Finding 1239603 (2025-008)

Material Weakness Repeat Finding
Requirement
B
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2025
Accepted
2026-09-30

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: AEA is not properly allocating costs, with 5 out of 60 expenditures benefiting administrative operations instead of program costs.
  • Impacted Requirements: This misallocation violates 2 CFR 200.405, which mandates that costs must align with the benefits received by the Federal award.
  • Recommended Follow-up: AEA should assess expenditures based on the activity's nature and keep documentation to justify cost classifications as program or administrative.

Finding Text

Criteria: In accordance with 2 CFR 200.405, a cost is allocable to a Federal award if the goods or services involved are chargeable or assignable to that Federal award in accordance with the relative benefits received. Costs that benefit overall organizational activities, including expenses for AEA’s senior management, should be charged in a manner consistent with their administrative nature. Condition: The funding agency breaks down the budget for items including Program Operations, Health & Safety and Administration. For the year ended December 31, 2025, we identified 5 out of 60 expenditures that were allocated to program costs that appear to primarily benefit the administrative operations of AEA. Cause: The expense allocations may not be appropriate. Effect: AEA is not in compliance with 2 CFR 200.405. Questioned Costs: Undeterminable. Context: A random sampling of the federal expenditures. Repeat Finding: Not applicable. Recommendation: We recommend that AEA evaluate expenditures based on the nature of the activity receiving the benefit and maintain documentation supporting the basis for classification of costs as either program or administrative. View of Responsible Officials: Refer to management’s corrective action plan.

Corrective Action Plan

Responsible contacts: Laura, CFO; Agnes, Controller; Steve, Staff Accountant - AR; the Program Director responsible; Staff Accountant - AP (vacant). Interim AP: Trina performs the coding check under Agnes' review until AP is filled and trained. Program staff supply expense support; Trina supports historical review. AEA will evaluate each expenditure based on its documented business purpose, the nature of the activity supported, and the benefit received by the Federal award. The approved budget will guide classification but will not, by itself, establish that a cost is allowable or allocable. Expenses supporting administrative activities will be classified under the applicable award’s administrative-cost requirements, with consistent direct or indirect treatment and no duplicate recovery. Classification decisions and supporting documentation will be retained. 1. Budgeted Expenses visibility. The Program Director will provide the current approved detailed budget, category definitions, and coding instructions to staff who request, incur, or approve expenses, and to AP, Steve, and Agnes. Approved amendments will be shared promptly. Program staff will document each expense's purpose, benefiting activity, fund/award, and proposed category. Evidence of budget distribution and staff instruction will be retained. 2. Expenses coding. AP should also review the invoice, business purpose, benefiting activity, and allocation support. A cost should not pass review merely because it fits an available budget line. Costs must satisfy award restrictions, budget category, receive consistent treatment, and be adequately documented. AP will compare each expense and its support with the approved budget categories and coding instructions before accepting grant coding. Incorrect, unclear, or unsupported submissions will be rejected as coded and returned to Program staff. AP will work with the Program to document corrections and escalate unresolved disagreements to Agnes, then Laura as needed. Disputed coding will not support an award charge or claim until resolved. 3. Budget – Actual expense review. Monthly and before each financial report, Steve will prepare an expense report with the approved budget, current-period and cumulative actual expenses, remaining budget, and variance by category. Actuals will reconcile to the general ledger. Program will review the transaction-level coding. AP and Program staff will investigate variances and classification errors, including administrative costs in program categories. Agnes will review the analysis and proposed corrections; Steve will update reports after approved entries are posted. Program retains financial-review responsibility. Steve or the designated submitter will release only the approved version; later coding changes require renewed review. Oversight and historical correction. Agnes, the Program Director, and Trina will review the expenditures and similar 2026 charges through implementation, document conclusions, and process supported corrections through the journal-entry approval workflow. Laura will oversee implementation and address significant classification judgments, required funder resolution, and report revisions. Anticipated completion For awards ending, Sept 30, 2026, historical review will be completed by October 15, 2026. Interim controls begin October 1, 2026; procedures and training by October 30, 2026; historical review by November 30, 2026. Anticipated completion: January 15, 2027. Monthly monitoring and pre-submission approvals continue thereafter.

Categories

Allowable Costs / Cost Principles

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 1239565 2025-006
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1239566 2025-007
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1239567 2025-008
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1239568 2025-009
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1239569 2025-006
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1239570 2025-007
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1239571 2025-008
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1239572 2025-009
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1239573 2025-006
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1239574 2025-007
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1239575 2025-008
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1239576 2025-009
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1239577 2025-006
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1239578 2025-007
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1239579 2025-008
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1239580 2025-009
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1239581 2025-006
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1239582 2025-007
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1239583 2025-008
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1239584 2025-009
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1239585 2025-006
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1239586 2025-007
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1239587 2025-008
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1239588 2025-009
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1239589 2025-006
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1239590 2025-007
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1239591 2025-008
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1239592 2025-009
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1239593 2025-006
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1239594 2025-007
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1239595 2025-008
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1239596 2025-009
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1239597 2025-006
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1239598 2025-007
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1239599 2025-008
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1239600 2025-009
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1239601 2025-006
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1239602 2025-007
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1239604 2025-009
    Material Weakness Repeat

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
93.568 LOW-INCOME HOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE $766,832
81.042 WEATHERIZATION ASSISTANCE FOR LOW-INCOME PERSONS $381,396