Finding 1171005 (2023-003)

Material Weakness Repeat Finding
Requirement
L
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2023
Accepted
2026-01-29
Audit: 384402

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: Internal controls over compliance for federal awards are inadequate, leading to inaccurate reporting of financial data.
  • Impacted Requirements: Compliance with 2 CFR section 200.303 is not met, affecting the integrity of reports related to the VA Supportive Services for Veteran Families Program.
  • Recommended Follow-up: Ensure knowledgeable staff review and approve reports for accuracy, and establish clear documentation for certifying officials' authority.

Finding Text

FINDING 2023-003 – Reporting: Significant Deficiency over Internal Controls over Compliance Federal Assistance Listing Number Federal Agency/Pass-through Entity – Program Name Award Year Questioned Costs 64.033 VA Supportive Services for Veteran Families Program 2023 $0 Criteria: The 2 CFR section 200.303 requires that non-federal entities receiving federal awards establish and maintain internal control over federal awards that provides reasonable assurance that the non-federal entity is managing the federal awards in compliance with federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the federal awards. The VA Data Guide (the Guide) and the contract agreements provide instruction on the frequency and data requirements due during the award period. Condition/Context: In a representative sample of monthly, quarterly, and annual reports due during the year ended December 31, 2023, auditors noted six of the six tested annual financial reports did not agree to the underlying profit and loss detail for the related grants. In addition, the certified authorized official was not an employee of the Organization and there was a lack of documentation for how the certifying official was deemed appropriate. In the sample of quarterly reports, the Organization had contradicting responses related to whether reimbursement requests reflect actual spending of designated Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) funding. Effect: Reporting requirements of the awards were not accurate for certain line items. Cause: There was turnover in the Organization which caused the inability to produce or find supporting documentation on how values were created or how certifying officials outside the Organization were provided authority to certify such reports submitted. Repeat finding: This is not a repeat finding. Recommendation: The Organization should have knowledgeable personnel review and approve reports for completeness and accuracy, including comparing to source documentation and any reconciliations between source data to final reporting. Views of responsible officials and planned corrective actions: Management agrees with the recommendation and has developed a corrective action plan to address the finding.

Corrective Action Plan

FINDING 2023-003 – Reporting: Significant Deficiency over Internal Controls over Compliance Condition/context – In a representative sample of monthly, quarterly, and annual reports due during the year ended December 31, 2023, auditors noted six of the six tested annual financial reports (SF-425) did not agree to the underlying profit and loss detail from the Organization’s General Ledger(s) for the related grants. In addition, the certified authorized official was not an employee of the Organization and there was a lack of documentation for how the certifying official was deemed appropriate. In the sample quarterly reports, the Organization had contradicting responses related to whether reimbursement requests reflect actual spending of designated Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) funding. Corrective Action Plan: • Internal Controls are being evaluated and addressed with the Board of Directors on clarity of Financial Policy and Procedures • Implement a formal reconciliation process to ensure all grant financial reports agree to the underlying general ledger and profit and loss statements. • Establish a documented policy identifying employees authorized to certify grant reports, ensuring these individuals are employees of the Organization and appropriately trained. • Conduct regular training and internal reviews to confirm consistent understanding of grant-specific reporting requirements, particularly those related to reimbursement-based funding such as SSVF. • Develop a standard operating procedure (SOP) for reviewing and approving financial reports before submission to funders. Prior to sending to funder/portal. Must have reconciliation to numbers prior to next period reporting. • Site Review of reporting will have oversight of Financial Dept and reconciliation communication. Name of Contact Person: Chris Flaherty, Chief Executive Officer 707.890.6491 Laura Williams, Chief Financial Officer 707.335.0010 Projected Completion Date: We cannot alleviate within 12 months

Categories

Subrecipient Monitoring Allowable Costs / Cost Principles Cash Management Reporting Significant Deficiency Matching / Level of Effort / Earmarking Internal Control / Segregation of Duties

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 1170995 2023-003
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1170996 2023-003
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1170997 2023-003
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1170998 2023-003
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1170999 2023-003
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1171000 2023-003
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1171001 2023-003
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1171002 2023-003
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1171003 2023-003
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1171004 2023-003
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1171006 2023-004
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1171007 2023-004
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1171008 2023-004
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1171009 2023-004
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1171010 2023-004
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1171011 2023-004
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1171012 2023-004
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1171013 2023-004
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1171014 2023-004
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1171015 2023-004
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1171016 2023-004
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1171017 2023-005
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1171018 2023-005
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1171019 2023-005
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1171020 2023-005
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1171021 2023-005
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1171022 2023-005
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1171023 2023-005
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1171024 2023-005
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1171025 2023-005
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1171026 2023-005
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1171027 2023-005
    Material Weakness Repeat

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
64.055 STAFF SERGEANT PARKER GORDON FOX SUICIDE PREVENTION GRANT PROGRAM $592,275
64.U01 VETERANS REHABILITATION - ALCOHOL AND DRUG DEPENDENCE $588,108
64.024 VA HOMELESS PROVIDERS GRANT AND PER DIEM PROGRAM $273,945
64.033 VA SUPPORTIVE SERVICES FOR VETERAN FAMILIES PROGRAM $123,394
17.805 HOMELESS VETERANS’ REINTEGRATION PROGRAM $40,183