Finding 1153404 (2024-001)

Material Weakness Repeat Finding
Requirement
AB
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2024
Accepted
2025-09-18
Audit: 366629
Auditor: Eide Bailly LLP

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: Payroll expenditures were paid correctly, but federal reimbursements used incorrect wage rates.
  • Impacted Requirements: Internal controls over documentation and review of payroll transactions are inadequate.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Conduct a thorough review and reconciliation of payroll documentation before claiming reimbursements.

Finding Text

Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management Federal Financial Assistance Listing 97.036 Disaster Grant – Public Assistance Allowable Costs/Activities Allowed or Unallowed Material Weakness in Internal Control Over Compliance Criteria – A good system of internal accounting control contemplates an adequate system for ensuring documentation of expenditures, including payroll transactions, is reviewed and maintained. Condition – In our testing of allowable costs and activities, we noted instances where payroll expenditures were paid by the Cooperative at the correct wage rates but federal reimbursement for hours worked was calculated using the incorrect wage rates. Cause – Procedures are not in place to adequately identify improper wage rates applied to payroll transactions. Effect – The deficiency could result in a misstatement to the financial statements that would not be prevented or detected. Questioned Costs – None reported. Context/Sampling – A nonstatistical sample of 60 transactions out of a population greater than 250 total transactions were selected for testing, which accounted for $324,383 of $1,558,311 of federal program expenditures. Repeat Finding from Prior Years – No Recommendation – A thorough review and reconciliation of supporting documentation for expenditures, including payroll transactions, should be performed before amounts are claimed for reimbursement. Views of Responsible Officials – There is no disagreement with the audit finding.

Corrective Action Plan

Finding 2024-001 Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management Federal Financial Assistance Listing 97.036 Disaster Grant Public Assistance Allowable Costs/ Activities Allowed or Unallowed Material Weakness in Internal Control over Compliance Finding Summary: In the testing of allowable costs and activities, there were instances noted where payroll expenditures were paid by the Cooperative at the correct wage rates, but federal reimbursement for hours worked was calculated using the incorrect wage rates. Responsible Individuals: Jodi Bullinger, Troy Knutson, and Andy Weiss Corrective Action Plan: The Cooperative will perform a thorough review and reconciliation of supporting documentation for expenditures, including payroll transactions, before amounts are claimed for reimbursement. Anticipated Completion Date: December 31, 2025

Categories

Allowable Costs / Cost Principles Cash Management Material Weakness Internal Control / Segregation of Duties

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
97.036 Disaster Grants - Public Assistance (presidentially Declared Disasters) $1.56M