Finding 1204853 (2024-003)

Material Weakness Repeat Finding
Requirement
I
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2024
Accepted
2026-03-30

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: Some program disbursements lacked proper authorization and supporting documentation, raising concerns about potential fraud.
  • Impacted Requirements: All disbursement transactions must be authorized and supported with accessible documentation.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Review and enhance approval processes and ensure all disbursement documents are organized and easily retrievable.

Finding Text

Program disbursements lacked proper documented support Condition: Certain program transactions selected for testing either failed to contain authorized approval for disbursement or documentation supporting the disbursement could not be located. Fraudulent activity perpetrated by the staff accountant was discovered by management during 2025. The transactions referred to above have not been identified by management as being fraudulent. Criteria: All disbursement transactions should be properly authorized for payment and supported with adequate documentation. The filing of all disbursement support should allow for sufficient access. Cause: The staff accountant failed to obtain documented management approval for select program disbursements. In addition, management failed to locate certain transaction documents selected for testing. Effect: Certain program expenditures lacked proper approved documentation support. Context: A sample of 30 non-payroll-related disbursements were selected for the audit from a population of 163 nonpayroll-related disbursements. The test found three disbursements that lacked proper approval with questioned costs of $2,448 and four disbursements where documentation support could not be located with questioned cost of $965. The total amount of questioned costs for program non-payroll-related disbursements could not be determined. Recommendation: The Organization should examine policies and procures involving the approval process to make sure that all program disbursements are properly approved prior to payment. Management should evaluate the maintenance of disbursement documentation to ensure all documentation is readily accessible. Views of the responsible officials and planned corrective action: The Organization agrees with the finding and will develop and implement additional policies and procedures to ensure all transactions are authorized. Management will monitor these additional policies and procedures to make sure approvals are obtained. See current year corrective action plan.

Corrective Action Plan

Program disbursements lacked proper documented support. MSCIL recognizes the importance of maintaining proper authorization and documentation for all federally funded expenditures and has taken steps to strengthen these practices. Management is improving its internal and program review systems to ensure that disbursements are properly reviewed and handled in accordance with grant requirements . Program disbursements will be stored within MSCIL's accounting software to improve consistency across departments. The Administrative Coordinator will assist in monitoring program documentation, and The Fyffe Jones Group will review these processes as part of their monthly reconciliation procedures to identify areas of improvement. These modification s will help ensure that MSCIL's reporting aligns with federal expectations.

Categories

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Other Findings in this Audit

  • 1204852 2024-003
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1204854 2024-004
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1204855 2024-004
    Material Weakness Repeat

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
93.369 ACL INDEPENDENT LIVING STATE GRANTS $112,915
93.432 ACL CENTERS FOR INDEPENDENT LIVING $99,271
93.630 DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES BASIC SUPPORT AND ADVOCACY GRANTS $54,471