Finding 1161446 (2024-004)

Material Weakness Repeat Finding
Requirement
ABL
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2024
Accepted
2025-10-27
Audit: 371319
Organization: Catherine McAuley Center, Inc. (IA)
Auditor: SIKICH CPA LLC

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: The Organization lacks adequate documentation and tracking for federal expenditures, leading to potential inaccuracies in financial reporting.
  • Impacted Requirements: Noncompliance with CFR Sections 200.510(b) and 200.302(b) regarding financial management and reporting standards.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Implement policies for thorough documentation, establish a formal review process, and adhere to the Document Retention Policy to ensure timely and accurate reporting.

Finding Text

Finding 2024-003 - Material Weakness in Internal Control over Compliance and Material Noncompliance (Qualified Opinion) - Inadequate Tracking of Expenditures and Retention of Documentation: Activities Allowed or Unallowed: Allowable Costs/Cost Principles and Reporting (A/B/L) for Assistance Listing Number 19.510 and 93.567 Criteria: The Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Section 200.510(b) states in part, “The auditee must also prepare a schedule of federal expenditures for the period covered by the auditee’s consolidated financial statements which must include the total Federal awards expended as determined in accordance with 200.502.” Also, in accordance with CFR Section 200.302(b) - Financial Management, the auditees financial management system must provide 1) identification of all federal awards received and expended; 2) accurate, current, and complete disclosure of the financial results of each federal award or program; 3) records that identify adequately the source and application of funds for federally‐funded activities; 4) effective control over, and accountability for, all funds, property, and other assets; 5) comparison of expenditures with budget amounts for each Federal award; 6) written procedures to implement the requirements of section 200.305 and; 7) written procedures for determining the allowability of costs in accordance with Subpart E and the terms and conditions of the Federal award. Recipients of federal awards must submit accurate, complete and timely financial and performance reports. The Organization should have internal controls designed to ensure compliance with those provisions. The Organization should retain sufficient documentation such as invoice and allocation support for expenditures to retain documentation for audit purposes. Condition: During detail testing of expenditures, it was noted that the Organization did not maintain adequate documentation to support how certain costs were allocated to the federal program. Several transactions lacked sufficient detail, such as invoice or expense reimbursement form. Several expenditures selected for testing did not obtain sufficient approval by an individual at the Organization. There was one instance of employee compensation being processed at an approved pay rate and the Center could not provide any supporting documentation such as an offer letter, to substantiate the rate paid. It was noted that quarterly reports provided to the federal program were not reviewed by an individual at the Organization prior to submission to ensure accurate report of expenditures. 2 of the 8 monthly reports sampled were not submitted timely to the grantor. Cause: The Organization does not have an adequate system in place to ensure quarterly reports have sufficient supporting documentation, proper approval/review, and accurate reporting prior to submission. Responsibilities for expenditure tracking were not clearly assigned, and there was no formal review process in place. The Organization is not following their Document Retention Policy. Effect: The effect of this condition increases the possibility that quarterly financial reports are misstated or inaccurate and increase the risk of noncompliance with federal requirements. The effect of this condition also increases the risk that expenditures are unallowable per the grant, federal regulations, or cost principles due to the insufficient support of proper approval retained. Questioned costs: None Repeat Finding: Yes - 2023-003 Recommendation: Policies and procedures should be in place to ensure quarterly financial reports are properly supported, accurately reported, and adequately approved and reviewed. A formal review process should be established to ensure compliance. The Organization should follow the Document Retention Policy that was put in place and required by law and submit the required reporting documentation timely to the grantor to ensure compliance. Views of Responsible Officials: Management agrees with this finding and their response is included in the Corrective Action Plan.

