When is the last time an auditor compared card transaction data uploaded into an internal accounting system with the data in the card issuer’s system? In last month’s post about the Jacksonville Jaguars’ fraud case, I stressed the value of this practice. Further, I noted that Microsoft Excel tools like conditional formatting can help you identify potential issues like a card program manager changing information to hide a personal purchase. This post includes a two-minute video clip demonstrating how to do this.

How to Use Conditional Formatting

Feel free to contact me if you have questions about the demonstrated example or conditional formatting in general.

Other Auditing-related Tips

• Be strategic with your auditing approach. Avoid conducting only random, percentage-based audits (e.g., 10% of transactions), which can result in some cardholders slipping through the cracks. See more about auditing.

• Explore third-party auditing solutions/technology to streamline the process, broaden the audit scope, and minimize reliance on human efforts.

• Ensure transaction auditing is conducted a minimum of monthly.

• Develop procedures for what to do if the audit results indicate potential fraud.

• Review your program policies and procedures to determine topics that are missing or too vague. Then make it a priority to update them and communicate accordingly with program participants.

Related Resources

• The Price of Ignorance and Inaction — last month’s post about the Jaguars’ fraud

• Why Audit P-Card Controls – a 17-minute podcast episode by AP Now, featuring Lynn Larson of Recharged Education

• Controls and Fraud – educational content from Recharged Education

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About the Author

Blog post author Lynn Larson, CPCP, launched Recharged Education in 2014. With more than 20 years of commercial card experience, her mission is to make industry education readily accessible to all. Learn more…