Audit 18147

FY End
2022-09-30
Total Expended
$1.38M
Findings
12
Programs
1
Year: 2022 Accepted: 2023-06-20

Organization Exclusion Status:

Checking exclusion status...

Findings

ID Ref Severity Repeat Requirement
14477 2022-001 Material Weakness - P
14478 2022-002 Material Weakness - P
14479 2022-003 - - L
14480 2022-001 Material Weakness - P
14481 2022-002 Material Weakness - P
14482 2022-003 - - L
590919 2022-001 Material Weakness - P
590920 2022-002 Material Weakness - P
590921 2022-003 - - L
590922 2022-001 Material Weakness - P
590923 2022-002 Material Weakness - P
590924 2022-003 - - L

Programs

ALN Program Spent Major Findings
10.760 Water and Waste Disposal Systems for Rural Communities $114,014 Yes 3

Contacts

Name Title Type
JBWMSN5MU6G6 Patricia Underwood Auditee
2565936486 Rodney Stepleton Auditor
No contacts on file

Notes to SEFA

Title: Loan/loan guarantee outstanding balances Accounting Policies: Note 1. Basis of PresentationThe accompanying schedule of expenditures of federal awards (the "Schedule") includes the federal award actividyof The Water Works and Sewer Board of the Town of Sardis City, Alabama under programs of the federal governmentfor the year ended September 30, 2022. 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, CostPrinciples, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards (Uniform Guidance). Becasuse the Schedule presentsonly a selected portion of the operations of The Water Works and Sewer Board of the Town of Sardis City,Alabama, it is not intended to and does not present the financial position, changes in net assets, or cash flows ofchanges in net assets, or cash flows of The Water Works and Sewer Board of the Town of Sardis City, AlabamaNote 2. Summary of Significant Accounting PoliciesExpenditures reported on the Schedule are reported on the accrual basis of accounting. Such expenditures arerecognized following the cost principles contained in the Uniform Guidance, wherein certain types ofexpenditures are not allowable or are limited as to reimbursement. De Minimis Rate Used: N Rate Explanation: The auditee did not use the de minimis cost rate. WATER AND WASTE DISPOSAL SYSTEMS FOR RURAL COMMUNITIES (10.760) - Balances outstanding at the end of the audit period were 843000.

