Finding 1157628 (2024-001)

Material Weakness Repeat Finding
Requirement
AB
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2024
Accepted
2025-09-30
Audit: 369843
Organization: Wabanaki Health and Wellness (ME)
Auditor: Wipfli LLP

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: There is a material weakness in internal controls over compliance with major federal programs at Wabanaki Public Health and Wellness.
  • Impacted Requirements: Internal controls were ineffective in detecting and correcting financial misstatements prior to the audit, leading to repeated findings over multiple years.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Implement timely account reconciliations and ensure that all journal entries are reviewed by someone other than the preparer to strengthen financial reporting controls.

Finding Text

Finding Number 2024-001: Represents a material weakness in internal control over compliance with Wabanaki Public Health and Wellness, NPC’s major federal programs. Questioned Costs: None Major Programs: AL#93.243 - Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services – Direct Award (DHHS) – Award numbers: 1H79SM087536-01, 5H79SM087536-02, 1H79SM087590-01, 5H79SP081724-05, 5H79SM082160-04, 5H79SM082160-05, 5H79SP082229-03, 5H79SP082229-04, 1H79SM088765-01, 1H79SM088765-02, 1H79TI085542-01, 5H79TI085542-02, 5H79T086128-02 and Pass-through awards CD9-23-4425 and CD9-25-4425 AL#93.772 - Tribal Public Health Capacity Building and Quality Improvement Umbrella Cooperative Agreement – Direct Award (DHHS) – Award numbers: 6 NU38TO000023-01-00, 6 NU38TO000023-02-00 and 6 NU38OT000257-05-03 AL#93.788 – Opioid STR – Direct Award (DHHS) – Award numbers: 5H79TI083088-02, 5H79TI083088-03, 6H79TI085684-01M003, 1H79T1087860-01 and Pass-through award CD9-24-5124 AL#93.859 – Biomedical Research and Research Training – Direct Award (DHHS) – Award numbers: 5S06GM142115-03 and 5S06GM142115-04 Description: Material Adjusting Journal Entries Condition: During the audit, Wipfli LLP proposed several adjusting journal entries to properly record cash, grants receivable, property and equipment, accounts payable, refundable advance liability, notes payable, grant revenue and expenses, other revenue, contributions with and without donor restrictions and the activity in Wabanaki Healing and Recovery, LLC, which we deem to be material in relation to the consolidated financial statements. We noted that not all accounts were consistently reconciled on a timely basis and adjusting journal entries are not consistently reviewed by someone other than the preparer. Since the internal controls of the Organization did not detect and record the adjustments described above prior to the audit, a material weakness exists in the Organization’s internal controls over financial reporting and the preparation of the consolidated financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. This is a repeat finding from the December 31, 2023 audit, finding number 2023-001, the December 31, 2022 audit, finding number 2022-001 and the December 31, 2021 audit, finding number 2021-001. Criteria: Internal controls are effective if they are properly designed and implemented to prevent or detect account misstatements prior to the audit. Cause: The internal controls of the Organization were not effective in preventing or detecting and correcting the misstatements described above prior to the audit. Effect: As a result of the financial reporting matter identified in the condition paragraph, a material weakness exists in the Organization’s internal controls over financial reporting. Recommendation: We recommend the Organization implement procedures, such as timely reconciling of accounts and review of all reconciliations and adjusting journal entries by someone other than the preparer, to provide sufficient internal control over financial reporting so all necessary transactions are recorded in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. View of responsible officials: Management agrees with the finding and has committed to a corrective action plan.

Corrective Action Plan

2024-001 - Material Weakness - Material Adjusting Journal Entries WPHW understands this finding and has corrected this error, but the correction was not fully completed for FY24 due to the timing of receiving the FY23 audit. In October 2024, we transitioned back to QuickBooks fully, we also made significant staff role changes. Our accounting department now has a Director of Accounting and a new manager, Accounting Manager. With these new positions, we have developed the following procedures for adjusting journal entries: 1) Accounting Director, Accounting Manager or Accountant Specialist identifies need for a journal entry 2) Accounting Specialist pulls the supporting documentation for the required entry, creates journal entry template in Excel or hand writes on supporting document, and prepares journal entry packet with supporting documentation for entry into QB. 3) Accounting Manager/Director of Accounting reviews packet and determines who can enter journal a. If reviewed by Director of Accounting, entry is entered QuickBooks by Accounting Specialist/Accounting Manager b. If reviewed by Accounting Manager, entry is entered into QuickBooks by Accountant Specialist 4) Once journal entry is entered into QuickBooks, entry is printed from QB system and added to packet. The packet is returned to the preparer to ensure all elements were completed corrected and signed off on 5) Completed packet goes to filing and are scanned into our electronic file system All adjustments must go through three different individuals to ensure separation of duties. This process was implemented during Q4 of FY24. The Director of Accounting will go back over all the journals completed before this date to review how each were completed and delegate additional review to the Accounting Manager and Accounting Specialist to ensure each journal entry had appropriate review and support. With this process in place, we anticipate this issue being fully resolved in FY25.

Categories

Material Weakness Reporting Equipment & Real Property Management Internal Control / Segregation of Duties

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 1157608 2024-001
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1157609 2024-002
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1157610 2024-003
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1157611 2024-007
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1157612 2024-001
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1157613 2024-002
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1157614 2024-003
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1157615 2024-007
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1157616 2024-001
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1157617 2024-002
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1157618 2024-003
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1157619 2024-007
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1157620 2024-001
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1157621 2024-002
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1157622 2024-003
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1157623 2024-007
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1157624 2024-001
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1157625 2024-002
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1157626 2024-003
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1157627 2024-007
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1157629 2024-002
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1157630 2024-003
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1157631 2024-007
    Material Weakness Repeat

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
93.772 Tribal Public Health Capacity Building and Quality Improvement Umbrella Cooperative Agreement $2.80M
93.859 Biomedical Research and Research Training $1.32M
93.872 Tribal Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting $561,578
93.391 Activities to Support State, Tribal, Local and Territorial (stlt) Health Department Response to Public Health Or Healthcare Crises $392,563
93.493 Community Project Funding/congressionally Directed Spending - Construction $351,763
93.912 Rural Health Care Services Outreach, Rural Health Network Development and Small Health Care Provider Quality Improvement $350,989
10.766 Community Facilities Loans and Grants $306,675
93.959 Block Grants for Prevention and Treatment of Substance Abuse $146,930
93.243 Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services_projects of Regional and National Significance $123,146
10.561 State Administrative Matching Grants for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program $100,102
93.762 A Comprehensive Approach to Good Health and Wellness in Indian County Ð Financed Solely by Prevention and Public Health $94,056
93.958 Block Grants for Community Mental Health Services $65,164
93.268 Immunization Cooperative Agreements $64,282
15.032 Indian Economic Development $53,890
93.387 National and State Tobacco Control Program (b) $46,283
93.270 Adult Viral Hepatitis Prevention and Control $43,061
93.940 Hiv Prevention Activities_health Department Based $41,013
21.023 Emergency Rental Assistance Program $39,478
15.144 Indian Child Welfare Act_title II Grants $26,489
93.558 Temporary Assistance for Needy Families $26,068
93.136 Injury Prevention and Control Research and State and Community Based Programs $12,304
10.568 Emergency Food Assistance Program (administrative Costs) $11,673
93.647 Social Services Research and Demonstration $10,524
93.977 Preventive Health Services_sexually Transmitted Diseases Control Grants $10,254
10.225 Community Food Projects $7,337
93.788 Opioid Str $6,408
21.027 Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds $1,291