Audit 341925

FY End
2022-09-30
Total Expended
$1.09M
Findings
4
Programs
1
Organization: United Progress, Inc. (NJ)
Year: 2022 Accepted: 2025-02-10
Auditor: Bederson LLP

Organization Exclusion Status:

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Findings

ID Ref Severity Repeat Requirement
522658 2022-003 Material Weakness Yes BC
522659 2022-004 Material Weakness Yes L
1099100 2022-003 Material Weakness Yes BC
1099101 2022-004 Material Weakness Yes L

Programs

ALN Program Spent Major Findings
93.569 Community Services Block Grant $1.09M Yes 2

Contacts

Name Title Type
GEJMLKHF6UX7 Leslie Dona Auditee
6093922161 Michael Caro Jr. Auditor
No contacts on file

Notes to SEFA

Title: BASIS OF PRESENTATION Accounting Policies: 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 the Uniform Guidance and in the New Jersey (NJ) Circular Letter 15-08 OMB Single Audit Policy for Recipients of Federal Grants, State Grants and State Aid, wherein certain types of expenditures are not allowable or are limited as to reimbursement. Pass-through entity identifying numbers are presented where available. De Minimis Rate Used: N Rate Explanation: United Progress, Inc. has elected not to use the 10 percent de minimis indirect cost rate as allowed under the Uniform Guidance. The accompanying schedule of expenditures of federal awards (the Schedule) includes the federal and state grant activity of United Progress, Inc. under programs of the federal and state government for the year ended September 30, 2022, and is presented on the accrual basis of accounting. The information in these Schedules 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) and New Jersey (NJ) Circular Letter 15-08 OMB Single Audit Policy for Recipients of Federal Grants, State Grants and State Aid. Because the Schedule presents only a selected portion of the operations of United Progress, Inc., it is not intended to and does not present the financial position, changes in net assets, or cash flows of United Progress, Inc.
Title: SINGLE AUDIT POLICY Accounting Policies: 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 the Uniform Guidance and in the New Jersey (NJ) Circular Letter 15-08 OMB Single Audit Policy for Recipients of Federal Grants, State Grants and State Aid, wherein certain types of expenditures are not allowable or are limited as to reimbursement. Pass-through entity identifying numbers are presented where available. De Minimis Rate Used: N Rate Explanation: United Progress, Inc. has elected not to use the 10 percent de minimis indirect cost rate as allowed under the Uniform Guidance. Uniform Guidance For Federal purposes any recipient that expends $750,000 in Federal awards within the fiscal year is required to have an annual single audit in accordance with the Uniform Guidance. New Jersey 15-08-OMB The State of New Jersey requires all organizations that disburse federal grant, state grant or state aid funds to recipients that expend $750,000 or more in federal or state financial assistance within their fiscal year to have annual single audits or program-specific audits performed in accordance with the Uniform Guidance and New Jersey 15-08-OMB. All organizations that disburse federal grant, state grant or state aid funds to recipients that expend less than $750,000 in federal or state financial assistance within their fiscal year, but expend $100,000 or more in state and/or federal financial assistance within their fiscal year must have either a financial statement audit performed in accordance with Government Auditing Standards (Yellow Book) or a program-specific audit performed in accordance with the Uniform Guidance and New Jersey 15-08-OMB.

