Finding 1222932 (2025-004)

Material Weakness Repeat Finding
Requirement
AB
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2025
Accepted
2026-07-06
Audit: 406443
Organization: Help Usa, Inc. and Affiliates (NY)

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: Inconsistent recordkeeping led to missing approved wage rate authorizations for 14 out of 40 employees, resulting in unauthorized charges to the grant.
  • Impacted Requirements: Uniform Guidance mandates accurate documentation and internal controls for federal award charges, which were not met.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Standardize budget allocation forms to include approved wage rates and ensure all employee records are current and properly maintained.

Finding Text

2025-004: Activities Allowed or Unallowed and Allowable Costs/Cost Principles ALN 93.558 Passed through the City of New York, Human Resources Administration from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services - CT1-069-20248802635 and CT1-069-20248800455 - Significant Deficiency in Internal Control Criteria: Uniform Guidance requires that charges to federal awards must be based on records that are supported by a system of internal controls that provide reasonable assurance about the accuracy, allowability and proper allocation of the charges. Documentation should be maintained for the distribution of an employee's salary and wages among specific activities or cost objective if the employee works on multiple activities. Condition: Inconsistencies in recordkeeping were noted, leading to management's inability to produce approved wage rate authorizations for 14 of the 40 employees. This was not a statistically valid sample. Cause: Management did not retain wage rate authorizations nor did they include approvals within certain budget allocation forms. Effect: Unauthorized wage rates were charged to the grant during the fiscal year. Questioned Costs: None. Recommendation: We recommend management standardize their budget allocation forms which show approved wage rates across all employees as well as retain and update records to ensure all employees have up to date forms on file. Views of Responsible Officials: Management acknowledges the finding. For details on actions taken, refer to the Corrective Action Plan.

Corrective Action Plan

Management will standardize the budget allocation forms to reflect approved wage rates across all employees and ensure all employees have up-to-date forms on file.

Categories

Allowable Costs / Cost Principles

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 1222931 2025-004
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1222933 2025-005
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1222934 2025-005
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1222935 2025-005
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1222936 2025-005
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1222937 2025-006
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1222938 2025-006
    Material Weakness Repeat

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
64.024 VA HOMELESS PROVIDERS GRANT AND PER DIEM PROGRAM $1.68M
93.600 HEAD START $554,068
14.195 PROJECT-BASED RENTAL ASSISTANCE (PBRA) $414,446
93.558 TEMPORARY ASSISTANCE FOR NEEDY FAMILIES $218,999
93.667 SOCIAL SERVICES BLOCK GRANT $135,699
16.575 CRIME VICTIM ASSISTANCE $126,596
64.033 EMERGENCY FOOD AND SHELTER NATIONAL BOARD PROGRAM $105,247
93.671 FAMILY VIOLENCE PREVENTION AND SERVICES/DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SHELTER AND SUPPORTIVE SERVICES $50,396
64.033 VA SUPPORTIVE SERVICES FOR VETERAN FAMILIES PROGRAM $48,890
14.249 SECTION 8 MODERATE REHABILITATION SINGLE ROOM OCCUPANCY $44,890
97.036 DISASTER GRANTS - PUBLIC ASSISTANCE (PRESIDENTIALLY DECLARED DISASTERS) $28,542
97.024 EMERGENCY FOOD AND SHELTER NATIONAL BOARD PROGRAM $8,153
10.558 CHILD AND ADULT CARE FOOD PROGRAM $2,317
14.267 CONTINUUM OF CARE PROGRAM $2,140