Finding 1092972 (2022-008)

Material Weakness
Requirement
BM
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2022
Accepted
2024-12-22

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: A journal entry for a passthrough payment to a subaward recipient was based on budgeted amounts, not actual costs.
  • Impacted Requirements: This practice violates 2 CFR 200.403, which mandates costs be recognized according to generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP).
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Establish written policies for subaward monitoring, requiring actual cost documentation from subawardees before recording expenses.

Finding Text

2022-008 Allowable Cost Determination and Subaward Monitoring Federal Program: Research and Development Cluster (ALN 47.041, Award Period 9/1/19 – 8/31/22) Federal Agency: National Science Foundation Criteria: 2 CFR 200.403 requires that costs must have been incurred and recognized in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). Condition: We selected 45 non-payroll expenses for testing. Of those 45, 1 was a journal entry to accrue for a passthrough payment to a subaward recipient. Supporting documentation indicated that this journal entry was recorded based on a budgeted amount and not actual performance by the subaward recipient. Cause: The Organization lacked written policies and procedures to execute appropriate subaward monitoring responsibilities. Effect: The Organization was not compliance with 2 CFR 200.403 which requires that costs must be incurred and recognized in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). Identification as a repeat finding, if applicable: The finding is not a repeat finding of the prior year. Recommendation: We recommend the Organization establish policy and procedures to monitor the sub awardee. These policies and procedures should include a requirement that the sub awardee presents supporting documentation to the Organization to demonstrate actual cost and performance under the agreement prior to the Organization recording the expense to the grant. Response: The Organization will establish appropriate procedures for sub awardee monitoring. Questioned Costs: None. An adjustment was posted to remove the costs that were booked based on budget from current year expenditures.

Categories

Allowable Costs / Cost Principles Subrecipient Monitoring

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 516526 2022-004
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 516527 2022-005
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 516528 2022-006
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 516529 2022-007
    Material Weakness
  • 516530 2022-008
    Material Weakness
  • 1092968 2022-004
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1092969 2022-005
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1092970 2022-006
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1092971 2022-007
    Material Weakness

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
47.041 Engineering $1.18M
47.049 Mathematical and Physical Sciences $740,000