Finding 22495 (2022-001)

Significant Deficiency
Requirement
A
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2022
Accepted
2023-01-08
Audit: 22466
Organization: Blast Intermediate Unit #17 (PA)

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: Internal controls failed to ensure that a Single Funding Certificate was completed for one employee charged to the grant.
  • Impacted Requirements: The District did not comply with the requirement for bi-annual signatures on Single Funding Certificates for federal funding.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Review and enhance internal controls, and verify that all required Single Funding Certificates are completed during quarterly and final reporting.

Finding Text

2022-001 - Education Stabilization Fund - ARP Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund - Assistance Listing No. 84.425U; Grant Period - For the year ended June 30, 2022 Condition: The internal controls over the Single Funding Certificate were not operating properly. As a result, for salaries and/or benefits charged to the grant, Single Funding Certificates were not completed for one employee out of one tested in a population of two. Criteria: Proper functioning internal controls would result in the Intermediate Unit having all required Single Funding Certificates completed and obtained contemporaneously. Cause: The system of controls over the Education Stabilization Fund - ARP Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund did not operate properly to detect that a signed Single Funding Certificate was not on file for the employee selected for testing. The controls require Intermediate Unit's personnel to sign a Single Funding Certificate bi-annually if wages and benefits are paid with federal funding. This requirement was overlooked and therefore; a signed certificate was not on file for one employee out of one tested. Effect: The District was not in compliance with the requirement of needing the Single Funding Certificates signed bi-annually for the Education Stabilization Fund - ARP Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund. Recommendation: The Intermediate Unit's internal control system over reporting requirements related to the Education Stabilization Fund - ARP Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund should be reviewed and modified to prevent future errors. The Intermediate Unit should review Education Stabilization Fund - ARP Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund files to ensure all required Single Funding Certificates are completed. Views of Responsible Officials and Planned Corrective Actions: A control has been added whereby employees paid with federal single funding will be verified with the payroll department prior to requesting signature to ensure a Single Funding Certificate is signed for all required employees. All files will be reviewed during quarterly and final reporting to ensure all required Single Funding Certificates are complete.

Corrective Action Plan

December 29, 2022 Federal Audit Clearinghouse BLaST Intermediate Unit #17 respectfully submits the following corrective action plan for the year ended June 30, 2022. Name and address of independent public accounting firm: EFPR Group, CPAs, PLLC 8 Denison Parkway East, Suite 407 Corning, NY 14830 Audit period: July 1, 2021 ? June 30, 2022 The findings from the June 30, 2022 schedule of findings and questioned costs are discussed below. The findings are numbered consistently with the numbers assigned in the schedule. FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS ? MAJOR FEDERAL AWARD PROGRAM AUDIT Finding 2022-001 - Education Stabilization Fund - ARP Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund - Assistance Listing No. 84.425U; Grant Period - For the year ended June 30, 2022 Audit Finding Significant Deficiency: Condition: The internal controls over the Single Funding Certificate were not operating properly. As a result, for salaries and/or benefits charged to the grant, Single Funding Certificates were not completed for one employee out of one tested in a population of two. Criteria: Proper functioning internal controls would result in the Intermediate Unit having all required Single Funding Certificates completed and obtained contemporaneously. Cause: The system of controls over the Education Stabilization Fund - ARP Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund did not operate properly to detect that a signed Single Funding Certificate was not on file for the employee selected for testing. The controls require Intermediate Unit's personnel to sign a Single Funding Certificate bi-annually if wages and benefits are paid with federal funding. This requirement was overlooked and therefore; a signed certificate was not on file for one employee out of one tested. Effect: The Intermediate Unit was not in compliance with the requirement of needing the Single Funding Certificates signed bi-annually for the Education Stabilization Fund - ARP Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund. Questioned Costs: None identified. Auditors' Recommendation: The Intermediate Unit?s internal control system over reporting requirements related to the Education Stabilization Fund - ARP Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund should be reviewed and modified to prevent future errors. The Intermediate Unit should review Education Stabilization Fund - ARP Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund files to ensure all required Single Funding Certificates are completed. Planned Corrective Action: A control has been added whereby employees paid with federal single funding will be verified with the payroll department prior to requesting signature to ensure a Single Funding Certificate is signed for all required employees. All files will be reviewed during quarterly and final reporting to ensure all required Single Funding Certificates are complete. Contact Person Responsible for Corrective Action: Sara McNett, Director of Management Services. Anticipated Completion Date: The corrective action plan has already been completed as of the date of this letter. If the Federal Audit Clearinghouse has questions regarding this plan, please call Sara McNett at 570-673-6001. Sincerely yours, Sara McNett

Categories

Reporting Internal Control / Segregation of Duties

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 598937 2022-001
    Significant Deficiency

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
84.027 Special Education_grants to States $1.81M
84.425 Covid-19 - Governor's Emergency Education Relief Fund (geer) $446,211
93.558 Temporary Assistance for Needy Families $261,096
84.173 Special Education_preschool Grants $252,363
84.425 Covid-19 - Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund $194,570
84.425 Covid-19 - Arp Elemenraty and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund $149,562
84.010 Title I Grants to Local Educational Agencies $56,697
93.778 Medical Assistance Program $43,396
84.027 Covid-19 - Arp Special Education_grants to States $9,655
84.367 Improving Teacher Quality State Grants $9,200
93.788 Opioid Str $3,717