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The office of Ohio Auditor of State Keith Faber has recognized the work of Marietta City Auditor Sherri Hess and her staff with two recent awards.
Last Friday, Hess was presented the Auditor of State Award by Faber's representative, Susanne Simpson. It is the third time the Marietta department has won the yearly award, Hess said.
This week, Hess has received word the city is again receiving the Achievement in Open and Transparent Government award from the state auditor's office. Marietta also has gotten that award in 2020, '21 and '22, she said.
"We have a good staff and employees. We do things the correct way and on time. The award is really a reflection of everybody's work," she said.
For the Auditor of State award, eligible entities must meet a number of standards for a "clean" audit conducted by the state, including filing financial reports with the state auditor's office when due, without extension.
The state audit cannot contain any findings for recovery, material citations, material weaknesses, significant deficiencies, Uniform Guidance (Single Audit) findings or questioned costs.
The entity's management letter from the state auditor must contain no comments related to ethics referrals, questioned costs, bank reconciliation issues, findings for recovery less than $500, issues with public meetings or public records, or any other financial concerns.
"The term 'auditor' doesn't really reflect what we are charged with doing," Hess said of the city department. "We're bookkeepers. There is so much to it, but what we always do is go by the Ohio Revised Code."
"Auditor of State Keith Faber's office audits approximately 6,000 entities and very few of those entities that are audited are even eligible for this award. This puts you and your team in a very select group. On behalf of the Auditor of State Keith Faber, I would like to congratulate you and your team for this distinct achievement," Simpson said at last week's presentation of the Auditor of State Award.
Hess, who has battled some serious health challenges in recent years, is also proud of the fact that she was able to push herself to keep working even through those times. She has worked in the Marietta auditor's office in some form or another for 42 years, starting as a clerk, working her way up to chief deputy auditor, then running for the city auditor's position in the term beginning in 2012.
"I love what I do," she said.