Finding 1075963 (2023-001)

Significant Deficiency
Requirement
P
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2023
Accepted
2024-09-30
Audit: 322383
Organization: New America Foundation (DC)

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: New America lacks adequate internal controls for payroll allocations, leading to inconsistent application of costs related to employee effort.
  • Impacted Requirements: Compliance with 2 CFR Part 200 is necessary to ensure allowable costs are properly allocated.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Implement procedures to ensure payroll costs are allocated based on actual time and effort spent on the program.

Finding Text

Federal Agency: U.S. Department of State Federal Program Name: International Programs to Support Democracy, Human Rights and Labor Assistance Listing Number: 19.345 Federal Award Identification Number and Year: S-LMAQM21GR3222 - 2021 Award Period: August 21, 2021 through December 31, 2023 Type of Finding: Significant Deficiency in Internal Control over Compliance and Other Matter Criteria or specific requirement: 2 CFR Part 200 Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Award requires compliance with the provisions of allowable cost. New America should have internal controls designed to ensure compliance with those provisions. Condition: During our testing, we noted New America did not have adequate internal controls designed to ensure that payroll related allocations were based on the effort and applied consistently each period. Questioned costs: None Context: During our testing, it was noted that New America did not apply consistent allocation of paid time off costs to the grant based on the employee’s effort. 1 of the 18 selected allocations had excess cost allocated to the grant. 1 of the 18 selection allocations was missing some of the allocated cost. Cause: New America employee responsible for review of the paid time off allocations to the grant did not apply the allocation methodology based on effort. Effect: The auditor noted the lack of internal controls over these compliance requirements provides an opportunity for noncompliance. Repeat Finding: This is not a repeat finding. Recommendation: CLA recommends New America implements procedures to ensure payroll related costs are allocated based on time & effort spent/worked in program. Views of responsible officials: There is no disagreement with the audit finding.

Categories

Allowable Costs / Cost Principles

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 499521 2023-001
    Significant Deficiency

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
98.U01 Intergrated Natural Resources Management $321,190
98.001 Usaid Foreign Assistance for Programs Overseas $122,683
19.703 Criminal Justice Systems $113,850
19.345 International Programs to Support Democracy, Human Rights and Labor $35,925
11.620 Science, Technology, Business And/or Education Outreach $33,969
14.536 Research, Evaluation, and Demonstrations $10,280