MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — WVU’s new chief financial officer addressed members of the WVU Board of Governors Audit Committee for the first time Wednesday.
Chris Kabourek, who previously worked at Ohio State University, told the committee Wednesday was his tenth day on the job.
“But I’ve been getting on board for the last six or seven weeks; it’s been great, and I can’t say how excited my family and I are to be part of the West Virginia University family and the direction we’re going in,” Kabourek said.
Preparations are underway for the mid-year audit review, according to Kabourek. The accounting firm, Clinton, Larson, Allen (CLA), has informed the university their report contains no findings or problems.
“I’m still learning a lot and I don’t quite have all the answers yet to what’s going on in the audit world at WVU,” Kabourek said. “But, over my last 30 years, I’ve been through a lot of audits over the last 30 years, and I think I’ll get up to speed quickly.”
He explained an audit of the CLA will conduct a spot check for compliance during their upcoming review.
“For example, they select a few bank account reconciliations, as well as checks greater than $1 million to make sure all that looks good,” Kabourek said.
Kabourek also told the committee ForBis Accounting is looking at the 4013b plan for employees at the WVU research program. Additionally, CLA will conduct an audit of West Virginia University and the West Virginia University Research Corporation financial statements, including federal grant awards for 2026.
“Interim fieldwork has already begun on that; the team tells me that started in May,” Kabourek said. “We’re working with the auditors and team to stay on schedule.”
Following the executive session, the committee did approve the audit plan for the upcoming with the director of internal audit, Brian Shaver.
“A revenue contract compliance audit, an audit of IT controls, extension offices, student health center, sports camps, HIPAA privacy, and conflicts of interest,” Shaver said.