Bucks County Recognized With Excellence In Financial Reporting Award

DOYLESTOWN, PA — The Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada has awarded Bucks County with the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting for its annual financial report for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021.

The award was announced by Bucks County Controller Pamela Van Blunk.

The report was judged by an impartial panel to meet the high standards of the program, which includes demonstrating a constructive “spirit of full disclosure” to clearly communicate its financial history and motivate potential users and user groups to read the report.

The award is the highest form of recognition in the area of governmental accounting and financial reporting and its attainment represents a significant accomplishment by the Controller’s Office and Bucks County, according to Van Blunk, whose office is responsible for preparing the county’s annual financial report.

The Controller's Office, from left, in back: Laurie Goeller, Janet Taylor, Mike Adams, Michelle Knight, Cathy Jo Wright, Amy Hall, Gerald Grisafi, Kelli Bachtle, Alexandra Massack, and Michael Kozar. In the middle are Kyra Maginity, Donna Bilker, Tricia Mullen, Kimberly Doran, Tara Rudock, Domenica Messina and Gina Constantini. And in front are Dana Conboy, Liz Watts, Denise Rimby, Controller Pamela Van Blunk, Sandy Frasetta, Izzie Rex and Diane Rockelmann

As the fiscal watchdog of the county’s spending, the Bucks County Controller has many responsibilities. In addition to preparing the annual financial report, Van Blunk and the Controller’s Office are responsible for maintaining the county’s financial records including the general ledger.

The Controller’s Office also processes and approves all vendor invoices for payment and Van Blunk may refuse to authorize payment of any fiscal transaction where it appears that such transaction is not authorized by law, or has not been undertaken according to law, or has not received approval according to law.

The Controller’s Office also processes payroll (serving more than 2,500 county employees), processes all retiring county employees and maintains all retirement records. The Controller is responsible for periodically auditing the row offices, tax collectors, magisterial district courts, county departments and other county functions as necessary.

Van Blunk is also responsible for investigating all fraud, waste and abuse of the county’s funds and may, upon reasonable grounds, investigate fraud, flagrant abuse of public office or any criminal act or neglect of any officer or other person of the county relating to their public accounts and transactions.

The preparation of the annual comprehensive financial report on a timely basis was made possible by the dedicated service of the entire staff of the Controller’s Office. Van Blunk expressed special appreciation to the entire Controller’s Office for their contributions to the report.