Corrective Action Plan

Finding 2024-004 - Material Weakness in Internal Control over Compliance and Material Noncompliance (Qualified Opinion) - Inadequate Tracking of Expenditures and Retention of Documentation: Activities Allowed or Unallowed: Allowable Costs/Cost Principles and Reporting (A/B/L) for Assistance Listing Number 19.510 and 93.567 Criteria: The Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Section 200.510(b) states in part, “The auditee must also prepare a schedule of federal expenditures for the period covered by the auditee’s consolidated financial statements which must include the total Federal awards expended as determined in accordance with 200.502.” Also, in accordance with CFR Section 200.302(b) - Financial Management, the auditees financial management system must provide 1) identification of all federal awards received and expended; 2) accurate, current, and complete disclosure of the financial results of each federal award or program; 3) records that identify adequately the source and application of funds for federally‐funded activities; 4) effective control over, and accountability for, all funds, property, and other assets; 5) comparison of expenditures with budget amounts for each Federal award; 6) written procedures to implement the requirements of section 200.305 and; 7) written procedures for determining the allowability of costs in accordance with Subpart E and the terms and conditions of the Federal award. Recipients of federal awards must submit accurate, complete and timely financial and performance reports. The Organization should have internal controls designed to ensure compliance with those provisions. The Organization should retain sufficient documentation such as invoice and allocation support for expenditures to retain documentation for audit purposes. Condition: During detail testing of expenditures, it was noted that the Organization did not maintain adequate documentation to support how certain costs were allocated to the federal program. Several transactions lacked sufficient detail, such as invoice or expense reimbursement form. Several expenditures selected for testing did not obtain sufficient approval by an individual at the Organization. There was one instance of employee compensation being processed at an approved pay rate and the Center could not provide any supporting documentation such as an offer letter, to substantiate the rate paid. It was noted that quarterly reports provided to the federal program were not reviewed by an individual at the Organization prior to submission to ensure accurate report of expenditures. 2 of the 8 monthly reports sampled were not submitted timely to the grantor. Cause: The Organization does not have an adequate system in place to ensure quarterly reports have sufficient supporting documentation, proper approval/review, and accurate reporting prior to submission. Responsibilities for expenditure tracking were not clearly assigned, and there was no formal review process in place. The Organization is not following their Document Retention Policy. Effect: The effect of this condition increases the possibility that quarterly financial reports are misstated or inaccurate and increase the risk of noncompliance with federal requirements. The effect of this condition also increases the risk that expenditures are unallowable per the grant, federal regulations, or cost principles due to the insufficient support of proper approval retained. Questioned costs: None Repeat Finding: Yes - 2023-003 Recommendation: Policies and procedures should be in place to ensure quarterly financial reports are properly supported, accurately reported, and adequately approved and reviewed. A formal review process should be established to ensure compliance. The Organization should follow the Document Retention Policy that was put in place and required by law and submit the required reporting documentation timely to the grantor to ensure compliance. Management Response: There is no disagreement with the audit finding. Management has taken steps to address these deficiencies in fiscal year 2025 including but not limited to: the implementation of a new accounting system that includes document retention and review/sign off logs, the engagement of a third-party CPA firm to provide client advisory and accounting services and the review and updating of accounting policies and procedures for best practices. Responsible Person for Corrective Action Plan: Marc Hall, Director of Operations Implementation Date for Corrective Action Plan: Fiscal year 2025

Categories

Allowable Costs / Cost Principles

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 1161445 2024-004
    Material Weakness Repeat

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
19.510 U.S. REFUGEE ADMISSIONS PROGRAM $766,697
93.567 REFUGEE AND ENTRANT ASSISTANCE VOLUNTARY AGENCY PROGRAMS $632,411
21.023 EMERGENCY RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM $395,903
93.576 REFUGEE AND ENTRANT ASSISTANCE DISCRETIONARY GRANTS $113,568
93.566 REFUGEE AND ENTRANT ASSISTANCE STATE/REPLACEMENT DESIGNEE ADMINISTERED PROGRAMS $101,701
21.027 CORONAVIRUS STATE AND LOCAL FISCAL RECOVERY FUNDS $66,679
16.575 CRIME VICTIM ASSISTANCE $34,699
14.218 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANTS/ENTITLEMENT GRANTS $20,000
14.231 EMERGENCY SOLUTIONS GRANT PROGRAM $4,071
97.024 EMERGENCY FOOD AND SHELTER NATIONAL BOARD PROGRAM $4,000