Finding 1239021 (2025-003)

Material Weakness Repeat Finding
Requirement
P
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2025
Accepted
2026-09-30
Audit: 413892
Auditor: EIDE BAILLY LLP

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: The Cooperative lacks a proper internal control system for preparing the schedule of federal expenditures, risking inaccuracies.
  • Impacted Requirements: Compliance criteria for financial reporting are not being met, which could lead to incomplete or inaccurate financial statements.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: The Cooperative should enhance its internal controls for financial reporting to ensure accurate preparation of the schedule of expenditures.

Finding Text

Department of Energy, Federal Financial Assistance Listing 81.254, DE-GD0000886, 2025 Grid Infrastructure Deployment and Resilience Preparation of Schedule of Expenditures of Federal Awards Material Weakness in Internal Control over Compliance Criteria: Proper controls over financial reporting include a system designed to prepare the schedule of expenditures of federal awards (the schedule) and the accompanying notes to the schedule. Condition: The Cooperative does not have an internal control system designed to provide for a complete and accurate schedule of federal expenditures of federal awards being audited. As auditors, we were requested to assist with the preparation of the schedule and accompanying notes to the schedule. Cause: Auditor assistance with preparation of the schedule is not unusual as the schedule has unique and specialized requirements and preparation is only required when the Cooperative meets a specified threshold of federal expenditures. Effect: There is a reasonable possibility that the Cooperative would not be able to draft a complete and accurate schedule. Questioned Costs: None reported. Context/Sampling: Sampling was not used. Repeat Finding from Prior Year: No Recommendation: While we recognize that this condition is not unusual for an organization with limited staffing, it is important that the Cooperative is aware of this condition for financial reporting requirements relating to the Cooperative’s schedule of expenditures of federal awards and the internal controls that impact financial reporting. Views of Responsible Officials: Management agrees with the finding.

Corrective Action Plan

Federal Agency Name: Department of Energy Assistance Listing Number: 81.254 Program Name: Grid Infrastructure Deployment and Resilience Finding Summary: The Cooperative does not have an internal control system designed to provide for a complete and accurate schedule of federal expenditures of federal awards being audited. We requested our auditors to assist with the preparation of the schedule and the accompanying notes to the schedule. Corrective Action Plan: The Cooperative has addressed this finding by hiring a Grant and Compliance Accountant to oversee federal award accounting, maintain a complete inventory of federal awards, reconcile grant expenditures to the general ledger and prepare the annual Schedule of Expenditures of Federal Awards (SEFA) and related notes. The SEFA will also be independently reviewed by the Chief Financial Officer before being provided to the external auditors. Responsible Individuals: Isaac Gonzales, Grant & Compliance Accountant and Cletus Stoflet, CFO Anticipated Completion Date: December 31, 2026

Categories

Reporting Material Weakness

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 1239022 2025-004
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1239023 2025-005
    Material Weakness Repeat

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
81.254 GRID INFRASTRUCTURE DEPLOYMENT AND RESILIENCE $2.40M
10.752 RURAL ECONNECTIVITY PILOT PROGRAM $396,052
81.087 RENEWABLE ENERGY RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT $220,770