Audit 16282

FY End
2022-09-30
Total Expended
$2.88M
Findings
8
Programs
5
Organization: Refugee Empowerment Center (NE)
Year: 2022 Accepted: 2023-02-20

Organization Exclusion Status:

Checking exclusion status...

Findings

ID Ref Severity Repeat Requirement
12174 2022-001 Material Weakness - B
12175 2022-002 Significant Deficiency - B
12176 2022-001 Material Weakness - B
12177 2022-002 Significant Deficiency - B
588616 2022-001 Material Weakness - B
588617 2022-002 Significant Deficiency - B
588618 2022-001 Material Weakness - B
588619 2022-002 Significant Deficiency - B

Contacts

Name Title Type
TSJDCGHVD7T1 Rick Rummel Auditee
4025540759 Justin Frauendorfer Auditor
No contacts on file

Notes to SEFA

Accounting Policies: The accompanying schedule of expenditures of federal awards includes the federal grant activity of the Refugee Empowerment Center (the Organization) and is presented on the accrual basis of accounting. The information in this schedule is presented in accordance with the requirements of Title 2 U.S. Code of Federal Regulations Part 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost of Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards (Uniform Guidance). Therefore, some amounts presented in this schedule may differ from amounts presented in or used in the preparation of the financial statements. De Minimis Rate Used: N Rate Explanation: The auditee did not use the de minimis cost rate.

