Finding 1215565 (2025-002)

Material Weakness Repeat Finding
Requirement
BL
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2025
Accepted
2026-05-26
Audit: 402238
Organization: Change Happens! (TX)

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: Civic Heart lacks adequate internal controls for reviewing and approving grant billing requests, leading to potential inaccuracies in financial reporting.
  • Impacted Requirements: Federal guidelines mandate effective internal controls over grant billing to ensure proper preparation and allocation of costs.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Implement a robust system for independent review and approval of all grant billing requests and payroll allocations to comply with federal requirements.

Finding Text

Finding #2025-002 – Significant Deficiency. Applicable federal programs: U. S. Department of Health and Human Services, Direct Federal Funding, Cooperative Agreement to Support Navigators in Federally-facilitated Exchanges, Assistance Listing #93.332, Contract #NAVCA240482-01-00, Contract year: 08/27/24 – 08/26/25. U. S. Department of Health and Human Services, Direct Federal Funding, Affordable Care Act (ACA) Personal Responsibility Education Program, Assistance Listing #93.092, Contract #90AK0075-03-03, Contract year: 09/30/23 – 09/29/25. Criteria: Reporting and allowable costs – Management of Civic Heart is responsible for establishing and maintaining an effective system of internal control over government grant billing requests to ensure all grant reimbursement requests are properly prepared and recorded and that all costs submitted for reimbursement are properly allocated, where applicable. Condition and context: Civic Heart’s internal controls over grant billing requests were not sufficient to ensure that grant billing requests were consistently independently reviewed and approved. Transaction testing for details and internal controls revealed the following: 1) 3 out of 12 grant billing requests did not have evidence of independent review and approval. 2) 3 of 3 pay period journal entries used to allocate payroll expense between departments and funding sources did not have evidence of independent review and approval. Cause and effect: Transitions in the accounting and management team resulted in independent reviews of grant billing requests and payroll allocation journal entries either not occurring or documentation of such review and approval not being retained. Failure to establish and maintain an adequate system of internal control over financial reporting adversely affects Civic Heart’s ability to prepare financial statements in accordance with GAAP and may result in improper grant billings. Questioned costs: Unknown. Recommendation: Same as finding reported as #2025-001. Views of responsible officers and planned corrective action: Management agrees with the finding. See Corrective Action Plan.

Corrective Action Plan

Finding #2025-002 – Significant Deficiency. Applicable federal programs: U. S. Department of Health and Human Services, Direct Federal Funding, Cooperative Agreement to Support Navigators in Federally-facilitated Exchanges, Assistance Listing #93.332, Contract #NAVCA240482-01-00, Contract year: 08/27/24 – 08/26/25. U. S. Department of Health and Human Services, Direct Federal Funding, Affordable Care Act (ACA) Personal Responsibility Education Program, Assistance Listing #93.092, Contract #90AK0075-03-03, Contract year: 09/30/23 – 09/29/25. Condition and context: Civic Heart’s internal controls over grant billing requests were not sufficient to ensure that grant billing requests were consistently independently reviewed and approved. Transaction testing for details and internal controls revealed the following: 1) 3 out of 12 grant billing requests did not have evidence of independent review and approval. 2) 3 of 3 pay period journal entries used to allocate payroll expense between departments and funding sources did not have evidence of independent review and approval. Recommendation: Same as finding reported as #2025-001. Planned corrective action: Management has implemented enhanced grant reimbursement and compliance procedures designed to strengthen oversight, documentation standards, and review procedures. Corrective actions include: 1) Implementation of a formal grant reimbursement and drawdown review process requiring complete supporting documentation prior to submission. 2) Required supporting documentation now includes invoices, proof of payment, payroll documentation, time and effort certifications where applicable, budget verification, and grant period review. 3) All federal reimbursement requests require independent review and approval by the Chief Executive Officer prior to submission to ensure compliance with grant terms and conditions, Uniform Guidance requirements, federal regulations, and GAAP reporting standards. 4) Monthly grant compliance meetings are conducted to review reimbursement activity, grant expenditures, reporting deadlines, allowable costs, and budget variances. 5) Program and finance staff are participating in ongoing grant compliance training related to federal regulations, grant-specific requirements, documentation standards, allowable costs, and financial management procedures. Training efforts include periodic reviews and testing where applicable to reinforce compliance expectations. 6) Implementation of standardized grant tracking and reimbursement monitoring procedures to improve accountability and strengthen oversight. 7) Periodic internal compliance reviews of grant files, reimbursement requests, and supporting documentation to identify and address deficiencies proactively. Responsible officer: Anita Bates, Chief Executive Officer Estimated completion date: Implementation is underway with continued monitoring and expected to be fully operational by August 31, 2026.

Categories

Allowable Costs / Cost Principles Cash Management Reporting Significant Deficiency

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 1215562 2025-002
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1215563 2025-003
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1215564 2025-004
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1215566 2025-003
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1215567 2025-004
    Material Weakness Repeat

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
93.332 COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT TO SUPPORT NAVIGATORS IN FEDERALLY-FACILITATED EXCHANGES $1.75M
14.267 CONTINUUM OF CARE PROGRAM $1.17M
93.959 BLOCK GRANTS FOR PREVENTION AND TREATMENT OF SUBSTANCE ABUSE $463,974
93.092 AFFORDABLE CARE ACT (ACA) PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY EDUCATION PROGRAM $411,928
93.939 HIV PREVENTION ACTIVITIES NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATION BASED $386,556
93.060 SEXUAL RISK AVOIDANCE EDUCATION $248,060
93.767 CHILDREN'S HEALTH INSURANCE PROGRAM $241,013
16.812 SECOND CHANCE ACT REENTRY INITIATIVE $186,733
16.830 REDUCING RECIDIVISM FOR FEMALE JUVENILE DELINQUENTS $114,229
21.027 CORONAVIRUS STATE AND LOCAL FISCAL RECOVERY FUNDS $69,070
16.548 DELINQUENCY PREVENTION PROGRAM $30,853