Finding 1162987 (2024-001)

Material Weakness Repeat Finding
Requirement
AB
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2024
Accepted
2025-11-25

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: Timesheets lacked proper approval for payroll disbursements from November to December 2024, leading to potential compliance risks.
  • Impacted Requirements: Internal controls for payroll disbursements were not followed due to the absence of an Executive Director and no alternate approval process.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Implement an additional review process for payroll approvals and retrain staff on compliance with the payroll approval process.

Finding Text

2024-001 – ALN – 23.002 - Appalachian Area Development – Activities allowed/Unallowed and Allowable costs/Cost principles: Lack of control for approval of timesheets (New Finding) Criteria : Payroll disbursements should be approved and reviewed as per the internal controls in place in the organization. Condition : Payroll disbursements made from November 2024 to December 2024 did not have approval on timesheets and the disbursements were made without proper approval. Cause : Executive director parted ways with the Organization in November 2024 and there was no formal control policy for the alternate approval process. Effect : No proper approval may result in the expenditures of federal program not being properly monitored, thus resulting in potential noncompliance with program requirements. Recommendation : We recommend management implement an additional/alternate level of review by someone with proper knowledge to oversee the disbursements made under the program. Management’s Response : AOMC will retrain all staff and supervisors on the required payroll approval process. All timesheets must be reviewed and approved by the employee’s supervisor before being submitted for payroll processing. AOMC has also worked with the board to ensure that if no Executive Director is in place, a board member will approve timesheets or designate an AOMC employee with the authority to approve time.

Corrective Action Plan

AOMC will retrain all staff and supervisors on the required payroll approval process. All timesheets must be reviewed and approved by the employee’s supervisor before being submitted for payroll processing. AOMC has also worked with the board to ensure that if no Executive Director is in place, a board member will approve timesheets or designate an AOMC employee with the authority to approve time.

Categories

Allowable Costs / Cost Principles

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 1162988 2024-002
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1162989 2024-003
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1162990 2024-004
    Material Weakness Repeat

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
23.002 APPALACHIAN AREA DEVELOPMENT $982,556
11.307 ECONOMIC ADJUSTMENT ASSISTANCE $297,033
10.755 RURAL INNOVATION STRONGER ECONOMY $208,444
81.135 ADVANCED RESEARCH PROJECTS AGENCY - ENERGY $164,472