Finding 1161701 (2024-002)

Audit Finding 2024-002 Reference: Expenses charged to federal awards outside the designated period of performance. (2 out of 40 sampled) ________________________________________1. Issue Summary The audit identified two instances where expenses were charged to a federal grant outside the approved period of performance. These expenses were tied to invoices that began within the period of performance and a portion extended beyond the performance period. The root cause was insufficient review of transaction timing and lack of controls to ensure compliance with Uniform Guidance requirements. ________________________________________ 2. Root Cause Analysis Lack of a formalized review process for validating transaction that span extended period dates that may extend past grant period of performance. ________________________________________ 3. Corrective Actions A. Implement a Formal Expense Review Protocol • Develop and document a standard operating procedure (SOP) for reviewing all grant-related expenses. • Require validation of invoice service dates and delivery dates before posting to federal awards • Include a checklist for SPF accountants to confirm alignment with the period of performance. B. Staff Training and Awareness • Conduct mandatory training sessions for all staff involved in grant accounting and expense processing. • Include guidance on: o Allowable costs under 2 CFR Part 200 o Period of performance compliance o Documentation standards ________________________________________ 4. Responsible Parties • Finance Director: Oversight and implementation of corrective actions • Sponsored Projects Finance Team: Execution of SOP and transaction reviews ________________________________________ 5. Timeline Action Item Target Completion Date Policy Development Already implemented Staff Training Completed initial training, additional will be ongoing