Finding 1156987 (2024-003)

Material Weakness Repeat Finding
Requirement
M
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2024
Accepted
2025-09-30

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: The Organization lacks adequate internal controls for reviewing subrecipient documentation before reimbursement, risking non-compliance with federal requirements.
  • Impacted Requirements: Compliance with 2 CFR 200.303 and internal control standards is not being met, potentially leading to misuse of federal funds.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Enhance procedures to ensure all subrecipient invoices are reviewed and documented before payment, as agreed upon by management.

Finding Text

FINDING 2024-003 Subrecipient Monitoring (Significant Deficiency) Federal Program Information: Education Stabilization Fund (ALN 84.425U) Criteria: 2 CFR 200.303 states that a receipt or subrecipient of federal awards must establish, document, and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award that provides reasonable assurance that the recipient or subrecipient is managing the Federal award in compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal award. These internal controls should align with the 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). Condition: The Organization has a policy in place to reimburse subrecipients for allowable expenses once all invoice and payment support is provided by the subrecipient and reviewed and approved by the Organization. While the Organization obtained support from the subrecipient, there was no evidence that the supporting documentation was reviewed and approved by the Organization before reimbursing the subrecipient. Cause: Insufficient internal control and administrative oversight. Effect or Potential Effect: Failure to maintain adequate internal controls to ensure that all subrecipients are sufficiently monitored may result in the wrongful use of federal funds and non-compliance with the provisions of applicable requirements of the federal awards. Questioned Costs: None Context: The Organization made payments to 39 subrecipients. During our audit we tested 4 subrecipients and noted that the Organization did not have evidence of review of source documentation from the subrecipient for any of the subrecipients selected for testing. Prior Year Finding: Reported as 2023-003 in the prior year. Recommendation: We recommend the Organization enhance its procedures and internal controls over subrecipient monitoring to ensure subrecipient invoices are properly reviewed and the review is documented. Views of Responsible Officials: Management agrees with the finding and the auditors’ recommendation. See Corrective Action Plan at the end of the report.

Corrective Action Plan

FINDING 2024-003 Massachusetts Individual Responsible for Corrective Action Plan: Alliance Director Jenn Aldworth Corrective Action: The organization is strengthening internal process for subrecipient monitoring including formalizing the documentation of the review and approval before reimbursing the subrecipient in accordance with 2 CFR 200.303. Anticipated Completion Date: December 31, 2025

Categories

Subrecipient Monitoring Internal Control / Segregation of Duties Significant Deficiency

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 1156986 2024-002
    Material Weakness Repeat

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
84.425 Education Stabilization Fund $1.45M
93.959 Block Grants for Prevention and Treatment of Substance Abuse $172,231
93.847 Diabetes, Digestive, and Kidney Diseases Extramural Research $46,173