Finding 1167130 (2024-003)

Material Weakness Repeat Finding
Requirement
L
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2024
Accepted
2025-12-30

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: The Schedule of Expenditures of Federal Awards (SEFA) was understated by $112,158 due to omissions of federal expenditures from both pass-through and prior year awards.
  • Impacted Requirements: Compliance with 2 CFR Section 200.510 is critical for accurate financial reporting, including the complete presentation of federal awards.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Train staff on identifying all funding sources and implement reconciliation processes between general ledger and federal reporting to ensure accuracy in future SEFA submissions.

Finding Text

Finding 2024-003: Schedule of Expenditures of Federal Awards Presentation Program Title: Professional and Cultural Exchange Programs Assistance Listing Number: 19.402 Federal Agency: U.S. Department of State Pass-Through Entity Name, Pass-Through Identifying Numbers: Global Ties, CPG-ECA24-019 Global Ties, DBH-ECA24-14 Global Ties, IVRC-ECA23-04 Global Ties, CPG-ECA23-072-II Global Ties, N/A Federal Award Year: Year ended September 30, 2024 Program Title: Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation Research Assistance Listing Number: 81.113 Federal Agency: U.S. Department of Energy Direct Award Identifying Number: DE-NA004179 Federal Award Years: Years ended September 30, 2020, 2019 and 2018 Type of Finding: Material Weakness in Internal Control over Compliance and Material Noncompliance Criteria: Management is responsible for the complete and fair presentation of the financial statements, including any supplementary information that is presented in relation to the financial statements, such as the Schedule of Expenditures of Federal Awards (SEFA). Also, in accordance with 2 CFR Section 200.510 (b)(2), PFI is required to include only direct and pass-through Federal awards expended during the fiscal year in the SEFA. Condition: During our audit fieldwork, we noted that the SEFA omitted Federal expenditures of $38,047 that were passed through to PFI by a subrecipient under ALN 19.402. In addition, we noted that the SEFA omitted Federal expenditures of $74,111 under ALN 81.113 that occurred during prior years but were newly identified and reimbursed during the year under audit. Cause: The omission related to the reporting of the pass-through award appears to be due to a misunderstanding regarding the source of the funding. The omission related to the reporting of expenditures from a prior year appears to be due to a deficiency in controls over reconciling cash draws to activity in the general ledger. Effect or Potential Effect: The SEFA was understated. When the SEFA is not prepared properly, it could have an effect on the auditor's determination of major programs or the auditor's sample selections. Questioned Costs: None. Repeat Finding: Not applicable. Recommendation: We recommend that PFI ensure that their staff and outsourced accountants are properly trained to identify all funding sources that should be presented on the SEFA, particularly in connection with passthrough funding from other organizations, in accordance with 2 CFR §200. Furthermore, PFI should reconcile Federal grant expenditures per the general ledger to cumulative Federal financial reporting and cash draws to ensure consistency and completeness of their accounting records prior to preparing the SEFA.

Corrective Action Plan

Finding: Material weakness in internal control over Schedule of Expenditures of Federal Awards (SEFA) reporting Corrective action: Pacific Forum will ensure all new grants, including pass-through awards, are properly reviewed to ensure they are included in the SEFA, if necessary. The requirement to reconcile federal grant expenditures with federal financial reporting and cash draws will be incorporated into PFI financial reporting and cash management policy guidelines. Completion Date: February 1, 2026 Responsible Individual: Executive Director

Categories

Reporting Subrecipient Monitoring

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 1167090 2024-004
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1167091 2024-005
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1167092 2024-006
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1167093 2024-007
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1167094 2024-008
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1167095 2024-009
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1167096 2024-010
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1167097 2024-003
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1167098 2024-004
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1167099 2024-005
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1167100 2024-006
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1167101 2024-007
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1167102 2024-008
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1167103 2024-009
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1167104 2024-010
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1167105 2024-004
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1167106 2024-005
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1167107 2024-006
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1167108 2024-007
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1167109 2024-008
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1167110 2024-009
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1167111 2024-010
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1167112 2024-004
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1167113 2024-005
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1167114 2024-006
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1167115 2024-007
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1167116 2024-008
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1167117 2024-009
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1167118 2024-010
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1167119 2024-004
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1167120 2024-005
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1167121 2024-006
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1167122 2024-007
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1167123 2024-008
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1167124 2024-009
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1167125 2024-010
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1167126 2024-003
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1167127 2024-003
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1167128 2024-003
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1167129 2024-003
    Material Weakness Repeat

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
19.017 ENVIRONMENTAL AND SCIENTIFIC PARTNERSHIPS AND PROGRAMS $150,926
19.033 GLOBAL THREAT REDUCTION $127,861
19.040 PUBLIC DIPLOMACY PROGRAMS $77,334
19.901 EXPORT CONTROL AND RELATED BORDER SECURITY $59,798
81.113 DEFENSE NUCLEAR NONPROLIFERATION RESEARCH $44,160
19.402 PROFESSIONAL AND CULTURAL EXCHANGE PROGRAMS - INTERNATIONAL VISITOR LEADERSHIP PROGRAM $1,829