Finding 1159859 (2024-005)

Material Weakness Repeat Finding
Requirement
B
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2024
Accepted
2025-10-03
Audit: 370401
Organization: Opportunities Credit Union (VT)
Auditor: Rsm US LLP

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: The Credit Union exceeded the spending limit for Operational Support Activities by approximately $95,000 without proper documentation for approval.
  • Impacted Requirements: The grant agreement clearly states that expenditures for Operational Support Activities cannot exceed $317,291, and all spending must be documented.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Implement procedures to ensure all spending approvals are documented and adhere to grant agreement limits.

Finding Text

Identifying Number: 2024-005 Information on the Federal Program: ALN#21.033, U.S. Department of Treasury: COVID-19 Community Development Financial Institutions Fund Equitable Recovery Program (CDFI ERP) Criteria or Specific Requirement: The grant agreement specifies in Section C Performance Goals, Performance Goals and Measures Number 2a Authorized CDFI ERP Eligible Activities: “CDFI ERP Award funds must be expended on one or more of the two types of Eligible Activities below and as further set forth in PG&M 1A above and in Section 3.9 of Schedule 2.” Per 2A(4) “Total expenditure on Operational Support Activities cannot exceed $317,291.” Condition: The grant agreement stipulated a limited amount of expenditures could be incurred in specific subcategories of allowable costs. For Operational Support Activities, the expenditures could not exceed $317,291, however, the Credit Union’s operational support activities expenditures were $412,728. The Credit Union did not maintain documentation of approval for the additional expenditures. Subsequent to the expenditures, the Credit Union obtained written approval for an increase in the operational support activities limit to cover the total amount expended above. Cause: Management did not have effective controls in place to maintain documentation over approvals of spending over limits outlined in the grant agreement. Effect: Approximately $95,000 was identified in Operational Support Activities overspending without documentation of approval. Questioned Costs: Not applicable. Context: The allowable costs limitation is applicable only to this grant and therefore isolated. The population was tested 100%, therefore statistically valid. Repeat finding: Not applicable. Recommendation: Procedures should be implemented and placed in service to ensure complete and accurate documentation is maintained of approvals. Views of responsible individuals: Management agrees with the Finding and recommendation. See corrective action plan for further information.

Corrective Action Plan

Management acknowledges the error and agrees with the recommendation to strengthen documentation controls. While written approval was ultimately obtained from CDFI to cover the full $412,728 in expenditures, the Credit Union recognizes that contemporaneous documentation should have been maintained prior to incurring costs above the allowable limit. It should be noted that this expenditure and related documentation issue occurred prior to the recent merger. Following the merger, the current Credit Union is no longer a member of the CDFI Fund, and therefore the CDFI ERP reporting and expenditure requirements are no longer applicable. To address the finding, CU1 has: • Obtained written approval from CDFI to retroactively authorize the full expenditures incurred. • Documented the issue and corrective steps as part of merger due diligence. As CDFI Fund membership and related restrictions no longer apply post-merger, no further corrective actions are necessary. Expected Completion Date – Completed Responsible Parties – Wendy Gorevan, CFO (FAFCU pre-merger) and Scott McDonald, CFO (post-merger)

Categories

Allowable Costs / Cost Principles

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 1159858 2024-004
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1159860 2024-006
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1159861 2024-007
    Material Weakness Repeat

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
21.033 Community Development Financial Institutions Fund Equitable Recovery Program (cdfi Erp) $883,705
21.025 Small Dollar Loan Program $23,724
21.020 Community Development Financial Institutions Program $13,172