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Audit Finds Incomplete Records to Support Executive Bonuses at UMass Medical School(Targeted News Service Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) BOSTON, May 22 -- The Massachusetts Auditor issued the following news release: The Office of the State Auditor today released an audit of the University of Massachusetts System (UMass) which found incomplete documentation to support more than $2.04 million in bonus payments at the UMass Medical School (UMMS). Part of the compensation system for senior leadership at UMMS is a goal-based program which rewards employees with bonuses based on their performance in achieving annual objectives. A review of such bonuses paid in 2010 through 2012 found missing or insufficient documentation to support $1,679,653 in bonus pay. Among the identified deficiencies were missing employee scorecards, a lack of evidence of supervisor review or approval, and payment amounts changed by the UMMS's chancellor without an explanation on file. In addition, the audit found UMMS paid bonuses in fiscal years 2010 and 2011 to its chancellor totaling $367,500 but could not provide any written documentation, including an employment contract that established official criteria for such payments. Without such criteria, UMMS could not assure auditors that the chancellor's bonuses were warranted or were calculated correctly. The bonuses were approved by the former UMass President. The audit also reviewed procurement, consultant services, and management of grants but found no significant areas of concern. Approximately 70,000 graduate and undergraduate students enrolled throughout the UMass system, with campuses located in Amherst, Boston, Dartmouth, Lowell and Worcester. The UMass system is governed by a 22-member board of trustees with a president overseeing the five-campus system and a chancellor leading each campus. The Office of the State Auditor conducts technical and performance audits of state government's programs, departments, agencies, authorities, contracts, and vendors. With its reports, the OSA issues recommendations to improve accountability, efficiency, and transparency. CC AutoTriage5rn-140523-30FurigayJane-4744780 30FurigayJane (c) 2014 Targeted News Service |