SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS AND CORRECTIVE ACTION PLAN Federal Award Finding September 30, 2024 Comment #2024-002 Repeat Comment #2023-001 AND #2022-001 INTERNAL CONTROLS OVER FINANCIAL STATEMENT PREPARATION AND COMPLIANCE WITH RELATED PROVISIONS OF GRANTS AND CONTRACTS SHOULD BE IMPROVED LIHEAP FALN 93.568 (Questioned Costs - Undetermined) Condition: As part of our auditing procedures, we assisted in the preparation of the financial statements, related disclosures, and the schedule of expenditures of federal awards of the Agency. The preparation of these financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) and Title 2 U.S. Code of Federal Regulations Part 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards, is the responsibility of the grantee. The authoritative and regulatory standards states in summary, that management should authorize, process, reconcile and close-out each grant and contract in a timely manner to ensure proper accounting and reporting of such activity in accordance with the specific professional standards and regulatory requirements. The close-out process is designed to reduce the risk of errors, fraud, material misstatement of financial and compliance reporting and recognition of expenditures (or revenue) in the proper period. We noted that the current system of internal controls over financial statements and compliance is not designed to ensure that the objectives are achieved. Further, the capacity and experience of the current staff does not allow for adequate analysis of grants and contracts, proper allocations of shared costs and support services provided, grantor receivables, deferred revenue, and the reconciliation of bank accounts accurately and in a timely manner. This resulted in adjustments necessary to properly present the financial statements and disclosures of the Council as of September 30, 2024. We also noted significant weaknesses in internal controls over personnel payroll and the processing, maintaining and reconciling payroll activity to the general ledger and external regulatory reporting (IRS Form 941's, state filings, reports to various funding sources, etc.) Therefore, the risk exists that grant receivables and/or cash from the various programs are not recorded properly during the reporting period (interim and annually). This condition also makes it difficult to prepare accurate external reports required by the various funding sources in a timely manner. The systemic cause appears to be the untimely termination of key personnel and a lack of personnel with the skills, knowledge, and experience with grant accounting and a weakness in the overall system of internal accounting controls and monitoring. Context: Review of internal control structure of the organization in accordance with Government Auditing Standards. Criteria: Controls should be in place to ensure that financial statements are prepared in accordance with GAAP. The auditee shall prepare financial statements that reflect its financial position, results of operations or changes in net assets, and, where appropriate, cash flows for the fiscal year audited. The auditee shall also prepare a schedule of expenditures of Federal awards for the period covered by the auditee's financial statements. [2 CFR §200.510(a) and (b)] Accurate, current, and complete disclosure of the financial results of each Federal award or program in accordance with the reporting requirements set forth in §200.328 Financial reporting and 200.329 Monitoring and reporting program performance [2 CFR §200.302(b)(2)]. SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS AND CORRECTIVE ACTION PLAN Federal Award Finding September 30, 2024 Comment #2024-002 Repeat Comment #2023-001 AND #2022-001 INTERNAL CONTROLS OVER FINANCIAL STATEMENT PREPARATION AND COMPLIANCE WITH RELATED PROVISIONS OF GRANTS AND CONTRACTS SHOULD BE IMPROVED LIHEAP FALN 93.568 (Questioned Costs - Undetermined) (Continued) Effect: Management may not be able to obtain complete and accurate financial statements on an interim or fiscal year basis to be used for internal or external reporting purposes. Cause: Turnover of key staff and limited personnel with knowledge and/or the ability to assist and provide needed information to aid in financial statement preparation. Recommendation: The degree to which the preparation of the financial statements and related disclosures are prepared by the independent auditor is a control deficiency is determined by the knowledge, skills and experience of those in the organization who are charged with the responsibility of its financial reporting. The Council has hired a new fiscal officer and should hire additional staff (grant accountant and a general ledger accountant) to assist the new fiscal officer. New staff should have the adequate skills, knowledge and experience to oversee and/or perform the necessary accounting functions each month. Policies and procedures should be updated to adequately address the challenges and dynamics of the community action agency. The Board of Directors should be adequately trained in the areas of understanding risk assessment and financial awareness in the community action industry. A finance and audit committee should be established and trained in understanding and oversight of financial reporting responsibilities of community action associations. We believe that the CFO with the supporting staff and general ledger accountant should have the overall responsibility of properly reconciling and closing out the accounting system and grant activity each month in an efficient and timely manner so as to eliminate the risk of significant errors occurring. Budget-to-actual schedules should be an integral part of the grant accountant’s basic responsibilities. Program directors should be involved in the closing process. We further recommend that training be provided to all staff engaged in the financial reporting, allocations and reconciliation functions to ensure that a complete and accurate financial statements close-out process is achieved each month and annually. Views of Responsible Officials and Planned Corrective Actions: Management is in the process of assessing the organizational structure and capacity to provide adequate financial reporting. With Board review and approval of the Council’s financial funding sources, the Council will provide additional training to support the new fiscal officer. The fiscal officer will have the overall responsibility of properly reconciling and closing out the accounting system and grant activity each month in an efficient and timely manner to eliminate the risk of significant errors occurring. Budget-to-actual schedules will be an integral part of the grant accountant analyst’s basic responsibilities. All enhancements will be implemented by July 31, 2025.