Finding 1229423 (2023-002)

Material Weakness Repeat Finding
Requirement
AB
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2023
Accepted
2026-09-11
Audit: 410819
Auditor: WIPFLI LLP

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: Internal controls for financial reporting are inadequate, lacking necessary documentation for transaction reviews and approvals.
  • Impacted Requirements: Grant funding expenditures must be verified as allowable costs, which is compromised by missing approval evidence.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: NIBC should establish procedures to ensure all approval documentation is retained and properly managed.

Finding Text

2023-002 Internal Control Over Financial Reporting - Internal Control Evidence Criteria or Specific Requirement: Internal controls should be in place that provide reasonable assurance that transactions are reviewed and approved. This is critically important for grant funding to assure that expenditures incurred are allowable grant costs. Condition: During the audit, transactions tested for cash disbursements and journal entries lacked evidence of review and approval by others. Three of ten payroll transactions selected for testing did not have evidence of timesheet approval. Additionally, no documentation was available to substantiate reviews of other processes such as payroll registers and bank reconciliations. Although management represents these items were reviewed, the documentation we observed did not have evidence of review. Effect: A material weakness in internal control over financial reporting exists due to the lack of documentation of internal control processes. Cause: NIBC transitioned their accounting function from an outsourced model to utilizing inhouse staffing which resulted in the loss off approval documentation maintained by the outsourced accountant. In-house staffing did not implement process that provided for evidence of review. Auditor's Recommendation: We recommend NIBC implement procedures to ensure documentation of approvals is retained. Questioned Costs: None View of Responsible Officials: Management agrees with the findings and has written a corrective action plan. Federal Program Information: Funding agency: Department of the Treasury, passed through the Battle Creek Community Foundation Title: Emergency Rental Assistance Program AL number: 21.023

Corrective Action Plan

Finding 2023-002: Internal Control Over Financial Reporting – Internal Control Evidence Management’s Response Now that disbursements are 100% in-house, the President & CEO provides final written approval on all timecards and payables. Chairman of the Loan & Finance Committee remotely reviews journal entries in accounting software monthly. Contact Person Responsible for Corrective Action: Whitney Wardell Anticipated Completion Date: 7/1/2024

Categories

Allowable Costs / Cost Principles Material Weakness Reporting Internal Control / Segregation of Duties

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 1229422 2023-001
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1229424 2023-003
    Material Weakness Repeat

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
21.023 COVID-19 EMERGENCY RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM $1.60M
14.239 HOME INVESTMENT PARTNERSHIPS PROGRAM $524,631
14.218 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANTS/ENTITLEMENT GRANTS $181,157
14.231 EMERGENCY SOLUTIONS GRANT PROGRAM $125,933
14.905 LEAD HAZARD REDUCTION DEMONSTRATION GRANT PROGRAM $70,035
14.871 SECTION 8 HOUSING CHOICE VOUCHERS $18,920