Finding Text
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Health Center Program Cluster - Health Center Program, Assistance Listing No. 93.224 Compliance Requirements: Cash Management Type of Finding: Material Noncompliance and Material Weakness in Internal Control over Compliance (Repeat Finding) Condition - During our testing of grant drawdowns, we noted that the expenditure support provided for individual drawdowns did not consistently agree to the amounts requested. Specifically, on a sample-by-sample basis, certain drawdowns were either overstated or understated when compared to the underlying payroll expenditures incurred for the respective period. While the aggregate payroll expenditures tested did reconcile to the total drawdown activity, the lack of alignment at the individual draw level indicates that draw requests were not consistently calculated based on contemporaneous, actual expenditures incurred at the time of each request. Criteria - In accordance with 2 CFR §200.305 (Payment), non-federal entities must minimize the time elapsing between the transfer of funds from the federal government and disbursement for program purposes. Additionally, entities are required to establish and maintain effective internal controls over compliance to ensure that drawdowns are based on actual, allowable expenditures and reflect immediate cash needs. Federal guidance further requires that amounts reported through drawdown systems agree to underlying accounting records. Cause - The Center does not have adequate internal controls in place to ensure that individual drawdown requests are supported by detailed, contemporaneous expenditure data. Specifically: there is no formal reconciliation process performed at the individual draw level between payroll expenditures and requested amounts prior to submission. Drawdowns appear to be based on cumulative or estimated balances, rather than actual expenditures incurred for the specific draw period. Review controls over the preparation and approval of draw requests are not sufficiently granular to detect discrepancies at the transaction level. Effect - Federal funds may not have been drawn in alignment with immediate cash needs at the time of each request. There is an increased risk of: temporary overdraws, which could result in excess federal cash on hand and potential interest liability. Underdraws, which could impact cash flow and program operations. Although total drawdowns for the reporting period reconciled in the aggregate, the lack of precision at the individual draw level indicates a systemic control deficiency that could lead to material noncompliance if not corrected. Context - Certain drawdowns were either overstated or understated when compared to the underlying payroll expenditures incurred for the respective period. While the aggregate payroll expenditures tested did reconcile to the total drawdown activity, the lack of alignment at the individual draw level indicates that draw requests were not consistently calculated based on contemporaneous, actual expenditures incurred at the time of each request. Questioned Costs - None Recommendation - We recommend that management strengthen internal controls over cash management by: Implementing a formal reconciliation process at the time of each drawdown, comparing: Actual payroll expenditures incurred for the draw period; the specific amount requested; requiring all draw requests to be supported by detailed, contemporaneous payroll reports; enhancing supervisory review procedures to ensure that each draw is individually supported and accurate, rather than relying on aggregate reconciliation; establishing documented procedures to ensure compliance with 2 CFR §200.305 requirements for timing and accuracy of federal cash draws. Management Response to Findings - Management concurs with the finding.