Finding 1223599 (2025-001)

Material Weakness Repeat Finding
Requirement
P
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2025
Accepted
2026-07-14

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: Management is relying on auditors to prepare financial statements, which can lead to a lack of accountability for accurate reporting.
  • Impacted Requirements: This practice conflicts with Generally Accepted Auditing Standards, which state auditors should not prepare the complete financial package.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Management should assess the cost-benefit of drafting financial statements and consider strengthening internal controls to ensure accuracy and compliance.

Finding Text

Auditor Preparation of the Financial Statements Material Weakness Criteria: Management is responsible for establishing and maintaining internal controls, including monitoring, and for the fair presentation in the financial statements of financial position, results of operations, and cash flows, including the notes to financial statements, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. Condition: As part of the audit, management requested the auditor to prepare a draft of the financial statements, including the related notes to financial statements and supplementary information. Generally Accepted Auditing Standards require auditors to report it as a finding when they prepare the complete annual reporting package for their clients. Management reviewed, approved, and accepted responsibility for those financial statements prior to their issuance. Cause: This deficiency is partially due to limited resources in the financial reporting process. Auditor assistance with preparation of the schedule of expenditures of federal awards is not unusual in an organization of this size. Effect: There is a reasonable possibility that the Organization would not be able to draft a complete and accurate financial statements. Recommendation: We recommend that Management continue to evaluate the cost benefit of preparing a draft of the audited financial statements, supplemental schedules, and disclosures. Managements Response: Management will continue to allow the audit firm to create the draft financial statements and related footnote disclosures, and will review and approve these prior to the issuance of the annual financial statements.

Corrective Action Plan

Dayton’s Bluff Neighborhood Housing Service and Subsidiary submits the following corrective action plan for the year ended December 31, 2025. Name and address of independent public accounting firm: Lethert, Skwira, Schultz & Co. LLP, 170 E 7th Place, Saint Paul, MN 55101 Audit period: January 1, 2025 – December 31, 2025 The findings from the December 31, 2025 schedule of findings, questioned costs and recommendations. FINDINGS - FINANCIAL STATEMENT AUDIT Finding 2025-001 - Auditor Preparation of the Financial Statements Material Weakness Finding Summary: The Organization does not have an internal control system designed to provide for the preparation of the complete consolidated financial statements, including the accompanying footnotes, as required by GAAP. We were also requested to draft the financial statements and accompanying notes to the financial statements. Corrective Action Plan: It is not cost effective to have an internal control system designed to provide for the preparation of financial statements and accompanying notes. We requested that our auditors Lethert, Skwira, Schultz & Co. LLP, prepare the financial statements and the accompanying notes to the financial statements as a part of their annual audit. We have designated a member of management to review the drafted financial statements and accompanying notes. Responsible Individuals: Jim Erchul, Executive Director, 651-774-6995 Anticipated Completion Date: Ongoing

Categories

Reporting Subrecipient Monitoring Material Weakness

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
14.218 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANTS/ENTITLEMENT GRANTS $1.17M
21.000 Neighborhood Reinvestment Expendable Grant $323,000