Finding 1174918 (2025-001)

Material Weakness Repeat Finding
Requirement
L
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2025
Accepted
2026-02-23

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: Monthly reports for October 2024, December 2024, and May 2025 were submitted late, indicating ineffective internal controls over reporting.
  • Impacted Requirements: Compliance with 2 CFR Section 200.303(a) and the Subrecipient Contract Scope of Work 13.1, which mandates timely reporting to the grantor.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Implement procedures to ensure timely accounting period closes and consistent reporting controls to avoid future delays.

Finding Text

2025-001 Compliance and Internal Controls over Reporting (Significant Deficiency) Assistance Listing Number 17.259 – Workplace Innovation and Opportunity Act Cluster / WIOA Youth Activities 2024-2025 Funding U.S. Department of Labor Passed through Texas Workforce Commission / Houston Galveston Area Council Contract No. 206-25 Criteria: Under 2 CFR Section 200.303(a), the recipient and subrecipient must establish, document, and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award that provides reasonable assurance that the recipient or subrecipient is managing the Federal award in compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal award. Additionally, per the Subrecipient Contract Scope of Work 13.1, a monthly report to the Board and H-GAC contract liaison is due by the 10th of each month. Monthly reports are required to be submitted to the grantor to properly track grant progress, which allows the grantor to determine if further action is needed to fulfill the purpose of the grant. Condition: Monthly reports for October 2024, December 2024 and May 2025 were not submitted timely. SER-Jobs’ established controls over the reporting process did not work effectively to detect and/or correct non-compliance over the reporting process. Cause: Monthly reports were submitted late due to delays in accounting period close, which delayed the submission process to include the financial information in the required reports. Effect: Failure to submit the required reports as stipulated in the scope of work by the grantor may constitute a breach of contract and potential loss of funding. Questioned Costs: None. Perspective: 3 out of the 4 reports selected for our testing were not submitted timely. Repeat Finding: No Recommendation: Ser-Jobs should establish procedures to ensure that controls related to reporting are consistently implemented which should include prompt completion of the accounting period close to allow for timely submissions. Views of Responsible Officials: We concur with the recommendation, please see Corrective Action Plan.

Corrective Action Plan

Corrective Action: An unnecessary step in the process was removed . Previously, program staff waited for funder confirmation approving the billing report before attaching a screenshot and submitting the executive summary. The process has been updated, so screenshots are submitted without waiting for funder approval. In addition, the accounting department will shift its closing date 1 day prior to the funder's executive summary reporting deadline. Responsible Parties: Chief Program Officer & Chief Financial Officer Date to be Corrected: 03/31/2026 If the U.S. Department of Labor has any questions regarding this plan, please contact Liliana Rambo, CEO, 713.773.6000 x 117.

Categories

Subrecipient Monitoring Reporting Significant Deficiency Internal Control / Segregation of Duties

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
17.259 WIOA YOUTH ACTIVITIES $1.40M
17.285 REGISTERED APPRENTICESHIP $1.20M
14.218 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANTS/ENTITLEMENT GRANTS $848,697
17.270 REENTRY EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES $582,806
14.251 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE, COMMUNITY PROJECT FUNDING, AND MISCELLANEOUS GRANTS $296,673
17.701 WOMEN IN APPRENTICESHIP AND NONTRADITIONAL OCCUPATIONS (“WANTO”) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE GRANT PROGRAM $234,935
17.274 YOUTHBUILD $186,179
17.289 COMMUNITY PROJECT FUNDING/CONGRESSIONALLY DIRECTED SPENDING $58,076
17.805 HOMELESS VETERANS’ REINTEGRATION PROGRAM $40,501
21.019 COVID-19 CORONAVIRUS RELIEF FUND $27,809