Audit 318700

FY End
2023-06-30
Total Expended
$1.36M
Findings
2
Programs
5
Organization: Northwest Compass (IL)
Year: 2023 Accepted: 2024-09-06

Organization Exclusion Status:

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Findings

ID Ref Severity Repeat Requirement
485981 2023-002 Significant Deficiency Yes BCH
1062423 2023-002 Significant Deficiency Yes BCH

Programs

Contacts

Name Title Type
EJ55KHMKF785 Scott Devlin Auditee
9473922344 Ron Marklund Auditor
No contacts on file

Notes to SEFA

Title: Note D - Non-Cash Awards Accounting Policies: Note A - Basis of Presentation: The accompanying schedule of expenditures of federal awards includes the federal award activity of Northwest Compass, Inc. (the Organization) under programs of the federal government for the year ended June 30, 2023. 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 Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards (Uniform Guidance). Because the Schedule presents only a selected portion of the operations of the Organization, it is not intended to, and does not represent, the financial position, changes in net assets, or cash flows of the Organization. Note B - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies: Expenditures reported on the Schedule are reported on the accrual basis of accounting. Such expenditures are recognized following the cost principles contained in Uniform Guidance, wherein certain types of expenditures are not allowable or are limited as to reimbursement. De Minimis Rate Used: N Rate Explanation: The Organization has elected not to use the ten percent de minimis indirect cost rate as allowed under the Uniform Guidance. The Organization did not have any outstanding federal loans or loan guarantees or insurance at June 30, 2023. The Organization did receive non-cash contributions of food commodities from Greater Chicago Food Depository totaling $362 that were federal funds and are reported on the Schedule of Expenditures of Federal Awards for the year ended June 30, 2023.

Finding Details

DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT 2023-002 (repeat finding of 2022-001) Continuum of Care Program, ALN #14.267 Condition and Criteria: According to 2 CFR Section 200.305(b)(3) all reimbursement requests should be based on supporting documentation that shows the cost was incurred before the request for payment and that the payment to vendor was made. All the cash drawdown reports did not have adequate supporting documentation for the drawdown request. Cause: The reason for the lack of support in the drawdowns is due to using budgeted or estimated grant amounts as a basis for the request instead of actual expenses. Effect: The effect is that the Organization could have either requested funds before actual expenses and not be in compliance with the cash management requirements under Uniform Grant Guidance or the Organization could be shorting themselves funds during the grant period and causing cash flow issues. Context: In reviewing all the cash drawdown requests, we could not find the supporting documentation to support the expense was incurred before the drawdown request. We also could not determine that the cash payment was made to the vendor before the Organization requested it from the vendor. Auditor’s Recommendation: We recommend that when a check is paid, the expense is allocated through the accounting system. At the time a grant voucher is prepared, only actual expenses should be requested. We recommend that each reimbursement request agrees to what is allocated through the accounting system by grant or program for actual expenses. This will help support the request and, if needed, a method to provide the actual invoice for the expense being requested. Management response: Supportive Strategies has set up cost centers in our accounting software so all grant vouchers/expenses are allocated to the proper grant.
DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT 2023-002 (repeat finding of 2022-001) Continuum of Care Program, ALN #14.267 Condition and Criteria: According to 2 CFR Section 200.305(b)(3) all reimbursement requests should be based on supporting documentation that shows the cost was incurred before the request for payment and that the payment to vendor was made. All the cash drawdown reports did not have adequate supporting documentation for the drawdown request. Cause: The reason for the lack of support in the drawdowns is due to using budgeted or estimated grant amounts as a basis for the request instead of actual expenses. Effect: The effect is that the Organization could have either requested funds before actual expenses and not be in compliance with the cash management requirements under Uniform Grant Guidance or the Organization could be shorting themselves funds during the grant period and causing cash flow issues. Context: In reviewing all the cash drawdown requests, we could not find the supporting documentation to support the expense was incurred before the drawdown request. We also could not determine that the cash payment was made to the vendor before the Organization requested it from the vendor. Auditor’s Recommendation: We recommend that when a check is paid, the expense is allocated through the accounting system. At the time a grant voucher is prepared, only actual expenses should be requested. We recommend that each reimbursement request agrees to what is allocated through the accounting system by grant or program for actual expenses. This will help support the request and, if needed, a method to provide the actual invoice for the expense being requested. Management response: Supportive Strategies has set up cost centers in our accounting software so all grant vouchers/expenses are allocated to the proper grant.