Finding Text
Finding SA 2023-001 Absence of a System in the Preparation of Schedule of Expenditures of Federal Awards (SEFA)
Criteria:
The following sections of the Uniform Guidance provide the following requirements:
Section §200.510 (b) Schedule of Expenditures of Federal Awards;
The auditee must also prepare a schedule of expenditures of federal awards for the period covered by the auditee's financial statements which must include the total Federal awards expended as determined in accordance with §200.502 (Basis for determining Federal awards expended). While not required, the auditee may choose to provide the information requested by Federal awarding agencies and pass-through entities to make the schedule easier to use. For example, when a Federal program has multiple Federal award years, the auditee may list the amounts of Federal awards expended for each Federal award year separately. At a minimum, the schedule must:
• List individual Federal programs by Federal agency. For a cluster of programs, provide the cluster name, list individual Federal programs within the cluster of programs, and provide the applicable Federal agency name.
• Provide the Federal awards expended for each individual Federal program and the Assistance Listings number or other identifying number when the Assistance Listings information is not available. For a cluster of programs also provide the total for the cluster.
Section 200.303: The non-federal entity should establish and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award that provides reasonable assurance that the non-federal entity is managing the Federal award in compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal Award.
Section 200.1 defines internal control for non-Federal entities as the processes designed and implemented by non-Federal entity to provide reasonable assurance regarding the achievement of the objectives in the following categories:
(i) Effectiveness and efficiency of operations;
(ii) Reliability of reporting for internal and external use
Condition
During the audit, we noted that Hannas House does not have a system in place to prepare an accurate and complete SEFA. The internal financial records and documentation of the Organization did not clearly distinguish between federal and non-federal expenditures for 4 out of 5 federal programs, representing 6% of the total federal expenditures. As a result, additional audit procedures, which included sending confirmation letters to grantors, were necessary to compile an accurate SEFA for financial statement reporting purposes. Cause/Effect
The absence of a properly prepared SEFA increases the risk of noncompliance with federal requirements. This could lead to incomplete or inaccurate reporting of federal expenditures exposing the Organization to potential sanctions.
Questioned Costs
None
Recommendation
We recommend that the Organization develop and implement a formal system to ensure accurate and reliable information are readily available for preparing a complete and compliant SEFA. The accounting system should be designed to properly track federal expenditures separately from non-federal expenditures to facilitate easy identification and aggregation of federal award information. Employees should receive proper training on the requirements of the Uniform Guidance to ensure compliance with SEFA preparation standards.
Views of Responsible Personnel and Planned Corrective Actions:
The Organization’s Accounting Department, under the direction of the Chief Executive Officer, Connie Franks will ensure that federal grants received are clearly delineated on the trial balance through a clear description that the source of funds is from a federal source and that the related expenditures are clearly identified from other expenditures on the trial balance for properly preparation of SEFA. Completion of the referenced corrective action will be implemented by January 2025.