Finding 10512 (2023-001)

Significant Deficiency Repeat Finding
Requirement
P
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2023
Accepted
2024-01-29
Audit: 14215
Organization: Village Cooperative of Austin (MN)
Auditor: Mahoney

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: There was a significant deficiency in segregation of duties, with one employee handling both management and accounting tasks.
  • Impacted Requirements: Good internal control practices require that no single employee has access to both physical assets and related accounting records.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: The Board of Directors should maintain regular oversight to mitigate risks, although this issue has been resolved with a new management agreement ensuring proper segregation.

Finding Text

Significant deficiency – Segregation of duties Criteria - Good internal control requires a segregation of duties and responsibilities such that no one employee has access to both physical assets and the related accounting records, or to all phases of a transaction. Condition - The Cooperative has one employee that performs day to day management andaccounting functions. Cause - The size of the Cooperative’s accounting and administrative staff precludes certain internal controls that would be preferred if the office staff were large enough to provide optimum segregation of duties. Effect - The lack of segregation of duties may result in undetected errors in financial statements and increases the possibility of misappropriation of Cooperative assets. Repeat Finding - This finding was reported in the prior year as finding 2022-001. Recommendation - The Board of Directors should remain involved in the financial affairs of the Cooperative on a regular ongoing basis to provide oversight and independent review functions and mitigate the weakness created by the lack of segregation. Auditee’s comment - On October 1, 2023, the Cooperative entered into a management agreement with Anderson Asset Property Group, LLC to manage the Cooperative. The management company has proper segregation of duties in place such that no one employee has access to both physical assets and the related accounting records. Status - Resolved FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS – MAJOR FEDERAL AWARD PROGRAM AUDIT No matters were reported.

Corrective Action Plan

The Board of Directors is and will remain involved in the financial affairs of the Cooperative. The Cooperative hired a new management agent with proper segregation of duties.

Categories

Internal Control / Segregation of Duties Significant Deficiency

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 586954 2023-001
    Significant Deficiency Repeat

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
14.126 Mortgage Insurance_cooperative Projects $6.93M