Audit 370700

Finding 2024-001: Lack of Internal Control over Financial Reporting Information on the Federal Program: Assistance Listing Number 11.405 - Cooperative Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Research. Award Number NA22NMF4050043 (MA 1797). Compliance Requirement: Reporting. Type of Finding: Material Noncompliance. Criteria: Uniform Guidance, 2 CFR § 200.305 Report Submission requires that a non-federal entity submit its Single Audit report, data collection form (SF-SAC), and reporting package to the Federal Audit Clearinghouse within the earlier of 30 days after the receipt of the auditor's report or nine months after the end of the audit period. Condition: The auditee's fiscal year-end is December 31, 2024. Per 2 CFR § 200.512, the reporting package was due on September 30, 2025. The auditee did not submit the completed Single Audit package to the Federal Audit Clearinghouse until after the required due date. Context: A review of the auditee's internal records and the FAC website confirmed that the Single Audit reporting package was not submitted by the required deadline. The delay was primarily caused by the lack of timely reconciliation of the auditee's financial records, which postponed the auditor's ability to complete their fieldwork. Cause: Management had not established and maintained effective internal controls over reporting to ensure timely submission of audited financial statements to the Federal Audit Clearinghouse. Effect or Potential Effect: The late submission put the auditee in noncompliance with federal regulations. This hinders the oversight agency from getting timely information about the auditee’s financial and compliance status. A lack of internal controls over required compliance requirements could affect the Organization receiving future federal funding. Questioned Costs: None Repeat Finding: Repeat finding of 2024-001 Recommendation: We recommend that management timely submit annual audit report to the Federal Audit Clearinghouse. To do this, management should develop and implement a clear timeline with internal milestones for completing audit preparation and review. Management should also establish internal control procedures that assign specific responsibilities to staff to ensure that all federal reporting deadlines are met. Views of Responsible Official: Management of the Organization concurs with the audit finding and will immediately implement the auditors’ recommendations. Internal control procedures will be put into place to establish milestones and overseen by the Executive director.