Finding 1160361 (2023-003)

Material Weakness Repeat Finding
Requirement
B
Questioned Costs
$1
Year
2023
Accepted
2025-10-13

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: The Organization improperly recorded audit fees as both direct and indirect costs, leading to an overallocation and insufficient indirect costs for grant reporting.
  • Impacted Requirements: Compliance with 2 CFR Part 200 was violated, as costs for the same purpose cannot be claimed as both direct and indirect.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Implement a process to accurately record indirect costs and establish a review system to ensure compliance and proper reporting.

Finding Text

2023-003 Allowable Costs of Indirect Costs U.S. Environment Protection Agency Pass-Through from Kansas Department of Health and Environment No. 66.460 - 319 Program: Nonpoint Source Implementation Grants John Redmond Reservoir WRAPS Implementation SFY20-22, Milford WRAPS Implementation SFY20-22, and Upper Wakarusa WRAPS Implementation SFY20-22 Grant Period Year Ended December 31, 2023 Type of Finding: Internal Control/Noncompliance Criteria: According to 2 CFR Part 200, a cost may not be allocated to a federal award as an indirect cost if any other cost incurred for the same purpose, in like circumstances, has been assigned to a federal award as a direct cost. The Organization recorded audit fees as direct and indirect costs. Condition and Context: The Organization listed the single audit fees on the final grant reports as direct costs. The single audit fees were recorded as indirect costs and not as direct osts to the grants in the Organization’s financial system, which resulted in an overallocation of audit fees as direct and indirect costs. With the audit fees included in direct costs, the Organization does not have enough indirect costs to cover what was claimed on their grant reports resulting in the Organization receiving more in federal funds than the Organization’s expenses. Cause: Indirect cost allocations were not reviewed for compliance and accuracy. Effect: The Organization did not have enough indirect costs to substantiate what was claimed on the grant reports as indirect costs. The granting agency subsequently approved the carryforward of the unused money to a future period. Questioned Costs: The Organization recorded audit fees of $40,952 as direct and indirect costs to three federal grants. There is estimated additional over-allocated indirect costs of $8,800 that are not part of the major program. The reversal of the duplicate audit fees expenses were reversed and included in the audit journal entries. Recommendation: The Organization should develop a process to record indirect costs appropriately in the Organization’s financial system to avoid duplication and develop a review process for indirect costs to ensure sufficient expenses and accurate reporting. Management Response: Management agrees with finding. Procedures are being implemented to ensure an appropriate review process as well as a proper way of recording indirect costs, see attached corrective action plan.

Corrective Action Plan

2023-003: Allowable Costs of Indirect Costs Responsible Party: Libby Albers, Executive Director Implementation Date: 11/1/2025 The KAWS Executive Director requested reimbursements of audit expenses that included contractual invoices and billing for direct hours spent on the effort. However, the Director neglected to follow up with the independent account to transfer reimbursement of the personnel hours out of the grant and into the administrative project code. The KAWS Executive Director will request a P&L by job report from the accountant on an annual basis and again when a grant is closing to ensure that any costs recorded as direct or indirect administrative expenses have been moved to the administrative project code and out of the grant.

Categories

Questioned Costs Allowable Costs / Cost Principles Reporting

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 1160359 2023-001
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1160360 2023-002
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1160362 2023-004
    Material Weakness Repeat

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
15.611 Wildlife Restoration and Basic Hunter Education and Safety $123,420
10.931 Agricultural Conservation Easement Program $82,149
66.460 Nonpoint Source Implementation Grants $57,325
15.623 North American Wetlands Conservation Fund $38,000
10.932 Regional Conservation Partnership Program $30,447
20.219 Recreational Trails Program $5,708