College system gets 1st director of audit division

By Bayne Hughes
hughes@decaturdaily.com · 340-2432

MUSCLE SHOALS — The state Board of Education hired Alvena Davis Williams on Thursday as the first director of the new Internal Audit Division for the two-year college system.

Chancellor Bradley Byrne said Williams is moving to the system from the state Department of Transportation. She starts Nov. 1.

Byrne said the division is the first internal audit department for the two-year college system. He said he believes the ability to internally audit the colleges and college foundations is a must.

Byrne said he doesn't believe the college system's financial and legal controversies and investigations would have occurred if it had an internal auditor division.

"Any business that handles millions of dollars needs an internal audit," Byrne said.

The state Department of Examiners of Public Accounts audits every public account in Alabama, including the two-year colleges.

"The department of examiners can only go so far," Byrne said. "Their audits are limited."

The division is starting with three auditors and an administrator, although Byrne said it probably will need two more auditors soon. Byrne wasn't sure how much the new division will cost.

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