

Audit Audit 
Executive Summary 
Audit Scope and Objective  The purpose of the audit was to determine whether Aviation
Compliance Audit 
Division management has effectively managed Overtime. 
Compliance Audit 
Specifically, whether management: 
Provides adequate     oversight to ensure discretionary overtime is driven by
operational necessity, as opposed to non-value added/low risk tasks.
Manages overtime results based on achievable, realistic estimates and/or
assumptions within established budgetary goals/targets. 
Manages overtime hours with an emphasis on costs/benefits with an awareness of
risk-based alternatives. 
The scope of the audit included the current Aviation Division overtime practices. 
Background  A total of 27 separatework units in the Aviation Division reported Overtime 
in 2008 and 2009. To ensure smooth 24/7 operation at the Sea-Tac International Airport,
approximately 112,000 in Overtime hours were incurred during the two-year period. These
hours totaled to approximately $2.8 million annually on average in Overtime expense. 
The audit included: 
Determining who had responsibility for overtime, and assess whether the 
arrangement was working effectively; 
Identifying the key risks involved with Overtime, and the mitigation strategies and
controls currently in place to manage those risks; 
Identifying the extent of Overtime worked and test whether the key controls were
working effectively to manage the identified risks; 
Ascertain whether Overtime requirements were being effectively communicated to
managers and staff; 
Reviewed whether management regularly received Overtime reports, acted prudently
on the need for Overtime, and periodically examined cost-effective alternatives. 
Audit Result Summary  The Aviation Division has established adequate and effective
controls related to Overtime. There were no significant issues noted during the audit. We
however, noted an opportunities to strengthen the visibility and accountability of Overtime
reporting. This information was communicated to management in a separate letter. 

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Internal Audit Report 
Aviation Division Overtime Performance Audit 
Audit Period: Current Practices in 2010 
Background 
Audit Audit 
Financial Information 
The following table represents the Port-wide totalCompliance Audit hours and dollar amounts for regular
wages and OvertimeCompliance Audit amounts for 2008, 2009 and 2010 (partial). The Aviation Division
accounted for an average    of 43% of the Port wide regular wages and Overtime totals. The
Corporate totals include the Police Department which incurs significant Overtime. 
(in 000's)                   2008                    2009                    2010 
Type   Division    Hr     $     % of $   Hr     $     % of $    Hr     $     % of $ 
Reg   Aviation    1,636   52,150   42%   1,568   52,925    41%   1,417   50,317    40% 
CDD      408   15,102   12%   413   16,146   13%   395   16,016   13% 
Corp        857   34,550    28%    884   39,254    31%    857   39,927    31% 
Real E.       295    9,561     8%    280    9,671     8%    301   10,610     8% 
Seaport      111    5,092    4%    110    5,331     4%    107    5,410     4% 
Reg Sum        3,307  116,453   94%  3,255  123,327    96%  3,077  122,280    96%
OT   Aviation      70    3,421    3%    42    2,208    2%    40    2,279    2% 
CDD       10    498    0%    13    632    0%    5    287    0% 
Corp        65    3,384    3%     38    2,087     2%     33    2,016     2% 
Real E.       10     483     0%      8     412     0%      6     336     0% 
Seaport        0       6    0%     0       7     0%     0       6     0% 
OT Sum         156    7,791    6%   101    5,347    4%   85    4,924    4%
Grand Total        3,463  124,245   100%   3,356  128,675   100%   3,161  127,204   100% 
Source: PeopleSoft (HCM), and does not include benefits 
The table below represents total Overtime usage in hours for the top 12 Aviation Division
work units reviewed for the audit in 2008 and 2009, as well as the Furlough initiative hours
in 2009: 
2009
Work unit              2008        2009       Furlough
Hours 
AV Electrical & Electronic Sys             9,656       6,495        8,935 
Fire Department                    12,191       9,039         503 
AV Mechanical Systems               6,644       5,496        300 
Facility, Fleet, Sys & Grounds            12,796        4,127        6,108 
Airfield Security                        7,647        4,262         5,191 
Operations Planning                  1,747       3,211         507 
Airport Communication Center            1,462       1,876       1,587 
Customer Services                  3,567       2,112       1,035 
Ground Transportation                 2,404       1,503          0 
Employee Parking                  4,876       1,525          0 
Airfield Operations                      973         795        1,709 
Public Parking                       3,931       1,138         576 
Total                 67,895       41,579       26,450 
Source: PeopleSoft 
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Internal Audit Report 
Aviation Division Overtime Performance Audit 
Audit Period: Current Practices in 2010 
Overall, there was a significant declining trend of Overtime usage in 2009. This was
expected as Port leadership has been proactiveAudit Audit in reducing costs throughout the Port. In 
2008 and 2009, total Aviation Overtime costs were  $3,420,941 and $2,208,465,
respectively, which is within the industry standard. This    represents 2.75% and 1.72% of
total Aviation Division salaries and wages. Compliance Audit Best industry Overtime practices as reported by
the U.S. Bureau of LaborCompliance Audit Statistics (which included all compensation including bonuses)
were obtained and based    on our review, averaged to 2.8% of total gross earnings after 
removing the Financial Services industry which skewed the overall results. 
In 2009, most Aviation work units participated in the Port's Furlough Initiative.  The
expectation of Aviation Executive Management was for these work units to not utilize
Overtime as a result of the required Furlough hours. The work units tested met the Division
requirement not to supplement Furlough hours with an increase in Overtime. 
The higher Overtime percentage in 2008 can be attributed, in part, to a significant winter
storm that required an increase in approved Overtime to keep the airport operational.
Drivers of Overtime 
Based on our audit, the key Overtime drivers in the Aviation work units are: 
1.  External and Internal Compliance 
a.  FAA requirements for Fire Department, Communication Center, etc. 
b.  To provide staffing resources for emergencies,  required training,  or as
stipulated in the represented labor group agreements. 
c.  Approximately accounts for 35% of the total Overtime incurred. 
2.  Staffing level 
a.  To provide backfill staffing coverage during holidays, illness, vacations, and
other approved leaves. 
b.  Approximately accounts for 55% of the total Overtime incurred. 
3.  Discretionary 
a.  All others, including deadlines and high work load during certain peak times
of the year. 
b.  To provide staffing resources for lower risk tasks due more to scheduling
considerations rather than due to significant deadlines or operational
requirements. 
c.  Approximately accounts for less than 10% of the total Overtime incurred. 
Aviation management believes that a significant part of Overtime is contributed to Holidayrelated
Overtime. Internal Audit confirmed over 30,000 hours of holiday Overtime for 2008,
2009 and 2010 (partial year). Overtime incurred during scheduled holidays artificially
increases the total number of non-discretionary Overtime hours. 

