Finding 1215393 (2025-002)

Material Weakness Repeat Finding
Requirement
B
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2025
Accepted
2026-05-21

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: There is a material weakness in internal controls over compliance, specifically regarding allowable costs for federal awards.
  • Impacted Requirements: Costs charged must be allowable, reasonable, necessary, and directly benefit the program; $111,669 was improperly charged for unperformed IT services.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Strengthen internal controls to ensure that only costs for services actually rendered are billed to federal awards.

Finding Text

Federal Agency: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Federal Program Name: Foster Care Title IV-E Assistance Listing Number: 93.658 Pass-Through Agency: City of Philadelphia Department of Human Services Contract Number(s): 21-20075, 23-20289 and 23-20800 Award Period: July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2025 Type of Finding: • Material Weakness in Internal Control over Compliance and Compliance - Allowable Costs Criteria: Per the Uniform Guidance, costs charged to federal awards must be allowable, reasonable, necessary and allocable to the program, as well as costs incurred for goods or services that directly benefit the award. Condition and Context: In our testing of allowable costs, we noted that the entity charged $111,669 of IT related expenses to the major program for services that were never performed by the vendor, and for which the entity never received benefit from. Concilio was reimbursed by the funder for these expenses. Questioned Costs: $111,669 Cause: Concilio did not have adequate internal controls in place to ensure that services were rendered and substantiated prior to payment and billing to the major program. Effect: This deficiency resulted in noncompliance with federal allowable costs requirements. It also indicates a reasonable possibility that material noncompliance with federal requirements may not be prevented or detected and corrected on a timely basis. Repeat Finding: This is not a repeat finding. Recommendation: We recommend that management strengthen internal controls over vendor payments and grant billings to ensure that only costs for services actually rendered and properly supported are charged to federal awards. Views of responsible officials and planned corrective actions: Please refer to Concilio’s Corrective Action Plan.

Corrective Action Plan

Material Weakness in Internal Control over Compliance and Compliance - Allowable Costs Condition: During our testing of allowable costs, we identified IT-related expenses totaling $111,669 that were charged to the major program for services that were not performed by the vendor and for which the entity did not receive any benefit. These costs were subsequently reimbursed to Concilio by the funder. Recommendation: We recommend that management strengthen internal controls over vendor payments and grant billings to ensure that only costs for services actually rendered and properly supported are charged to federal awards. Explanation of Disagreement with Audit Finding: There is no disagreement with the audit finding. Action taken in response to finding: Management has initiated corrective actions to strengthen internal controls over vendor payments, procurement, and grant billing processes. Upon discovery of the issue, management reviewed the affected transactions and ensured reimbursement of the questioned costs to the funding agency. Procedures have been enhanced to require appropriate documentation and supervisory approval confirming that services are properly rendered prior to payment and charging of costs against awards. In addition, management has strengthened vendor oversight and contract monitoring processes, including improved verification of invoices against contractual deliverables and supporting documentation. The Compliance functions have been enhanced to include periodic reviews of program expenditures, and additional staff training will be provided on allowable cost requirements, compliance standards, and documentation expectations to prevent recurrence of similar issues. Name of the contact person responsible for corrective action: Asif Mehmood, Chief Financial Officer asif.mehmood@elconcilio.net (215)627-3100 Planned completion date for the corrective action plan: June 30, 2026

Categories

Allowable Costs / Cost Principles Student Financial Aid Material Weakness

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 1215388 2025-001
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1215389 2025-001
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1215390 2025-001
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1215391 2025-002
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1215392 2025-002
    Material Weakness Repeat

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
93.658 FOSTER CARE TITLE IV-E $230,771
16.575 CRIME VICTIM ASSISTANCE $92,732
93.558 TEMPORARY ASSISTANCE FOR NEEDY FAMILIES $28,600