Finding 195002 (2022-004)

Material Weakness
Requirement
G
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2022
Accepted
2023-03-20
Audit: 178651
Auditor: Eide Bailly LLP

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: There are significant weaknesses in internal controls over compliance with federal funding requirements, specifically regarding earmarking expenditures.
  • Impacted Requirements: The lack of independent reviews and ongoing analysis violates 2 CFR 200.303(a), which mandates effective internal controls for managing federal awards.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Management should establish independent review processes and conduct regular comparisons of actual versus earmarked expenditures to ensure compliance and prevent overspending.

Finding Text

2022-004 Department of Health and Human Services Federal Financial Assistance Listing #93.889, 22SC091990 National Bioterrorism Hospital Preparedness Program Earmarking Material Weakness in Internal Control over Compliance Criteria: 2 CFR 200.303(a) establishes that the auditee must establish and maintain effective internal control over the federal award that provides assurance that the entity is managing the federal award in compliance with federal statutes, regulations, and conditions of the federal award. Condition: The following matters were identified during testing: a) No independent secondary level of review or approval is performed. One employee is involved in preparing, reviewing and approving information. b) No ongoing analysis is completed over comparison of actual expenditures to earmarked expenditures. Cause: The Coalition hasn?t formally adopted and implemented updated internal control procedures to track actual costs to earmarked expenditure thresholds. Effect: Without established controls over earmarking, there is a reasonable possibility that the Coalition would not detect errors in the normal course of performing duties and correct them in a timely manner. Lack of an ongoing analysis of budgeted expenses to actual could result in the Coalition expending more funds than originally earmarked within the grant agreement. Questioned Costs: None reported. Context: Testing was performed over each of the three earmarking requirements identified within the grant agreement. Repeat Finding from Prior Year: No Recommendation: We recommend that management implement procedures and control processes to incorporate and document an independent review and approval over earmarking, including a periodic analysis of actual expenditures to earmarked expenditures. Views of Responsible Officials: Management agrees with the finding.

Corrective Action Plan

Finding: 2022-004 Federal Agency Name: Department of Health and Human Services Program Name: National Bioterrorism Hospital Preparedness Program Federal Financial Assistance Listing #93.889 Compliance Requirement: Earmarking Finding Summary: No independent secondary level of review or approval is performed relating to compliance. One employee is involved in preparing, reviewing and approving information. Additionally, no ongoing analysis is completed over comparison of actual expenditures to earmarked expenditures Responsible Individuals: Greg Santa Maria, Executive Director Corrective Action Plan: The SDHCC is working with its accounting firm to synchronize line-item coding to better ensure that expenditures are correctly coded and do not exceed maximums per line items outlined in grant contracts. The budget to actual grant expenditure comparisons will be provided to the SDHCC treasurer for review and comparison to the grant earmarking maximums. Anticipated Completion Date This is projected to be completed prior to Friday 4/28/23.

Categories

Matching / Level of Effort / Earmarking Material Weakness

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 194999 2022-001
    Material Weakness
  • 195000 2022-002
    Material Weakness
  • 195001 2022-003
    Material Weakness
  • 771441 2022-001
    Material Weakness
  • 771442 2022-002
    Material Weakness
  • 771443 2022-003
    Material Weakness
  • 771444 2022-004
    Material Weakness

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
93.889 National Bioterrorism Hospital Preparedness Program $877,016