Finding 1146913 (2024-001)

Material Weakness
Requirement
P
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2024
Accepted
2025-07-03
Audit: 361424
Organization: Institute for Applied Ecology (OR)

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: There were significant errors in the SEFA, leading to a material misstatement of federal expenditures.
  • Impacted Requirements: Lack of review and reconciliation of the SEFA to accounting records contributed to inaccuracies.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Implement stronger controls and ensure senior management reviews the SEFA before submission to prevent future errors.

Finding Text

Type: Material weakness over preparation of schedule of expenditures of federal awards (SEFA). Condition/Context There were errors in the schedule of federal expenditures (SEFA) that was provided for the audit. Certain expenditures were not included which resulted in a material error in the amount reported. Cause Amounts billed did not agree to the SEFA. No review of the SEFA was performed. Questioned Costs None. Recommendation The Organization should implement additional procedures and controls to accurately capture all activity under federal awards in preparing the SEFA. The SEFA should be reviewed by a senior member of management and reconciled to the accounting records. Management’s Response We agree with the recommendation and acknowledge that the initial SEFA included errors. During the initial SEFA preparation, our finance team was short-staffed due to the recent departure of a staff person familiar with SEFA preparation and review. Thus, the initial report was prepared and submitted only by our Controller without the review of another individual. As the team is staffed-up in 2025, we will ensure we hire and/or train additional individuals to have the skills, knowledge, and expertise to identify errors in the SEFA.

Categories

Reporting Material Weakness

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 570471 2024-001
    Material Weakness
  • 570472 2024-001
    Material Weakness
  • 1146914 2024-001
    Material Weakness

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
15.246 Threatened and Endangered Species $506,831
10.717 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act Restoration/revegetation $460,090
10.699 Partnership Agreements $340,092
15.945 Cooperative Research and Training Programs Ð Resources of the National Park System $254,697
11.419 Coastal Zone Management Administration Awards $106,092
12.630 Basic, Applied, and Advanced Research in Science and Engineering $88,507
15.234 Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination $77,076
10.701 Stewardship Agreements $68,566
10.724 Wildfire Crisis Strategy Landscapes $58,440
15.630 Coastal Program $57,050
15.954 National Park Service Conservation, Protection, Outreach, and Education $43,112
15.245 Plant Conservation and Restoration Management $34,324
15.631 Partners for Fish and Wildlife $34,020
10.310 Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (afri) $32,028
15.230 Invasive and Noxious Plant Management $27,756
15.657 Endangered Species Conservation Ð Recovery Implementation Funds $15,078
15.808 U.s. Geological Survey_ Research and Data Collection $8,498
15.615 Cooperative Endangered Species Conservation Fund $4,710