Finding 1227571 (2025-001)

Material Weakness Repeat Finding
Requirement
P
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2025
Accepted
2026-08-21

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: The Association failed to consolidate the financials of the AUTM Foundation, despite having a controlling interest, leading to incomplete financial statements.
  • Impacted Requirements: The Organization did not comply with accounting standards requiring consolidation of entities with controlling financial interests.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Finance management should monitor all affiliated entities to ensure proper consolidation in future financial statements.

Finding Text

2025-001: Material weakness related to consolidation of affiliate Criteria – Management of the Organization is responsible for maintaining effective internal controls over financial reporting, including proper reporting of entities for which the entity has a controlling financial interest, to ensure completeness of the financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. Condition - The Association of University Technology Managers, Inc. (the Association) has a controlling financial interest in AUTM Foundation, Inc. (the Foundation) through its status as the only corporate member of the Foundation and its authority to select all board members of the Foundation. Given these circumstances, pursuant to Accounting Standards Codification 958-810-25-2, the Organization should consolidate the financials of the Foundation in its financial statements. Context - Historically the Association has reported its financial statements as a standalone entity with amounts due from the Foundation reflected as receivable from related party. Cause - The bylaws of the Foundation state that no board members of the Association may serve as board members of the Foundation. This created a misunderstanding on the part of the Association that the Foundation is a separate entity and should not be consolidated in the Association’s financials. Effect - In previous years, the financial statements of the Organization did not include the assets, liabilities, net assets, revenues, and expenses of the Foundation that were not eliminated in consolidation. Recommendation - Finance management of the Organization should maintain an awareness of all affiliated entities to determine whether any of those entities should be consolidated in the Organization’s financial statements. Views of Responsible Officials - Management concurs with the recommendation and the 2025 financials reflect the appropriate correction. At this time, the Organization does not have any other affiliates, but the Organization’s finance team is now fully apprised of the nuances of the above referenced accounting standard and it will be thoroughly considered in the future if the Organization becomes affiliated with any other entities.

Corrective Action Plan

July 28, 2026 U.S. Department of Commerce 1401 Constitution Ave., NW Washington, D.C. 20230 Association of University Technology Managers, Inc. (the Association) and its affiliate AUTM Foundation, Inc. (the Foundation, and collectively, the Organization) respectfully submit the following corrective action plan for the year ended December 31, 2025. Name and address of independent public accounting firm: Blue & Company, LLC 250 West Main Street, Suite 2900 Lexington, Kentucky 40507 The finding from the schedule of findings and questioned costs (the Schedule) for the year ended December 31, 2025 is discussed below and is numbered consistently with the number assigned in the Schedule. Identifying Number: 2025-001 Finding: Material weakness related to consolidation of affiliate. In previous years the Association did not consolidate the assets, liabilities, net assets, revenues, and expenses of the Foundation with the financials of the Association. This was incorrect because, under Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) 958-810, the Association has a controlling financial interest in the Foundation—as its sole corporate member, with authority to appoint and remove all of the Foundation’s trustees—and an economic interest in the Foundation, so consolidation is required. The 2025 consolidated financial statements correct this, including a restatement of the beginning balance of net assets. Corrective Actions Taken or Planned: The issue occurred due to a misunderstanding of GAAP rules related to affiliated entities. Previously, management’s understanding was that common board members were the primary consideration for consolidation. The Organization has (1) consolidated the Foundation effective for the year ended December 31, 2025, with beginning net assets restated and intercompany balances eliminated; and (2) will implement a documented annual affiliated-entity assessment, performed as part of the year-end close, under which finance evaluates each related or affiliated entity against the ASC 958-810 criteria—controlling financial interest and economic interest—to determine whether consolidation is required. The assessment will be documented, reviewed and approved by the Senior Director of Finance, and reported to the Audit Committee. At this time, the Organization has no affiliated entity other than the Foundation, whose consolidation will be re-confirmed under this control each year. Estimated Completion Date: The correction is complete with the issuance of the 2025 consolidated financial statements; the recurring annual control is effective beginning with the December 31, 2026 year-end close. Responsible Personnel: Cody Embry, Senior Director of Finance, with oversight by the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors. If you have any questions or would like any additional information regarding these matters, please let us know and we will be happy to provide. Sincerely, L. Cody Embry, CPA Senior Director of Finance

Categories

Material Weakness Reporting Internal Control / Segregation of Duties

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
11.620 SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, BUSINESS AND/OR EDUCATION OUTREACH $3.24M