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Internal Audit Report 
Aviation Division Overtime Performance Audit 
Audit Period: Current Practices in 2010 
Reporting and Managing Overtime 
Audit Audit 
Each department in the Aviation Division is responsible for establishing its Overtime needs, 
policies,  and reporting requirements. Additionally,  labor agreement consideration of
Overtime is also managed at the department level. Compliance Audit 
Compliance Audit 
There are Overtimedata and      reports compiled at the Departmental Level which is shared
during regularly scheduled     meetings with the AV Senior Managers by their direct reports.
The information filters at the Director levels on an exception basis, and reliance is placed on 
the Senior Managers to elevate any significant Overtime issues. 
There have also been on-going activities undertaken by managers to assess various
approaches utilized to manage overtime hours with an emphasis on costs/benefits along
with an awareness of risk-based alternatives. 
Scope of the Audit 
The scope of the audit included current practices in 2010. 
Audit Approach 
To achieve the audit objectives, we performed the following procedures: 
We submitted a SharePoint questionnaire to individual managers of the 12 work
units that we audited. Each of these orgs had more than 1,000 hours of Overtime.
The questionnaire covered the extent of department Overtime policies, determination
of the main triggers of Overtime, process for scheduling/approving Overtime,
concerns regarding Overtime, and the reporting of Overtime. 
We conducted follow-up interviews and discussions with department managers and
senior divisional leadership.  We specifically inquired about the impact of the 2009
furlough initiative and alternatives that were taken to minimize the use of Overtime. 
We obtained and reviewed department Overtime reports, division variancereports, 
and quarterly reports used to brief the Commission. We analyzed and evaluated the
extent and appropriateness of the elevation of Overtime issues. 
We tested discretionary Overtime, using the lowest source document such aswork 
orders. 
Conclusion 
The Aviation Division has established adequate and effective controls for Overtime. T here
were no significant issues noted during the audit. We however, noted an opportunities to
strengthen the visibility and accountability of Overtime reporting at the Division level. This
information was communicated to management in a separate letter. 

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