Finding 1168841 (2025-001)

Material Weakness Repeat Finding
Requirement
A
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2025
Accepted
2026-01-13
Audit: 381145

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: There is a material weakness in the handling of allowable costs due to lack of proper review and segregation of duties.
  • Impacted Requirements: Insufficient oversight in general ledger and grant accounting, leading to potential inaccuracies in indirect cost charges.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Implement consistent review procedures for indirect rate calculations and ensure monthly billings are checked before submission.

Finding Text

Finding # 2025-001 Type: Material weakness over allowable costs Type: Immaterial noncompliance over allowable costs Assisting Listing Number: 43.001 Federal Agency: National Aeronautics and Space Administration Name of Federal Program: Science Requirement: There should be sufficient segregation of duties over the general ledger and government grant accounting. Condition: One individual computes the indirect charges and prepares the drawdown requests without a secondary review by a senior member of management. Context: Two out of forty expenses tested were completed by one individual with no review. Three out of four cash draws tested were submitted with no secondary review. Immaterial errors were noted in amounts charged for indirect costs. Cause: Controls for reviews and approvals were not consistently followed. Effect: Amounts charged to contracts for indirect costs or draw down requests could be inaccurate. Questioned Costs: Insignificant. Recommendation: Management should establish a consistent procedure to ensure indirect rate calculations and monthly billings are reviewed prior to submission. Management Response: Management has implemented and formalized policies and procedures governing the preparation, review, and timely submission of federal reports. Management has also transitioned to an accounting software that limits the ability for indirect rate calculations to be completed by one individual. Monthly draw requests will be completed by the Finance Director during month-end close and submitted to the Chief Financial Officer for review prior to submission.

Corrective Action Plan

Finding # 2025-001 Type: Material weakness over allowable costs Type: Immaterial noncompliance over allowable costs Assisting Listing Number: 43.001 Federal Agency: National Aeronautics and Space Administration Name of Federal Program: Science Finding: One individual computes the indirect charges and prepares the drawdown requests without a secondary review by a senior member of management. Two out of forty expenses tested were completed by one individual with no review. Three out of four cash draws tested were submitted with no secondary review. Immaterial errors were noted in amounts charged for indirect costs. Recommendation: Management should establish a consistent procedure to ensure indirect rate calculations and monthly billings are reviewed prior to submission. Corrective Action: As a result of administrative disruption caused by a transition in the Chief Financial Officer role, we were required to catch up as quickly as possible. During this catch-up period, normal review processes were not fully in place due to the noted staff transitions. This was a one-time situation and has since been remedied through the implementation of formalized policies and procedures governing the preparation, review, and timely submission of federal reports. We have transitioned to an accounting software that limits the ability for indirect rate calculations to be completed by one individual. Monthly draw requests will be completed by the Finance Director during month-end close and submitted to the Chief Financial Officer for review prior to submission. Anticipated Completion Date: December 20, 2025

Categories

Cash Management Allowable Costs / Cost Principles Material Weakness

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 1168842 2025-002
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1168843 2025-003
    Material Weakness Repeat

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
43.001 SCIENCE $616,979
47.070 COMPUTER AND INFORMATION SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING $212,447
47.050 GEOSCIENCES $133,463
47.075 SOCIAL, BEHAVIORAL, AND ECONOMIC SCIENCES $39,022
45.312 NATIONAL LEADERSHIP GRANTS $3,750