For the Year Ended June 30, 2023
Finding 2023-002
Condition #2: The University withdrew the current year budget amount for one grant for $176,615 before incurring allowable expenses and did not disburse the funds within three days. The University kept the funds in an insured account and used the fun...
For the Year Ended June 30, 2023
Finding 2023-002
Condition #2: The University withdrew the current year budget amount for one grant for $176,615 before incurring allowable expenses and did not disburse the funds within three days. The University kept the funds in an insured account and used the funds on eligible expenses by June 30, 2023. The internal controls over cash management were not operating effectively.
Corrective Action Planned:
A desk review of ALN 47.076 National Science foundation (NSF) occurred in August 2023 and identified 17.76%, the current year annual budgeted amount, had been drawn down in advance of expenditures incurred and not fully utilized as indicated in 2 CFR 200.305 Federal Payments. MMU has discontinued the practice of drawing down funds in advance based on the budgeted amount for each year of the project (as prior grants allowed). Instead, MMU will draw down funds based on immediate cash requirements each month of the project after expenditures are incurred, reflected in the general ledger system and reviewed by the Principal Investigator (PI)/Co Principal Investigator (Co-PI) and Senior Accountant. The Business Office has implemented a cash management control as follows: Review financial requirements upon grant submission and again when awarded, adjust accounting controls according to grantor requirements, actively participate in monthly review of financial reporting to grantor and document all financial activities as required
Name(s) of Contact Person(s) Responsible for Corrective Action:
Cheryl Bailey (PI), and Kathleen Glancey (Co-PI) and Nicole Biddle, Senior Director of Finance.
Anticipated Completion Date: Grants Manager, Kathleen Glancey, has experience with grant reporting and management systems. Cheryl Bailey (PI) and Kathy Glancey met during the month of September 2023 to create an updated grants management manual that contains policies and procedures to encompass all federal sponsored programs. MMU shared the grants manual with NSF by September 30th, 2023. Immediately upon completion of manual and submission to NSF, monthly meetings commenced to implement financial review of incurred expenses prior to cash draws. The complete action plan was implemented upon the desk review which was 4 months prior to the Single Audit.