Accounting

Accounting Services

The Accounting Department, within the Cowlitz County Auditor's Office, provides financial, accounting, analysis, internal auditing, payroll, and accounts payable services for County departments and agencies.

We provide assistance to those departments and offices in the compliance of financial requirements set by various national, state, and local regulatory agencies.  Accounting also acts as a resource for addressing departmental accounting needs and questions.

The County Auditor must audit all bills approved for payment by the Board of County Commissioners before warrants are issued. It must be confirmed that charges are legitimate and that there are adequate funds to cover the payments in the proper departmental budgets.

Other duties include bid law compliance, ensuring that prevailing wage documents for Public Works projects have been provided and that retainage is withheld from each payment.

Further duties of the Auditor in this department include acting as disbursing officer for taxing districts, for example, a fire district. The Auditor is required to keep warrant registers and maintain payroll records, including the submission of federal and state reports relating to the payment of bills and payroll along with the year end 1099 and W-2 reports.

The Auditor is responsible for numerous reports concerning county fiscal affairs, which are periodically turned over to the Board of County Commissioners and the State Auditor. In addition, the Auditor is involved with both the preparation and administration of the County budget.

Accounting - Additional Information

Annual Financial Reports

   Financial Reports from 2005-2019

Forms

   Accounting Forms

Links

   Helpful Accounting Links