Finding 1153121 (2024-001)

Material Weakness Repeat Finding
Requirement
ABCHIL
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2024
Accepted
2025-09-16
Audit: 366353
Organization: Civic Arts (TX)

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: There are significant gaps in internal controls over federal awards, leading to potential noncompliance.
  • Impacted Requirements: Compliance with the Uniform Guidance and internal control standards is not being met due to insufficient supervisory reviews and approvals.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Civic Arts should establish and document thorough review processes for invoices, payroll, drawdowns, cash flow statements, and report accuracy.

Finding Text

Internal Control Over Compliance Material Weakness in Internal Control Over Compliance Criteria – The Uniform Guidance states that the non-federal entity must: (1) 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. These internal controls should be in compliance with guidance in “Standards for Internal Control in the Federal Government” issued by the Comptroller General of the United States or the “Internal Control Integrated Framework”, issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). (§200.303). Condition – We identified insufficient internal controls, including lack of internal controls relating to (1) supervisory review and approval of invoices and payroll, (2) review and authorization of drawdowns prior to submission, (3) preparation and review of cash flow statements/forecasts to determine the immediate cash needs of the federal program, and (4) review and approval of reports for completeness and accuracy. Cause – Effective internal controls over federal awards have not been implemented due to limited individuals as a result of the small size of the entity. Effect – Deficiencies in internal control could result in noncompliance with the terms and conditions of the federal program. Recommendations – Civic Arts should develop and document review processes to ensure (1) supervisory review and approval of invoices and payroll, (2) review and authorization of drawdowns prior to submission, (3) preparation and review of cash flow statements/forecasts to determine the immediate cash needs of the federal program, and (4) review and approval of reports for completeness and accuracy.

Corrective Action Plan

Management concurs with the recommendation as proposed and is implementing policies and procedures to provide for proper segregation of duties over grant activities. This has been implemented effective immediately.

Categories

Cash Management Material Weakness Matching / Level of Effort / Earmarking Internal Control / Segregation of Duties

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
45.024 Promotion of the Arts Grants to Organizations and Individuals $1.82M