Finding Details

FINDING NO. 2022-03 – Maintenance of Expenditures Supporting Documentation Type of Finding: Material Weakness in Internal Control over Major Programs Federal Agency: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Assistance Listing Number: 93.569 Pass-Through Agency: New Jersey Department of Community Affairs Program Titles: Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) and Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) – COVID 19 CARES Act CSBG ND 2020 Pass-Through Number(s): 2022-05235-0198-03, 2020-05205- 0330-01 Criteria: Expenditures of any nature should be supported by invoices or receipts that pertain to each grant. Statement of Condition: During our testing of expenditures associated with both the CSBG and CSBG COVID-19 CARES Act grants it was noted that there was no support for various expenditures submitted for reimbursement, see questioned costs for the specific grant and amounts. Cause: Lack of internal controls lead to the incorrect information being submitted. Effect: This might result in the cognizant agency disallowing the expenses with no supporting documentation and asking for a return of disallowed funds. Questioned Costs: $126,955, the details are as follows: • COVID19 CARES Act FSR#8/9 (Missing support for $40,000) • 2022 CSBG FSR#3/9 (Missing support due to duplication of expenditures submitted for reimbursements of $86,955) Repeat Finding: 2021-002 Recommendation: The Organization should adopt formal written procedures for expenditures. These procedures should require that all invoices, receipts, and payroll registers be kept and maintained for audit trail and reviewed and approved by an appropriate level of management. Views of Responsible Officials: The Organization concurs with the finding and is in the process of improving the Organization's internal controls including monthly closing procedures, record retention procedures and oversight to prevent the submission of incorrect information in the future. The 2022 CSBG was extended to July 29, 2023 and expenditures were submitted to support the $86,955 prior to that date.
FINDING NO. 2022-04 – Submission of Audited Financial Statements Type of Finding: Material Weakness in Internal Control over Major Programs Federal Agency: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Assistance Listing Number: 93.569 Pass-Through Agency: New Jersey Department of Community Affairs Program Titles: Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) and Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) – COVID 19 CARES Act CSBG ND 2020 Pass-Through Number(s): 2021-05235-0083-03, 2022-05235-0198-03, 2020-05205- 0330-01 Criteria: Per the Uniform Guidance and 15-08-OMB Policy manual: audits generally must be completed and submitted by the recipient within 9 months after the end of the recipient's fiscal year audit period. Shorter submission periods may be designated by a state funding agency. Statement of Condition: The Organization submission of the audited financial statements is late. Cause: Significant delay in closing the books, scheduling for an audit and providing information for the audit process. Effect: This might result in the cognizant agency withholding funds and delay funding. Questioned Costs: N/A Repeat Finding: 2021-005 Recommendation: The Organization should attempt to close their books and aim for audit completion within 9 months after year end to meet the federal audit clearing house reporting requirements. Views of Responsible Officials: The Organization agrees with this finding and has in place an accounting firm to facilitate the updating of accounting records and the preparation of information for the fiscal year ended September 2023 and 2024 audits. The accounting information for the fiscal year ended September 2023 is ready for the audit. The preparation of the accounting records for the September 2024 audit is in progress and will be ready for the auditors review shortly.
FINDING NO. 2022-03 – Maintenance of Expenditures Supporting Documentation Type of Finding: Material Weakness in Internal Control over Major Programs Federal Agency: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Assistance Listing Number: 93.569 Pass-Through Agency: New Jersey Department of Community Affairs Program Titles: Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) and Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) – COVID 19 CARES Act CSBG ND 2020 Pass-Through Number(s): 2022-05235-0198-03, 2020-05205- 0330-01 Criteria: Expenditures of any nature should be supported by invoices or receipts that pertain to each grant. Statement of Condition: During our testing of expenditures associated with both the CSBG and CSBG COVID-19 CARES Act grants it was noted that there was no support for various expenditures submitted for reimbursement, see questioned costs for the specific grant and amounts. Cause: Lack of internal controls lead to the incorrect information being submitted. Effect: This might result in the cognizant agency disallowing the expenses with no supporting documentation and asking for a return of disallowed funds. Questioned Costs: $126,955, the details are as follows: • COVID19 CARES Act FSR#8/9 (Missing support for $40,000) • 2022 CSBG FSR#3/9 (Missing support due to duplication of expenditures submitted for reimbursements of $86,955) Repeat Finding: 2021-002 Recommendation: The Organization should adopt formal written procedures for expenditures. These procedures should require that all invoices, receipts, and payroll registers be kept and maintained for audit trail and reviewed and approved by an appropriate level of management. Views of Responsible Officials: The Organization concurs with the finding and is in the process of improving the Organization's internal controls including monthly closing procedures, record retention procedures and oversight to prevent the submission of incorrect information in the future. The 2022 CSBG was extended to July 29, 2023 and expenditures were submitted to support the $86,955 prior to that date.
FINDING NO. 2022-04 – Submission of Audited Financial Statements Type of Finding: Material Weakness in Internal Control over Major Programs Federal Agency: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Assistance Listing Number: 93.569 Pass-Through Agency: New Jersey Department of Community Affairs Program Titles: Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) and Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) – COVID 19 CARES Act CSBG ND 2020 Pass-Through Number(s): 2021-05235-0083-03, 2022-05235-0198-03, 2020-05205- 0330-01 Criteria: Per the Uniform Guidance and 15-08-OMB Policy manual: audits generally must be completed and submitted by the recipient within 9 months after the end of the recipient's fiscal year audit period. Shorter submission periods may be designated by a state funding agency. Statement of Condition: The Organization submission of the audited financial statements is late. Cause: Significant delay in closing the books, scheduling for an audit and providing information for the audit process. Effect: This might result in the cognizant agency withholding funds and delay funding. Questioned Costs: N/A Repeat Finding: 2021-005 Recommendation: The Organization should attempt to close their books and aim for audit completion within 9 months after year end to meet the federal audit clearing house reporting requirements. Views of Responsible Officials: The Organization agrees with this finding and has in place an accounting firm to facilitate the updating of accounting records and the preparation of information for the fiscal year ended September 2023 and 2024 audits. The accounting information for the fiscal year ended September 2023 is ready for the audit. The preparation of the accounting records for the September 2024 audit is in progress and will be ready for the auditors review shortly.