Finding 1157931 (2024-003)

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

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: The organization did not properly list equipment purchases over $5,000 in the official inventory due to turnover in key financial roles.
  • Impacted Requirements: Equipment funded by Head Start must be capitalized and included in the program's inventory as per federal guidelines.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Implement a formal month-end or year-end review process to ensure proper capitalization of expenditures and update the Head Start inventory accordingly.

Finding Text

2024-003 – Head Start Equipment and Real Property Management - Significant Deficiency in Internal Control over Compliance Department of Health and Human Services AL # 93.600 Head Start Cluster Federal Grantor/ Pass-Through Grantor Grant Number Grant Period U.S. Department of Health and Human Services 07CH011972-03 04/01/23 – 03/31/24 U.S. Department of Health and Human Services 07CH011972-04 04/01/24 – 03/31/25 Questioned Costs: None How were questioned costs computed: Not applicable Condition: Young Women’s Christian Association of Metropolitan St. Louis, Inc. did follow the capitalization policy for capitalizing property and equipment funded by Head Start. Repeat of prior year finding: No Criteria: Equipment purchases exceeding $5,000 that were approved by Head Start must be properly listed in the program's official equipment inventory. Cause: The Organization experienced turnover in key financial positions during the year and after year end that impacted the year end close process as the Organization did not have a formal year end close set of procedures. Effect: Because of the above conditions, equipment purchases exceeding $5,000, that were approved by Head Start, were initially expensed, and were adjusted to property and equipment during the audit. The equipment needs to be added to the program's official equipment inventory. Recommendation: We recommend that Young Women’s Christian Association of Metropolitan St. Louis, Inc. establish a month end or year end process to review expenditures for items that should be capitalized in accordance with the Organization's capitalization policy and then add those capitalized items to the Head Start inventory listing. View of Responsible Officials: Management agrees with the assessment and has committed to a corrective action plan.

Corrective Action Plan

Management will establish a formal process to review expenditures for items that should be capitalized on a monthly basis and add those capitalized items to the Head Start inventory listing.

Categories

Equipment & Real Property Management

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 1157928 2024-002
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1157929 2024-002
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1157930 2024-003
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1157932 2024-004
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1157933 2024-004
    Material Weakness Repeat

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
93.600 Head Start $7.55M
16.575 Crime Victim Assistance $880,880
10.558 Child and Adult Care Food Program $722,938
14.267 Continuum of Care Program $713,897