MBC Papers | Why is Aronson, now Aprio, (the company auditing MBC) asking about church membership, attendance records and our relationship with Radical and SBC?
Does MBC’s finance team have an issue answering auditors’ questions honestly?
On Mar 9, 2022, at 2:13 PM, Bill Steele <BiII.SteeIe@mcIeanbible.org> wrote:
Mary Lu
Nancy asked if I would have any problem with providing this information for the auditors, especially in light of everything else going on right now at MBC.
Honestly I am a bit concerned that the auditors would be asking about church membership and attendance records. Not quite sure what that has to do with a financial audit. My red flags are starting to fly a bit too high with this request. In conjunction with their request in December about our relationship with Radical (and I think SBC), I am wondering why they are asking all of these questions. I don't recall (at least from my perspective with the audit) that they have asked for this type of information in previous years. It seems very suspicious especially with all of the other things going on right now. I am not at all sure if some folks were approaching the auditors and either asking for information or trying to have them do some type of extra investigation. Or hoping that they will get more info than is normally in the audit report that some folks have come to see over the years. Anyway, just too abnormal in my view.
I have asked Nancy to hold on that request for right now. In addition, I have asked Rob Eby if he can talk with me tomorrow about this. I need to feel a lot more comfortable on why some of these items are being asked this year. Not sure why but I'd like to understand that. Hoping to talk to Rob tomorrow and maybe getting some clarity here. Since the requests are coming from the audit manager, I'd like to find out from Rob what information he knows and whether we need to request a new manager if this is only coming from him and Rob doesn't know anything about it. So I am not trying to overly speculate and will instead wait until I can talk to Rob. Just wanted you to know why I am holding on this request Will get back to you with more information hopefully in the next few days.
Thanks Mary Lu (and Kathy). Let me know if either of you have any questions. Thanks again.
Blessings,
Bill