Finding 1229979 (2025-004)

Material Weakness Repeat Finding
Requirement
AB
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2025
Accepted
2026-09-16

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: The Commission lacks proper procedures to reconcile time records with payroll registers, leading to unsupported payroll costs for the Housing Voucher Cluster.
  • Impacted Requirements: Non-compliance with 2 CFR 200.430, which mandates that payroll costs must be reasonable, documented, and accurately reflect actual work performed.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Implement procedures for accurate payroll support and reconciliation, and ensure management reviews and approves payroll allocations to address variances.

Finding Text

Allowable Costs, Payroll Disbursements - AB Federal Agency: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Federal Program: Housing Voucher Cluster FALN: 14.871/14.879 Federal Award Identification Number and Year: MD023, 2025 Award Period: 1/1/2025-12/31/2025 Type of Finding: Significant Deficiency in Internal Control over Compliance, Other Matters Criteria or specific requirement: Per 2 CFR 200.430, compensation charged to federal awards must be reasonable, adequately documented, and supported by records that accurately reflect the work performed. Payroll costs charged to the Housing Voucher Cluster must be properly allocated based on actual services provided and supported by appropriate documentation. Condition: The Commission did not have adequate procedures in place to ensure time records were reconciled to payroll registers and that payroll costs charged to the Housing Choice Voucher Program were supported by documentation accurately reflecting actual payroll activity. Questioned costs: $1,545.25, see calculation determination under context. Context: During testing of 40 payroll files, exceptions were noted in the following: - For 1 sample, gross wages recalculated based on approved timesheet hours and authorized pay rates totaled $3,830.05, while gross wages recorded on the payroll register totaled $4,836.10, resulting in an unsupported variance of $1,006.05. - As a result of our testing, 2 more individuals were identified who had been paid incorrectly. Cause: The Commission did not have adequate procedures in place to ensure time records were reconciled to payroll registers and that payroll costs charged to the Housing Choice Voucher Program were supported by documentation accurately reflecting actual payroll activity. Effect: The Commission is not in compliance with HUD requirements. Repeat finding: No. Recommendation: We recommend the Commission implement procedures to ensure payroll costs charged to the Housing Voucher Cluster are properly supported, accurately allocated, and reconciled to payroll records. Management should review and approve payroll allocations and investigate any variances to ensure compliance with 2 CFR 200.430. Views of responsible officials: There is no disagreement with the audit finding.

Corrective Action Plan

Housing Voucher Cluster – FALN No. 14.871 & 14.879 – Allowable Costs, Payroll Disbursements - AB Recommendation: We recommend the Commission implement procedures to ensure payroll costs charged to the Housing Voucher Cluster are properly supported, accurately allocated, and reconciled to payroll records. Management should review and approve payroll allocations and investigate any variances to ensure compliance with 2 CFR 200.430. Explanation of disagreement with audit finding: There is no disagreement with the audit finding. This error was caused by HCHC’s timekeeping and payroll system, ADP. The error resulted in overtime hours for certain employees being paid twice in one pay period. ADP has admitted to the error and reimbursed HCHC for the costs. In order to ensure that this type of error does not occur again, HCHC is taking a number of steps. Payroll and Overtime Reconciliation: Human Resources will print and review the overtime report for each payroll cycle and reconcile the overtime hours reflected on the report against the applicable employees’ payroll records/pay stubs. Any discrepancies identified during this review will be researched and addressed promptly. Time and Attendance System: The Commission is transitioning to a new time and attendance system that is better aligned with the Commission’s operational and payroll needs. The goal of this transition is to strengthen timekeeping controls, improve the accuracy of payroll information, and provide clearer documentation to support payroll processing and allocation. Employee Payroll Review and Reporting Procedures: The Commission is updating the Employee Handbook to provide employees with clear guidance on reviewing their pay and reporting potential payroll discrepancies. The updated guidance will outline the process employees should follow if they believe they have been overpaid, underpaid, or identify another discrepancy with their compensation. Name(s) of the contact person(s) responsible for corrective action: Ikea Smith, HR Manager and Bei Hua, CFO Planned completion date for corrective action plan: January 1, 2027.

Categories

Allowable Costs / Cost Principles HUD Housing Programs

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 1229972 2025-001
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1229973 2025-001
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1229974 2025-002
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1229975 2025-002
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1229976 2025-003
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1229977 2025-003
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1229978 2025-004
    Material Weakness Repeat

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
14.871 SECTION 8 HOUSING CHOICE VOUCHERS $31.12M
21.027 CORONAVIRUS STATE AND LOCAL FISCAL RECOVERY FUNDS $3.28M
14.879 MAINSTREAM VOUCHERS $1.92M
14.241 HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES FOR PERSONS WITH AIDS $315,087
14.218 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANTS/ENTITLEMENT GRANTS $220,985
14.896 FAMILY SELF-SUFFICIENCY PROGRAM $103,264
14.U01 FSS ESCROW FORFEITURE ACCOUNT $1,459