Audit 379652

Finding Number: 2024‐001 Repeat Finding: No Program Names/Assistance Listing Titles: Assistance Listing Numbers: Federal Award Numbers: Questioned Costs: Community Project Funding Congressionally Directed Spending 20.534 N/A $0 Federal Transit Cluster 20.507, 20.526 N/A $0 Federal Agency: U.S. Department of Transportation Pass‐Through Agency: Arizona Department of Transportation Type of Finding: Noncompliance, Material Weakness Compliance Requirements: Reporting Criteria In accordance with 2 CFR 200.512, the single audit must be completed, and the data collection form and reporting package must be submitted within the earlier of 30 calendar days after receipt of the auditor’s report(s), or nine months after the end of the audit period. Additionally, Authority management is responsible for establishing and maintaining internal controls over financial reporting to include controls over the Authority’s accounting records and general ledger transactions. Condition The audit was not completed by the deadline. In addition, adequate internal controls were not in place to ensure financial activity was properly reported in the Authority’s accounting records and that the reported amounts were accurate representations of financial activity. Cause Employee turnover and a change in financial reporting software delayed the single audit reporting package. The Authority changed financial reporting systems and there was a lack of training and understanding on how to review the new system’s data for accuracy. Effect The Authority was not in compliance with federal regulations and guidelines for single audit submissions. Additionally, amounts initially recorded within the financial system for financial presentation purposes were not accurate and required adjustment. Context The single audit report was not completed within 9 months of year end. In addition, the following balances were not accurately presented within the financial system until after the auditors’ review took place: capital assets, beginning net position, accounts payable, receivables, cash, and revenues. The sample was not intended to be, and was not, a statistically valid sample. Recommendation The Authority should allocate necessary resources to implement controls and procedures to ensure accounting records are being appropriately recorded in the Authority’s financial system and the single audit report is completed and submitted in a timely manner. Views of Responsible Officials See Corrective Action Plan.