Finding 2024-004 – Insufficient Skills, Knowledge and Training, and Leadership (Material Weakness) Name of Federal Agency: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Federal Program Name: Nonpoint Source Implementation Grants Assistance Listing Numbers: 66.460 Pass-Through Entity: Oregon Department of Env...
Finding 2024-004 – Insufficient Skills, Knowledge and Training, and Leadership (Material Weakness) Name of Federal Agency: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Federal Program Name: Nonpoint Source Implementation Grants Assistance Listing Numbers: 66.460 Pass-Through Entity: Oregon Department of Environmental Quality Name of Federal Agency: U.S. Department of Commerce – National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Federal Program Name: Pacific Coast Salmon Recovery Program Assistance Listing Numbers: 11.438, 15.015, 15.244 Pass-Through Entity: State of Oregon – Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board (OWEB) Name of Federal Agency: U.S. Department of Agriculture Federal Program Name: National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Assistance Listing Numbers: 10.665 Pass-Through Entity: U.S. Forest Service Name of Federal Agency: U.S. Department of Agriculture Federal Program Name: Natural Resources Conservation Service Assistance Listing Numbers: 10.905 Pass-Through Entity: U.S. Forest Service Name of Federal Agency: U.S. Department of the Interior Federal Program Name: Wildlife, Sport Fish and Restoration Program Assistance Listing Numbers: 15.244 Pass-Through Entity: Bureau of Land Management Name of Federal Agency: U.S. Department of the Interior Federal Program Name: Secure Rural Schools and community Self-Determination – Watershed and water-quality improvements Assistance Listing Numbers: 15.234 Pass-Through Entity: Bureau of Land ManagementCriteria: Under Uniform Guidance 2 CFR §200.303, non-federal entities must establish and maintain effective internal control over federal awards that provides reasonable assurance of compliance with federal statutes, regulations, and the award terms and conditions. This includes ensuring that: Personnel administering federal awards possess adequate skills, knowledge, and experience. Management and leadership provide appropriate oversight of federal award activities. Financial management systems adequately support accurate reporting, documentation, retention, and reconciliation of federal expenditures in accordance with 2 CFR §200.302. Condition: During the audit of federal awards, the entity did not demonstrate sufficient skills, knowledge, or experience of the staff and leadership responsible for administering and overseeing federal programs. Specifically: Adequate supporting documentation for federal award expenditures was not maintained or provided. Leadership oversight of federal award compliance activities was limited, and management review of grant activity were not evidenced. These conditions resulted in weaknesses in financial reporting, compliance monitoring, and documentation related to federal awards. Cause: Partnership for the Umpqua Rivers has not ensured that staffing levels, qualifications, and experience are sufficient to support federal award administration and compliance. In addition, leadership lacks adequate knowledge of federal award requirements to provide effective governance, oversight, and monitoring of compliance activities. Formal training and documented procedures for federal awards management have not been prioritized. Effect or Potential Effect: As a result of these deficiencies: Partnership for the Umpqua Rivers is at increased risk of non-compliance with Uniform Guidance requirements. Federal expenditures may be unsupported, inaccurately reported, or unallowable. Errors or compliance violations may not be detected or corrected in a timely manner. The entity may be subject to questioned costs, repayment of federal funds, or additional scrutiny from grantor agencies. Questioned Cost: None identified Context: During our audit, it was found that the Partnership for the Umpqua Rivers experienced complete staff turnover in Financial Management for the year being audited. No current finance employees had worked for the organization during the year being audited. No financial files for Accounts Payable, invoices, or reporting were available to the current financial staff. Not adequately retaining supporting documents and invoices to support the expenditures of the general ledger and requests for reimbursement for grants, the organization records may be insufficient for testing and review, for internal controls or meeting federal documentation and reporting requirements. Repeat of a Prior-Year Finding: No, Prior- year did not require a Single Audit. Recommendation: We recommend that Partnership for the Umpqua Rivers: Ensure staff responsible for federal awards receive appropriate training on Uniform Guidance requirements, grant financial management, documentation, and compliance monitoring. Assign federal award oversight to personnel with sufficient experience and qualification or obtain external grant management and accounting support as needed. Establish written policies and procedures for federal award administration, including expenditure documentation, reconciliation, compliance review, and management approvals. Require leadership to perform and document periodic oversight and monitoring of federal awards, including review of reconciliations reimbursement requests, and compliance metrics. Implement ongoing monitoring and internal control assessments to ensure compliance with federal award requirements. District Response: Partnership for the Umpqua Rivers acknowledges the deficiencies. Corrective Action Plan: _____________ (To be completed by Partnership for the Umpqua Rivers) Planned Implementation Date: ___________ Responsible Person: Partnership for the Umpqua Rivers Finance Manager