Finding 1214708 (2024-004)

Material Weakness Repeat Finding
Requirement
L
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2024
Accepted
2026-05-15

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: The Organization recorded federal grant revenue based on cash receipts instead of when expenses were incurred, leading to misalignment in fiscal periods.
  • Impacted Requirements: This violates U.S. GAAP and 2 CFR Part 200, which require revenue recognition based on incurred costs, not cash timing.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Strengthen period-end revenue cutoff procedures and review grant agreements to ensure accurate revenue recognition moving forward.

Finding Text

Finding Number:2024-004 Instance of Non-Compliance:Reporting Assistance Listing # 66.466 Questioned Cost $0 Repeat Finding: No Condition: The Organization recorded federal grant revenue for certain grants related to FY2023 activities in FY2024, based on the timing of reimbursement receipts rather than when the underlying expenditures were incurred. As a result, grant revenue was not recognized in the proper fiscal period. Criteria: According to U.S. GAAP, 2 CFR Part 200, and the accrual basis of accounting, nonfederal entities must maintain accounting records that accurately reflect the financial results of federal awards and recognize expenditures and related revenues in the period in which the allowable costs are incurred. For cost-reimbursement grants, revenue should be recognized as eligible expenditures are incurred, regardless of when reimbursement is received. Cause: The Organization’s current process for recording certain grant revenues appears to rely on cash receipt timing rather than a formal review of period-end revenue cutoff. Effect: As a result, federal grant revenue and related receivables for FY2023 were understated, while revenue in FY2024 was overstated for the related amounts. This condition resulted in a prior period adjustment to beginning net assets as disclosed in Note 8 to the financial statements. In addition, this may lead to misstatements in financial reporting if similar cutoff issues occur in future periods. Recommendation: We recommend that the Organization strengthen its period-end revenue cutoff procedures, including reviewing grant and contract agreements near year-end to determine whether revenue has been earned but not yet received and recording the appropriate accounts receivable and revenue entries in the correct reporting period. Views of Responsible Officials: Management acknowledges the finding and agrees that revenue cutoff procedures need to be strengthened. The issue resulted from reliance on reimbursement timing rather than recognizing revenue based on when eligible expenditures were incurred. To address this, the organization will implement enhanced period-end cutoff procedures, including reviewing grant activity and agreements at year-end to identify incurred but unreimbursed costs and recording the appropriate receivables and revenue. Grant tracking schedules and reconciliation processes will also be improved to ensure accurate and timely revenue recognition in accordance with accrual accounting and federal requirements. Responsible Official: Abel Olivo, Executive Director, in coordination with the organization’s outsourced accounting firm Anticipated Completion Date: December 31, 2025

Corrective Action Plan

Corrective Action Plan: Management acknowledges that federal grant revenue was recorded based on reimbursement timing rather than when related expenditures were incurred. To address this, the organization will implement procedures to ensure grant revenue is recognized in accordance with accrual accounting principles, aligning revenue with the period in which eligible expenditures are incurred. A year-end cutoff review will be performed to identify and record any receivables for incurred but unreimbursed costs. Additionally, grant tracking schedules and reconciliation processes will be enhanced to ensure accurate and timely revenue recognition. Responsible Official: Abel Olivo, Executive Director, with support from the outsourced accounting firm Anticipated Completion Date: December 31, 2025

Categories

Allowable Costs / Cost Principles Cash Management Reporting Matching / Level of Effort / Earmarking

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 1214707 2024-004
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1214709 2024-005
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1214710 2024-005
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1214711 2024-005
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1214712 2024-005
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1214713 2024-005
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1214714 2024-006
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1214715 2024-006
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1214716 2024-006
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1214717 2024-006
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1214718 2024-006
    Material Weakness Repeat

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
10.727 INFLATION REDUCTION ACT URBAN & COMMUNITY FORESTRY PROGRAM $260,033
15.930 CHESAPEAKE BAY GATEWAYS NETWORK $127,448
11.419 COASTAL ZONE MANAGEMENT ADMINISTRATION AWARDS $13,189
66.466 GEOGRAPHIC PROGRAMS - CHESAPEAKE BAY PROGRAM $4,706
66.312 ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE GOVERNMENT-TO-GOVERNMENT (EJG2G) PROGRAM $1,383
66.951 ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION GRANTS PROGRAM $708