December 19, 2018

The Department of Energy’s Fiscal Year 2018 Consolidated Financial Statements

Pursuant to requirements established by the Government Management Reform Act of 1994, the Office of Inspector General engaged the independent public accounting firm of KPMG LLP (KPMG) to perform the audit of the Department of Energy’s Fiscal Year 2018 Consolidated Financial Statements.

KPMG audited the consolidated financial statements of the Department as of September 30, 2018, and 2017, and the related consolidated statements of net cost, changes in net position, custodial activity, and combined statements of budgetary resources for the years then ended.  KPMG concluded that these consolidated financial statements are presented fairly, in all material respects, in conformity with United States generally accepted accounting principles and has issued an unmodified opinion based on its audits and the reports of other auditors for the years ended September 30, 2018, and 2017.

As part of this audit, auditors also considered the Department’s internal controls over financial reporting and tested for compliance with certain provisions of laws, regulations, contracts, and grant agreements that could have a direct and material effect on the consolidated financial statements.  The audit did not identify any deficiencies in internal control over financial reporting that is considered a material weakness.  

The Office of Inspector General issued notices of findings and recommendations to management throughout the audit.  In nearly all instances, management concurred with the findings and recommendations.  However, responses to two non-information technology-related findings indicated one non-concurrence and one partial concurrence.  The audit disclosed no instances of noncompliance or other matters required to be reported under applicable audit standards and requirements.   

The Office of Inspector General is responsible for technical and administrative oversight regarding KPMG’s performance under the terms of the contract.  Our review was not intended to enable us to express, and accordingly, we do not express, an opinion on the Department’s financial statements, management’s assertions about the effectiveness of its internal controls over financial reporting, or the Department’s compliance with laws and regulations.  Our monitoring review disclosed no instances where KPMG did not comply with applicable auditing standards.

Topic: Management & Administration