Finding 1213958 (2024-002)

Material Weakness Repeat Finding
Requirement
P
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2024
Accepted
2026-05-06
Audit: 400807
Organization: City of Ceres (CA)
Auditor: JJACPA INC

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: The City missed the deadline for completing the audit and submitting required documents.
  • Impacted Requirements: This failure violates Section 200.512(a) of the Uniform Guidance regarding audit timeliness.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: The City should establish clear policies to ensure audits and submissions are completed on time.

Finding Text

Finding 2024-002 – Timeliness CFDA Title and Number: Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (21.207) Federal Agency: U.S. Department of the Treasury Pass-through Entity: N/A Year: 2024 Criteria: Section 200.512(a) of the Uniform Guidance states that an audit must be completed and the data collection form and reporting package must be submitted within the earlier of 30 calendar days after receipt of the auditor’s report or nine months after the end of the audit period. Condition: The City did not complete the audit and submit the data collection form and reporting package within nine months after the end of the fiscal year. Questioned Costs: None Context: The City did not schedule a single audit to be performed until after the deadline had passed. Effect or Potential Effect: The City did not meet the audit requirements as provided in Section 200.512(a). Cause: The City did not have policies in place to have an audit completed or data collection form submitted before the deadline. Recommendation: The City should implement policies and procedures to have the audit completed and data collection form filed before the deadline. Responsible Official’s Response and Corrective Action Planned: The City will work closely with the independent auditor to ensure single audits are competed within the specified timeline.

Corrective Action Plan

Management will file the audited financial statements for the year ended June 30, 2024, as soon as possible. The underlying causes included prolonged resource constraints within the Finance Department, turnover in key accounting positions, challenges associated with the ERP system implementation, and delays in reconciling certain major balance sheet accounts. To address these issues, the City engaged an external financial consultant to assist in completing outstanding bank reconciliations and restoring timely financial reporting. Management is also implementing additional corrective measures, including reprioritizing workloads, enhancing oversight of monthly close activities, and establishing standardized reconciliation checklists for all major balance sheet accounts. Management anticipates that this finding will extend through the Fiscal Year 2025, and possibly Fiscal Year 2026 financial statement reporting cycles, with full resolution expected in Fiscal Year 2027.

Categories

Subrecipient Monitoring Reporting

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
21.027 CORONAVIRUS STATE AND LOCAL FISCAL RECOVERY FUNDS $2.08M
14.218 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANTS/ENTITLEMENT GRANTS $177,590
20.205 HIGHWAY PLANNING AND CONSTRUCTION $142,996
16.607 BULLETPROOF VEST PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM $16,632
16.738 EDWARD BYRNE MEMORIAL JUSTICE ASSISTANCE GRANT PROGRAM $4,938