05.14.020 Authority.
(1) Source. The Audit Committee has been delegated the authority from the Tribal Council, through the Treasury Code, to ensure the integrity of the Tribe’s financial reporting and audit systems.
(A) The Audit Committee shall be responsible for evaluating and recommending to the Cowlitz Tribe, an independent public accounting firm for the annual or any special audit, unless there is a prior alternative written agreement in place delegating the responsibility for a given special audit.
(2) Oversight. The Audit Committee shall have the responsibility of oversight over the Tribal audit processes and the process of investigation into alleged or suspected improprieties and violations of fiscal and ethics policies, codes, regulation, and directives.
(A) The Audit Committee shall conduct oversight over the activities of the internal audit function in independent assignments related to auditing, evaluating, and special investigations related to detecting fraudulent financial reporting and conducting investigations into fraud and theft in the Tribe’s businesses, enterprises and programs.
(3) Enforcement. The Audit Committee will have the ability to utilize all existing enforcement authorities to carry out their responsibilities to achieve their purpose, including but not limited to:
(A) Compel Executive Management, Tribal Council members and Chairpersons of Boards, Committees and Commissions to attend meetings representing issues as needed.
(B) Compel Management, Boards, Committees and Commissions to comply with audit requests and reply to audit reports.
(C) The Audit Committee shall instruct the independent external auditor and the internal auditor that the Committee expects to be advised if there are any areas that require its special attention.
(D) Issue notices of noncompliance, as appropriate, to Executive Management in accordance with the Employee Manual Negligence provision.
(E) Issue notices of violation of Oath of Office, as appropriate to Board, Committee and Commission members.
(F) Seek legislative improvements to assure the Tribe’s Code of Ethics, Code of Conduct and Conflict of Interest are current and adequate to ensure fairness for all and equity by protecting the resources. [Res. 22-120, 2022.]