Finding 1176861 (2025-001)

Material Weakness Repeat Finding
Requirement
L
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2025
Accepted
2026-03-06
Audit: 390705
Organization: Trees Atlanta, Inc. (GA)

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: The Organization lacks formal internal control procedures for performance reporting, risking inaccuracies in submitted reports.
  • Impacted Requirements: Compliance with 2 CFR 200.303(a) is not met due to the absence of documented review and approval processes.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Implement formal internal control policies for performance reporting, including preparation, review, approval, and document retention procedures.

Finding Text

Criteria: In accordance with 2 CFR 200.303(a), a formalized system of internal control should be established, documented, and maintained to ensure that performance reporting information for each award is reliably captured and included in the applicable reports. Condition/Context: During our testing of the Reporting compliance requirement, specifically performance reporting, we noted that the Organization did not have any formal internal control procedures in place to ensure the accuracy, completeness, and timely submission of required performance reports. For the three performance reports tested, there were no documented review procedures or approvals to validate the information reported to the funding agencies. Our testing did not identify any instances of noncompliance; however, the absence of an internal control represents a breakdown in the control activities for the compliance area. Cause: Management had not implemented a formal internal control policy over the performance reporting process. Effect/Possible Effect: Failure to adequately maintain a system of internal control increases the risk of submitting inaccurate, incomplete, unsupported, or untimely reports. Questioned Costs: No questioned costs were identified as part of this finding. Repeat Finding: This is not a repeat finding. Recommendation: We recommend that the Organization design and implement formal internal control policies and procedures over the Reporting compliance requirement which includes, but is not limited to, documented preparation, review and approval of the reports and retention of supporting documents for all applicable information included within the reports. Views of Responsible Officials and Planned Corrective Actions: Management agrees with the recommendation to design and implement formalized internal control policies and procedures specific to the Reporting compliance requirement and are in the process of doing so.

Corrective Action Plan

Federal Agency / Pass-Through Entity: U.S. Department of Agriculture / Georgia Forestry Commission Program: Inflation Reduction Act Urban & Community Forestry Program (Federal Assistance Number #10.727) 1. Description of Finding During the audit, it was noted for the three performance reports tested, there were no documented review procedures or approvals to validate the information reported to the funding agencies, violating 2 CFR §200.303(a). 2. Statement of Agreement The organization agrees with the finding. 3. Corrective Actions Planned Action 1: For all federally-funded awards, the Development team will provide a draft of each performance report to the Chief Operating Officer for review and approval prior to submission. Action 2: The Chief Operating Officer will request any necessary corrections and/or documentation before approving. Action 3: The Chief Operating Officer will document review and approval of the draft via email copying the Grant & Accounting Specialist on the approval notice. Action 4: The Grant & Accounting Specialist will save approval notices to the Federal Grant Management folder of the Finance shared drive. 4. Responsible Official Don Hemrick, Director of Development 5. Planned Completion Date February 28, 2026 6. Monitoring Plan The Contract CFO will review the approval notices quarterly until approval notices are collected for 100% of performance reports in two consecutive quarters. Trees

Categories

Reporting

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 1176860 2025-001
    Material Weakness Repeat

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
10.727 INFLATION REDUCTION ACT URBAN & COMMUNITY FORESTRY PROGRAM $15,000