Finding 1206289 (2025-003)

Material Weakness Repeat Finding
Requirement
P
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2025
Accepted
2026-04-10

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: Limited or no segregation of duties was found in key financial processes, raising concerns about internal controls over federal awards.
  • Impacted Requirements: This finding violates Title 2 U.S. Code of Federal Regulations Part 200, which mandates effective internal control systems for managing federal awards.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Implement stronger internal controls for payroll, cash receipts, and cash disbursements, including documented reviews and segregation of duties to enhance compliance.

Finding Text

Refer to Section II for findings 2025-001 and 2025-002. Information on the Federal Program: Federal Agency: United States Department of Veteran Affairs Program Name: VA Supportive Services for Veteran Families Program (SSVF) CFDA: 64.033 Federal Award Identification Number: 14-MA-209 Federal Award Year: 2025 Specific Requirement: In accordance with Title 2 U.S. Code of Federal Regulations Part 200, Subpart D, Section 200.303a, the Organization is required to establish and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award that provides reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal award in compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal award. Condition Found: We noted there was limited or no segregation of duties for the majority of fiscal year ended June 30, 2025 in several areas during our audit. See Section II for findings 2025-001 and 2025-002. Context: We noted these conditions while obtaining an understanding of internal control for the respective transaction cycles listed in the findings. Questioned Costs: None noted Identification as a Repeat Finding, if Applicable: A repeat finding; See finding 2024-005, 2023-005, 2022-005, 2021-005, 2020-006, and 2019-007. Recommendation: We recommend the Organization implement a system of internal controls that would improve the segregation of duties related to payroll, cash receipts, and cash disbursements. This system of controls would include documented review of each significant transaction cycle. Specifically, we recommend the following: Payroll Processing • We recommend reviewing all files to verify they contain appropriate and current documents. • We recommend developing a termination process as part of the policy manual to ensure terminated employees have access rights terminated timely upon departure. Cash Receipts and Tenant Accounts Receivable • We recommend that the Organization segregate the various aspects of the cash receipts process between the employees to mitigate conflicting responsibilities during the transaction cycle. We recommend that the individual that opens the mail create a log of checks received which is retained by this individual and reviewed against the actual deposit made to verify completeness. • We recommend that management perform monthly reconciliations and revenues over the accounts receivable balances. We also recommend management develop a procedure for following up on amounts past due, and refunds of security deposits. • We recommend the Organization implement a process of creating and obtaining tenant agreements with terms and conditions. Those tenant agreements should be signed by the Organization and the tenant, retained and updated at the term of any agreement. Cash Disbursements • We recommend the Organization develop a formal procedure surrounding the cash disbursement process which includes an appropriate level of review of all invoices, including purchases made with the credit cards and employee reimbursements that provide a clear description of the grant and business purpose of the expense. • We also recommend that the Organization adopt a formal policy surrounding employee reimbursements which includes requiring the use of a reimbursement request form which is reviewed and that itemized receipts for purchases be required. We recommend a formal documented review be performed on a monthly basis over journal entries and supporting documentation for each journal entry be retained. Views of a Responsible Official and Corrective Action Plan: Management agrees with the finding and the recommendation. See Corrective Action Plan attached.

Corrective Action Plan

FINDING 2025-001 Corrective Action Plan During the fiscal year June 30, 2025, Veterans Northeast Outreach Center, Inc. (the Organization) began implementing procedures to strengthen its system of internal controls. The Organization continues efforts to strengthen its system of internal controls throughout fiscal year 2026 with a limited finance team. Internal controls improved include a rigorous review of tenant receivables and accounts payable. Responsible party: Jason Youngclaus; Chief Financial Officer; (978) 930-3830 Anticipated completion date: June 30, 2026 FINDING 2025-002 Corrective Action Plan Management will work to identify a process of reviewing journal entries on a regular basis. The challenge with implementing a journal review process is the limited staff to facilitate a multi-level review of journal entries. The Organization will be discussing internally and with the Board of Directors a manner in which this can be accomplished. Responsible party: Jason Youngclaus; Chief Financial Officer; (978) 930-3830 Anticipated completion date: June 30, 2026 FINDING 2025-003 Corrective Action Plan Refer to the corrective action plans for findings 2025-001 and 2025-002. Responsible party: Jason Youngclaus; Chief Financial Officer; (978) 930-3830 Anticipated completion date: June 30, 2026

Categories

Internal Control / Segregation of Duties Procurement, Suspension & Debarment Cash Management Matching / Level of Effort / Earmarking

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 1206290 2025-004
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1206291 2025-005
    Material Weakness Repeat

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
64.033 VA SUPPORTIVE SERVICES FOR VETERAN FAMILIES PROGRAM $905,880
64.024 VA HOMELESS PROVIDERS GRANT AND PER DIEM PROGRAM $445,244
14.267 CONTINUUM OF CARE PROGRAM $420,000
14.239 HOME INVESTMENT PARTNERSHIPS PROGRAM $307,230