Finding 1158226 (2024-001)

Material Weakness Repeat Finding
Requirement
AB
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2024
Accepted
2025-09-30
Audit: 370119
Auditor: Sdk CPAS

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: There was a significant deficiency in internal controls, leading to inadequate review and approval of expenses charged to the federal program.
  • Impacted Requirements: Compliance with 2 CFR 200.303, which mandates effective internal controls for managing federal awards.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Continue using the new payment software for all federal grant transactions to ensure proper review and approval of expenses.

Finding Text

Information on the Federal Program: Assistance Listing Number 81.086— Upper Midwest Inter‐Tribal EV Charging Community Network. Compliance Requirement: Allowable Costs and Cost Principles, Activities Allowed or Unallowed Type of Finding: Significant deficiency in internal control over compliance. Criteria: 2 CFR 200.303 of Subpart D, "Post Federal Award Requirements Standards for Financial and Program Management," of the Uniform Guidance requires a nonfederal entity to establish and maintain effective internal control over the federal award that provides reasonable assurance that the entity is managing the federal award in compliance with federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the federal award, including Activities Allowed or Unallowed, Allowable Costs and Cost Principles. Condition: Controls were not operating as designed to ensure that all expenditures charged to the federal program were reviewed and approved. Causes: For two out of ten tested, expenses charged to the federal grant had no documentation of a review and approval prior to the Organization submitting for reimbursement. The Organization relied on a control activity where the Program Director sent an email to the Executive Director for each expense to obtain approval prior to submitting reimbursements. No documented review and approval for this process being performed was available for two expenses upon request by the audit team. Effect or Potential Effect: Unallowable costs or activities could be charged to the grant. Questioned Costs: None Context: There was not sufficient documentation available upon request to support a review and approval process of reimbursement expenses allocated to the grant. The Organization implemented a payment software that includes review and approval features in July of the fiscal year under audit and no errors were found after the implementation. Repeat Finding: No Recommendation: We recommend the organization continue using their payment software for all transactions relating to federal grants and ensure that all expenses are being reviewed and approved through that software. Views of Responsible Officials: Agree.

Corrective Action Plan

Planned Corrective Action: We have implemented a cloud‐based platform that automates the AP process. All invoices are submitted to this platform and given to individuals for dual review and approval before being paid. This system was put in place in July 2024, there have been no noted issues of noncompliance since using this platform. Name of Contact Person: Rhonda Conn, Associate Director Anticipated Completion Date: Done ‐ July 31, 2024

Categories

Allowable Costs / Cost Principles

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 1158227 2024-002
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1158228 2024-003
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1158229 2024-004
    Material Weakness Repeat

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
81.086 Conservation Research and Development $2.49M