Finding Details

Segregation of Duties Criteria: A basic internal control over financial reporting is the segregation of duties of transaction processing, record keeping, reconciliation, and custody of assets. Condition: This is an inherent limitation for entities that are small in size and thus, have limited staff to perform designated functions. Context/Cause: During our audit, we noted that duties were not segregated in a number of areas where small adjustments to the policies of the Entity could help to further facilitate this important control. These areas include cash disbursements, bank reconciliation, customer billing, cash receipts and collections, and approval of journal entries. Effects: Lack of segregation of duties and a corresponding lack of monitoring and oversight increases exposure to misappropriation of assets and errors in financial reporting. Recommendation; We recommend that management continue to evaluate the procedures and policies used in the accounting area and continue to segregate duties where possible. Additional oversight, monitoring, and approval will be necessary in areas where duties cannot be segregated at an optimal level due to limitations in staff size. Auditee?s Response; Management has issued written policies and required training of all employees that handle financial transactions and has continually evaluated processes to find ways to segregate duties where possible. Management and the board of directors continue to oversee operations closely requiring approvals for all transactions.
Material Adjustments Criteria: Management is responsible for reconciling the accounts during the year and at year end in order to generate financial statements that are in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles. Condition: Insufficient controls over financial reporting resulted in material adjustments being required to prevent the Entity?s financial statements from being materially misstated. Context/Cause: The Entity relied on auditors to propose entries after audit procedures and had not recorded entries needed at the time of the audit. Effects: Lack of internal controls over balance sheet account reconciliations and adjustments could result in undetected errors and irregularities and misstated interim financial reports. Recommendation: We recommend that management maintain reconciliations on a monthly basis to keep balance sheet accounts reconciled and correct and to document which accounting procedures are needed and when they should be performed on a recurring basis to detect material adjustments that are required. Auditee?s Response: The Entity will incorporate financial reporting internal controls to detect material adjustments, prevent materially misstated financial statements,and increase the accuracy of interim financial reports used by management.
Non-Compliance ? Failure to Undergo the Required Single Audit Critera: 2 CFR, Part 200, Subpart F states that a non-Federal entity that expends more than $750,000 or more during the entity?s fiscal year in Federal Awards must undergo a Single Audit. Single Audits are due to be submitted to the Federal Clearinghouse within 30 days after the audit report becomes available but no later than 9 months after the end of the entity?s fiscal year. Condition: During the year ending September 30, 2021, the entity expended more than $750,000 in Federal awards but did not undergo a Single Audit by the due date. Context/Cause: During the year ending September 30, 2021, the entity obtained a loan commitment from the United States Department of Agriculture Rural Utilities Service under the Water and Waste Disposal Systems Direct Loan Program. This program requires interim financing to finance the construction and expenditures funded by this required interim financing are considered Federal expenditures according to the terms of the agreement. The expenditures under this and other federal programs exceeded $750,000 during the fiscal year ended September 30, 2021. Effects: The required Single Audit was not performed. Recommendation: We recommend that management and the Board review all loan commitments, grant agreements, and other funding terms and conditions and insure that all required reports and audits are performed. Auditee?s Response: The Entity will insure that all agreements are carefully reviewed and will consult with external auditors about performing the required audits on a timely basis.
Segregation of Duties Criteria: A basic internal control over financial reporting is the segregation of duties of transaction processing, record keeping, reconciliation, and custody of assets. Condition: This is an inherent limitation for entities that are small in size and thus, have limited staff to perform designated functions. Context/Cause: During our audit, we noted that duties were not segregated in a number of areas where small adjustments to the policies of the Entity could help to further facilitate this important control. These areas include cash disbursements, bank reconciliation, customer billing, cash receipts and collections, and approval of journal entries. Effects: Lack of segregation of duties and a corresponding lack of monitoring and oversight increases exposure to misappropriation of assets and errors in financial reporting. Recommendation; We recommend that management continue to evaluate the procedures and policies used in the accounting area and continue to segregate duties where possible. Additional oversight, monitoring, and approval will be necessary in areas where duties cannot be segregated at an optimal level due to limitations in staff size. Auditee?s Response; Management has issued written policies and required training of all employees that handle financial transactions and has continually evaluated processes to find ways to segregate duties where possible. Management and the board of directors continue to oversee operations closely requiring approvals for all transactions.
Material Adjustments Criteria: Management is responsible for reconciling the accounts during the year and at year end in order to generate financial statements that are in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles. Condition: Insufficient controls over financial reporting resulted in material adjustments being required to prevent the Entity?s financial statements from being materially misstated. Context/Cause: The Entity relied on auditors to propose entries after audit procedures and had not recorded entries needed at the time of the audit. Effects: Lack of internal controls over balance sheet account reconciliations and adjustments could result in undetected errors and irregularities and misstated interim financial reports. Recommendation: We recommend that management maintain reconciliations on a monthly basis to keep balance sheet accounts reconciled and correct and to document which accounting procedures are needed and when they should be performed on a recurring basis to detect material adjustments that are required. Auditee?s Response: The Entity will incorporate financial reporting internal controls to detect material adjustments, prevent materially misstated financial statements,and increase the accuracy of interim financial reports used by management.
Non-Compliance ? Failure to Undergo the Required Single Audit Critera: 2 CFR, Part 200, Subpart F states that a non-Federal entity that expends more than $750,000 or more during the entity?s fiscal year in Federal Awards must undergo a Single Audit. Single Audits are due to be submitted to the Federal Clearinghouse within 30 days after the audit report becomes available but no later than 9 months after the end of the entity?s fiscal year. Condition: During the year ending September 30, 2021, the entity expended more than $750,000 in Federal awards but did not undergo a Single Audit by the due date. Context/Cause: During the year ending September 30, 2021, the entity obtained a loan commitment from the United States Department of Agriculture Rural Utilities Service under the Water and Waste Disposal Systems Direct Loan Program. This program requires interim financing to finance the construction and expenditures funded by this required interim financing are considered Federal expenditures according to the terms of the agreement. The expenditures under this and other federal programs exceeded $750,000 during the fiscal year ended September 30, 2021. Effects: The required Single Audit was not performed. Recommendation: We recommend that management and the Board review all loan commitments, grant agreements, and other funding terms and conditions and insure that all required reports and audits are performed. Auditee?s Response: The Entity will insure that all agreements are carefully reviewed and will consult with external auditors about performing the required audits on a timely basis.
