Finding 1176191 (2025-001)

Material Weakness Repeat Finding
Requirement
A
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2025
Accepted
2026-03-03
Audit: 390009
Organization: Illinois Finance Authority (IL)
Auditor: RSM US LLP

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: The Illinois Finance Authority lacks adequate internal controls over reviews of allowable costs and activities related to the grant.
  • Impacted Requirements: This finding violates Uniform Grant Guidance (2 CFR 200.303), which mandates proper internal controls for compliance with federal laws.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: The Authority should enhance and document its internal controls to ensure all expenditures related to the grant are allowable and properly reviewed.

Finding Text

Federal Agency: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Program Name: Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund: Solar For All ALN: 66.959 Award Numbers: 84090501, Federal Award Year 2024 - 2025 Questioned Costs: None 2025-001: Finding: Internal Controls over Allowable Costs/Activities The Illinois Finance Authority (Authority) had weaknesses in its internal controls over reviews of allowable costs and activities. Condition: Out of the 13 payroll transactions and 4 indirect cost transactions tested for allowable activities and costs, we were unable to obtain documentation to support that controls were in place to review for allowable activities and costs prior to applying to the grant for all (100%) of the transactions. The sample was not intended to be, and was not, a statistically valid sample. Criteria: Uniform Grant Guidance (2 CFR 200.303) requires nonfederal entities receiving Federal awards to establish and maintain internal controls designed to reasonably ensure compliance with Federal laws, regulations, and program compliance requirements. Cause: Authority officials indicated this issue was due to the size of the Authority, there was a lack of segregation of duties or documentation to support reviews. Effect: Without a proper internal control system to support reviews performed over allowable costs and activities, the Authority risks submitting unallowable costs, which could result in a loss of future funding. (Finding Code No. 2025-001) Recommendation: We recommend the Authority develop and document controls for ensuring expenditures applied to the grant are allowable. Authority’s Response: The Authority accepts single audit finding 2025-001 Internal Controls over Allowable Costs/Activities. The Authority has implemented a process and related internal controls and appropriate segregation of duties to ensure Authority financial transactions (i.e., expenditures applied to corresponding grants are allowable; month-end financial entries; etc.) are appropriately prepared, reviewed, authorized, and recorded.

Corrective Action Plan

Corrective Action Plan Single Audit Finding 2025-001: Internal Controls over Allowable Costs/Activities Plan: The IFA acknowledges the importance of internal controls and appropriate segregation of duties ensuring the review and approval process for Authority financial transactions (i.e., expenditures applied to corresponding grants are allowable; month-end financial entries; etc.). With recent staff additions, IFA has enhanced its internal control environment by implementing a review/authorization process to ensure the preparation and approval of journal entries (i.e., month-end, etc.) occurs in accordance of established internal controls and appropriate segregation of duties (e.g., month-end journal entries prepared by the IFA SVP-FA are reviewed and approved by the IFA Chief Operating Officer, or appropriate designee). Since manual or adjusting journal entries are information processing activities that carry higher risk, a review of journal entries after posting serve as acceptable verification control in accordance with the United States Government Accountability Office Standards for Internal Control in the Federal Government that helps ensure transactions are appropriate. These post-entry reviews represent an acceptable form of management oversight (Principle 16) and serve as an acceptable validation check (Principle 10) to confirm that entries align with supporting documentation, reconcile with expectations, and aligned with organizational directives. Month Implemented: November 2025 IFA Contact: Ms. Ximena Granda SVP – Finance & Administration xgranda@il-fa.com Office (312) 651-1362

Categories

Allowable Costs / Cost Principles Internal Control / Segregation of Duties Matching / Level of Effort / Earmarking

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
66.959 GREENHOUSE GAS REDUCTION FUND: SOLAR FOR ALL $696,622
81.041 STATE ENERGY PROGRAM $313,476
66.046 CLIMATE POLLUTION REDUCTION GRANTS $238,723
81.254 GRID INFRASTRUCTURE DEPLOYMENT AND RESILIENCE $222,770
20.205 HIGHWAY PLANNING AND CONSTRUCTION $143,729
81.042 WEATHERIZATION ASSISTANCE FOR LOW-INCOME PERSONS $15,017
66.957 GREENHOUSE GAS REDUCTION FUND: NATIONAL CLEAN INVESTMENT FUND $6,388