Finding Text
Finding 2020-003: Reconciliation of Accounts
Federal Program: Research and Development Cluster (Education and Human Resources)
Assistance Listing Number and Title: 47.076 STEM Education
Name of Federal Agency, Pass Through Entity (when applicable), Award Number and Year: National Science Foundation: 1812860 (9/1/2018 – 8/31/2020), 1940925 (1/15/2020 – 12/31/2023)
Material Weakness in Internal Control over Compliance, Material Noncompliance
Criteria or Specific Requirement (Including Statutory, Regulatory, or Other Citation): According to 2 CFR 200.508 "Auditee Responsibilities" the auditee must prepare appropriate financial statements, including the SEFA (as specifically defined under 2 CFR 200.510 "Financial statements"). Title 2 CFR 200.510 "financial statements" requires recipients of Federal funds to prepare a SEFA for the period covered by the auditee's financial statements, which must include the total Federal awards expended. In addition, as noted in 2 CFR 200.302 "Financial management", the financial management system of each non-Federal entity must provide for identification, in its accounts, of all Federal awards received and expended and the Federal programs under which they were received, and records that identify adequately the source and application of funds for federally-funded activities including expenditures.
Condition: The year-end schedules for federal grants receivable, for net assets, and for vacation payable were not reconciled and needed to be revised and updated.
Cause: Errors in transferring balances between years occurred, which impacted carry-over amounts and the ending balances as of 12/31/2020. Related to vacation payables, the schedule had not been properly adjusted to account for the number of days in the last pay period.
Effect or Potential Effect: Three federal grant accounts were overdrawn as of 12/31/2020, creating a liability to the federal government. The related grant receivable and liability balances were not properly stated before adjustment as a result.
Questioned Costs: $77,113 in total. Assistance listing number 47.076. Of this amount, $62,403 applies to award ID 1505278, which was closed before 1/1/2020 and did not have expenses or drawdowns in 2020 but by the end of 2018 had $138,034 in federal funding provided to AAPT and $75,631 of reimbursable expenses. AAPT had not refunded the overpayment, such as by applying this $62,403 as a reduction in federal reimbursements drawn during 2020. The remaining amounts of $10,654 and $4,056 relate to award IDs 1812860, and 1940925, respectively, and were calculated in the same manner. The period of performance for award ID 1812860 ended on 8/31/2020. Award ID 1940925 was active through 12/31/2020.
Identification as a Repeat Finding, if Applicable: 2019-002
Recommendation: We recommend AAPT staff prepare schedules used to prepare entries into the accounting information system or which the information in the schedules will
otherwise be used to initiate financial transactions, and the transactions and schedules be reviewed by a supervisor.
Views of Responsible Officials and Planned Corrective Actions: The outstanding liability due to NSF of $73,057 will be reimbursed when AAPT files the next drawn down request. Anticipated date of drawn down will be by April, 30,2024 The remaining balance was earned in 2021.
The senior accountant will be trained to prepare entries previously prepared by the CFO
The senior accountant will reconcile accounts, and provide updated current schedules.
The CFO will review and approve the entries and schedules prepared by the Senior accountant.
Anticipated Completion Date: October 15, 2024
Responsible Official: Michael Brosnan, CFO