Finding Text
Condition: During our review of Federal Financial Reports (SF-425) for the Emergency Management Performance Grant (EMPG) covering program years 2018, 2019, and 2020, we noted multiple reporting deficiencies across all four reports reviewed, including late submissions (in some cases more than one year late), undated reports with no evidence of submission timeliness, incomplete financial data where federal cash receipts or disbursements were reported as zero despite active grant activity, inconsistent or missing expenditure information, incorrect or missing recipient share (matching funds), unreconciled balances between SF-425 reports and PRIFAS or the SEFA, lack of supporting documentation or reconciliation schedules, and no evidence of internal review or approval controls. Criteria: Under 2 CFR 200.327–200.329 and 2 CFR 200.302(b)(6), non-Federal entities must submit accurate, complete, timely performance and financial reports supported by accounting records; SF-425 reports must reflect financial results of each award, be supported by the accounting records, include federal and recipient share, and be submitted no later than 30 days after the end of the reporting period. Context: All four EMPG SF-425 reports reviewed exhibited at least one of the identified deficiencies, indicating systemic noncompliance with federal reporting requirements and insufficient monitoring over the reporting process. Cause: The Bureau lacks effective internal controls and supervisory review over the preparation, reconciliation, and submission of SF-425 reports, including inadequate coordination between accounting and grants management areas and no formal process to ensure reconciliation to PRIFAS accounting data prior to submission. Effect: The absence of timely, accurate, and reconciled financial reporting increases the risk of misstated federal program expenditures, may result in grantor sanctions such as withholding or suspension of federal funds, and impairs the Bureau’s ability to demonstrate compliance with Uniform Guidance reporting requirements. Recommendation: Establish and document formal procedures to ensure timely preparation, review, and submission of SF-425 reports; implement a reconciliation checklist requiring agreement of reported data to PRIFAS and SEFA records; ensure each report includes federal and recipient share, drawdown activity, and unliquidated obligations; designate an official responsible for review and approval prior to filing with retained evidence of submission; and provide staff training on federal reporting requirements under 2 CFR 200.327–200.329. Questioned Costs: None. Management Response: See corrective action plan.