Segregation of Duties Criteria: A basic internal control over financial reporting is the segregation of duties of transaction processing, record keeping, reconciliation, and custody of assets. Condition: This is an inherent limitation for entities that are small in size and thus, have limited staff to perform designated functions. Context/Cause: During our audit, we noted that duties were not segregated in a number of areas where small adjustments to the policies of the Entity could help to further facilitate this important control. These areas include cash disbursements, bank reconciliation, customer billing, cash receipts and collections, and approval of journal entries. Effects: Lack of segregation of duties and a corresponding lack of monitoring and oversight increases exposure to misappropriation of assets and errors in financial reporting. Recommendation; We recommend that management continue to evaluate the procedures and policies used in the accounting area and continue to segregate duties where possible. Additional oversight, monitoring, and approval will be necessary in areas where duties cannot be segregated at an optimal level due to limitations in staff size. Auditee?s Response; Management has issued written policies and required training of all employees that handle financial transactions and has continually evaluated processes to find ways to segregate duties where possible. Management and the board of directors continue to oversee operations closely requiring approvals for all transactions.
Material Adjustments Criteria: Management is responsible for reconciling the accounts during the year and at year end in order to generate financial statements that are in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles. Condition: Insufficient controls over financial reporting resulted in material adjustments being required to prevent the Entity?s financial statements from being materially misstated. Context/Cause: The Entity relied on auditors to propose entries after audit procedures and had not recorded entries needed at the time of the audit. Effects: Lack of internal controls over balance sheet account reconciliations and adjustments could result in undetected errors and irregularities and misstated interim financial reports. Recommendation: We recommend that management maintain reconciliations on a monthly basis to keep balance sheet accounts reconciled and correct and to document which accounting procedures are needed and when they should be performed on a recurring basis to detect material adjustments that are required. Auditee?s Response: The Entity will incorporate financial reporting internal controls to detect material adjustments, prevent materially misstated financial statements,and increase the accuracy of interim financial reports used by management.
Non-Compliance ? Failure to Undergo the Required Single Audit Critera: 2 CFR, Part 200, Subpart F states that a non-Federal entity that expends more than $750,000 or more during the entity?s fiscal year in Federal Awards must undergo a Single Audit. Single Audits are due to be submitted to the Federal Clearinghouse within 30 days after the audit report becomes available but no later than 9 months after the end of the entity?s fiscal year. Condition: During the year ending September 30, 2021, the entity expended more than $750,000 in Federal awards but did not undergo a Single Audit by the due date. Context/Cause: During the year ending September 30, 2021, the entity obtained a loan commitment from the United States Department of Agriculture Rural Utilities Service under the Water and Waste Disposal Systems Direct Loan Program. This program requires interim financing to finance the construction and expenditures funded by this required interim financing are considered Federal expenditures according to the terms of the agreement. The expenditures under this and other federal programs exceeded $750,000 during the fiscal year ended September 30, 2021. Effects: The required Single Audit was not performed. Recommendation: We recommend that management and the Board review all loan commitments, grant agreements, and other funding terms and conditions and insure that all required reports and audits are performed. Auditee?s Response: The Entity will insure that all agreements are carefully reviewed and will consult with external auditors about performing the required audits on a timely basis.
Segregation of Duties Criteria: A basic internal control over financial reporting is the segregation of duties of transaction processing, record keeping, reconciliation, and custody of assets. Condition: This is an inherent limitation for entities that are small in size and thus, have limited staff to perform designated functions. Context/Cause: During our audit, we noted that duties were not segregated in a number of areas where small adjustments to the policies of the Entity could help to further facilitate this important control. These areas include cash disbursements, bank reconciliation, customer billing, cash receipts and collections, and approval of journal entries. Effects: Lack of segregation of duties and a corresponding lack of monitoring and oversight increases exposure to misappropriation of assets and errors in financial reporting. Recommendation; We recommend that management continue to evaluate the procedures and policies used in the accounting area and continue to segregate duties where possible. Additional oversight, monitoring, and approval will be necessary in areas where duties cannot be segregated at an optimal level due to limitations in staff size. Auditee?s Response; Management has issued written policies and required training of all employees that handle financial transactions and has continually evaluated processes to find ways to segregate duties where possible. Management and the board of directors continue to oversee operations closely requiring approvals for all transactions.
Material Adjustments Criteria: Management is responsible for reconciling the accounts during the year and at year end in order to generate financial statements that are in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles. Condition: Insufficient controls over financial reporting resulted in material adjustments being required to prevent the Entity?s financial statements from being materially misstated. Context/Cause: The Entity relied on auditors to propose entries after audit procedures and had not recorded entries needed at the time of the audit. Effects: Lack of internal controls over balance sheet account reconciliations and adjustments could result in undetected errors and irregularities and misstated interim financial reports. Recommendation: We recommend that management maintain reconciliations on a monthly basis to keep balance sheet accounts reconciled and correct and to document which accounting procedures are needed and when they should be performed on a recurring basis to detect material adjustments that are required. Auditee?s Response: The Entity will incorporate financial reporting internal controls to detect material adjustments, prevent materially misstated financial statements,and increase the accuracy of interim financial reports used by management.
Non-Compliance ? Failure to Undergo the Required Single Audit Critera: 2 CFR, Part 200, Subpart F states that a non-Federal entity that expends more than $750,000 or more during the entity?s fiscal year in Federal Awards must undergo a Single Audit. Single Audits are due to be submitted to the Federal Clearinghouse within 30 days after the audit report becomes available but no later than 9 months after the end of the entity?s fiscal year. Condition: During the year ending September 30, 2021, the entity expended more than $750,000 in Federal awards but did not undergo a Single Audit by the due date. Context/Cause: During the year ending September 30, 2021, the entity obtained a loan commitment from the United States Department of Agriculture Rural Utilities Service under the Water and Waste Disposal Systems Direct Loan Program. This program requires interim financing to finance the construction and expenditures funded by this required interim financing are considered Federal expenditures according to the terms of the agreement. The expenditures under this and other federal programs exceeded $750,000 during the fiscal year ended September 30, 2021. Effects: The required Single Audit was not performed. Recommendation: We recommend that management and the Board review all loan commitments, grant agreements, and other funding terms and conditions and insure that all required reports and audits are performed. Auditee?s Response: The Entity will insure that all agreements are carefully reviewed and will consult with external auditors about performing the required audits on a timely basis.