Finding Details

Criteria: Cost principles in 2 CFR part 200.431 Compensation ? fringe benefits, prescribe general criteria costs follow to be considered allowable under federal awards. The criteria state costs must be under established written leave policies, the costs are equitably allocated to all related activities and the accounting basis selected for costing each type of leave is consistently followed by the Organization. Questioned Costs: $46,283 Condition: Out of 60 transactions tested, 5 federal expenditures charged to fringe benefits were not equitably allocated to all related activities, 7 transactions had clerical errors leading to overpayment of employees, and 3 transactions where timecards could not be located supporting the transaction. The Organization charged compensated absence payouts to federal expenditures and the Organization was unable to support whether the accrued time occurred while providing services allowable under the federal award. Cause: The Organization was unable to provide adequate support of how and when the employee incurred the accrued leave and it could not be determined if leave was incurred while the employee was providing allowable services under the federal award. Effect: The determination could not be made to whether the incurred expenses were allowable under the federal award leading to questioned costs. Recommendation: We recommend the Organization increase internal controls over payroll relating to federal grants to prevent future documentation issues. Organization Response: Management agrees with the finding. The Organization has implemented a new payroll system, which includes time tracking. It has also changed its policy to pay overtime rather than accruing comp-time, as well as implementing an unlimited PTO policy. These changes will eliminate charging grants for undocumented accrued time.
Criteria: Uniform Guidance requires that costs must be adequately documented and retained to demonstrate that only costs for allowable activities or allowable costs are charged to federal programs. Documentation should also support that expenditures are incurred during the period of availability and prior to submission for reimbursement. Questioned Costs: None Condition: Supporting documentation could not be provided for costs that were charged to the program to support the allowability of costs and activities. Out of the 60 transactions tested for this program, adequate supporting documentation could not be provided for 4 transactions. Cause: The Organization did not have adequate internal controls to ensure documentation was maintained to support costs charged to federal programs. Effect: Certain costs could not be supported as allowable that were charged to the program potentially affecting future grant funding. Recommendation: We recommend the Organization continue to follow the established internal controls and provide additional training to avoid future errors. Organization Response: Management agrees with the finding. The Organization is implementing new software for tracking client expense, which has functionality to import copies of credit card receipts and check requests into each client?s record. We have emphasized to case managers the importance of keeping receipts.
Criteria: Cost principles in 2 CFR part 200.431 Compensation ? fringe benefits, prescribe general criteria costs follow to be considered allowable under federal awards. The criteria state costs must be under established written leave policies, the costs are equitably allocated to all related activities and the accounting basis selected for costing each type of leave is consistently followed by the Organization. Questioned Costs: $46,283 Condition: Out of 60 transactions tested, 5 federal expenditures charged to fringe benefits were not equitably allocated to all related activities, 7 transactions had clerical errors leading to overpayment of employees, and 3 transactions where timecards could not be located supporting the transaction. The Organization charged compensated absence payouts to federal expenditures and the Organization was unable to support whether the accrued time occurred while providing services allowable under the federal award. Cause: The Organization was unable to provide adequate support of how and when the employee incurred the accrued leave and it could not be determined if leave was incurred while the employee was providing allowable services under the federal award. Effect: The determination could not be made to whether the incurred expenses were allowable under the federal award leading to questioned costs. Recommendation: We recommend the Organization increase internal controls over payroll relating to federal grants to prevent future documentation issues. Organization Response: Management agrees with the finding. The Organization has implemented a new payroll system, which includes time tracking. It has also changed its policy to pay overtime rather than accruing comp-time, as well as implementing an unlimited PTO policy. These changes will eliminate charging grants for undocumented accrued time.
Criteria: Uniform Guidance requires that costs must be adequately documented and retained to demonstrate that only costs for allowable activities or allowable costs are charged to federal programs. Documentation should also support that expenditures are incurred during the period of availability and prior to submission for reimbursement. Questioned Costs: None Condition: Supporting documentation could not be provided for costs that were charged to the program to support the allowability of costs and activities. Out of the 60 transactions tested for this program, adequate supporting documentation could not be provided for 4 transactions. Cause: The Organization did not have adequate internal controls to ensure documentation was maintained to support costs charged to federal programs. Effect: Certain costs could not be supported as allowable that were charged to the program potentially affecting future grant funding. Recommendation: We recommend the Organization continue to follow the established internal controls and provide additional training to avoid future errors. Organization Response: Management agrees with the finding. The Organization is implementing new software for tracking client expense, which has functionality to import copies of credit card receipts and check requests into each client?s record. We have emphasized to case managers the importance of keeping receipts.
Criteria: Cost principles in 2 CFR part 200.431 Compensation ? fringe benefits, prescribe general criteria costs follow to be considered allowable under federal awards. The criteria state costs must be under established written leave policies, the costs are equitably allocated to all related activities and the accounting basis selected for costing each type of leave is consistently followed by the Organization. Questioned Costs: $46,283 Condition: Out of 60 transactions tested, 5 federal expenditures charged to fringe benefits were not equitably allocated to all related activities, 7 transactions had clerical errors leading to overpayment of employees, and 3 transactions where timecards could not be located supporting the transaction. The Organization charged compensated absence payouts to federal expenditures and the Organization was unable to support whether the accrued time occurred while providing services allowable under the federal award. Cause: The Organization was unable to provide adequate support of how and when the employee incurred the accrued leave and it could not be determined if leave was incurred while the employee was providing allowable services under the federal award. Effect: The determination could not be made to whether the incurred expenses were allowable under the federal award leading to questioned costs. Recommendation: We recommend the Organization increase internal controls over payroll relating to federal grants to prevent future documentation issues. Organization Response: Management agrees with the finding. The Organization has implemented a new payroll system, which includes time tracking. It has also changed its policy to pay overtime rather than accruing comp-time, as well as implementing an unlimited PTO policy. These changes will eliminate charging grants for undocumented accrued time.
Criteria: Uniform Guidance requires that costs must be adequately documented and retained to demonstrate that only costs for allowable activities or allowable costs are charged to federal programs. Documentation should also support that expenditures are incurred during the period of availability and prior to submission for reimbursement. Questioned Costs: None Condition: Supporting documentation could not be provided for costs that were charged to the program to support the allowability of costs and activities. Out of the 60 transactions tested for this program, adequate supporting documentation could not be provided for 4 transactions. Cause: The Organization did not have adequate internal controls to ensure documentation was maintained to support costs charged to federal programs. Effect: Certain costs could not be supported as allowable that were charged to the program potentially affecting future grant funding. Recommendation: We recommend the Organization continue to follow the established internal controls and provide additional training to avoid future errors. Organization Response: Management agrees with the finding. The Organization is implementing new software for tracking client expense, which has functionality to import copies of credit card receipts and check requests into each client?s record. We have emphasized to case managers the importance of keeping receipts.
Criteria: Cost principles in 2 CFR part 200.431 Compensation ? fringe benefits, prescribe general criteria costs follow to be considered allowable under federal awards. The criteria state costs must be under established written leave policies, the costs are equitably allocated to all related activities and the accounting basis selected for costing each type of leave is consistently followed by the Organization. Questioned Costs: $46,283 Condition: Out of 60 transactions tested, 5 federal expenditures charged to fringe benefits were not equitably allocated to all related activities, 7 transactions had clerical errors leading to overpayment of employees, and 3 transactions where timecards could not be located supporting the transaction. The Organization charged compensated absence payouts to federal expenditures and the Organization was unable to support whether the accrued time occurred while providing services allowable under the federal award. Cause: The Organization was unable to provide adequate support of how and when the employee incurred the accrued leave and it could not be determined if leave was incurred while the employee was providing allowable services under the federal award. Effect: The determination could not be made to whether the incurred expenses were allowable under the federal award leading to questioned costs. Recommendation: We recommend the Organization increase internal controls over payroll relating to federal grants to prevent future documentation issues. Organization Response: Management agrees with the finding. The Organization has implemented a new payroll system, which includes time tracking. It has also changed its policy to pay overtime rather than accruing comp-time, as well as implementing an unlimited PTO policy. These changes will eliminate charging grants for undocumented accrued time.
Criteria: Uniform Guidance requires that costs must be adequately documented and retained to demonstrate that only costs for allowable activities or allowable costs are charged to federal programs. Documentation should also support that expenditures are incurred during the period of availability and prior to submission for reimbursement. Questioned Costs: None Condition: Supporting documentation could not be provided for costs that were charged to the program to support the allowability of costs and activities. Out of the 60 transactions tested for this program, adequate supporting documentation could not be provided for 4 transactions. Cause: The Organization did not have adequate internal controls to ensure documentation was maintained to support costs charged to federal programs. Effect: Certain costs could not be supported as allowable that were charged to the program potentially affecting future grant funding. Recommendation: We recommend the Organization continue to follow the established internal controls and provide additional training to avoid future errors. Organization Response: Management agrees with the finding. The Organization is implementing new software for tracking client expense, which has functionality to import copies of credit card receipts and check requests into each client?s record. We have emphasized to case managers the importance of keeping receipts.