Finding 25565 (2022-001)

FEDERAL AWARDS FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS 2022-001: Material weakness in compliance and internal control over compliance: Allowable Costs/Cost Principles: AL 09.610090 Legal Services Corporation Recommendation: We recommend that the Organization assess the current level of staff needed by the Finance Department to ensure grant activity is recorded properly and in compliance with the grant requirements. The allocation of indirect expenses should be reviewed on a regular basis to determine the appropriateness of the allocations throughout the year. As a result of the audit process, management has altered the manner in which indirect costs are allocated, and, if applied properly and consistently, this revised method should resolve the issues associated with indirect cost allocations for 2023. Action Taken: CCLA Management agrees that the timeliness of information is imperative to the preparation and completion of the year-end audit. The staffing levels are being evaluated including the analysis of the appropriate staff categories. Management of the Organization is working on developing a more effective methodology to track grants and the allocation of indirect costs. The new fiscal year budget will include the recruitment of an experienced Contracts & Grant Manager to provide the department with accurate reporting of grant funding. As indicated below, the project to restructure the financial and administrative operations of CCLA is well under way. CCLA?s plan is to complete the implementation of key components of the plan in 2023, in time to completely resolve the issues raised in the 2022 audit and complete the 2023 audit with no material weaknesses or questioned costs. Major Milestones Planned Completion Status Project Start 2/1/23 Done Interim Project Review #1 to CCLA Board 2/15/23 Done Begin Stakeholder Interviews 3/1/23 Done Complete Stakeholder Interviews 4/1/23 Done Interim Project Update #2 to CCLA Board 4/19/23 Done Update Mayuris Pimentel: LSC 4/25/23 Done Completion of Project Assessment Process 5/31/23 Complete First Draft of Plan 6/7/23 Project Presentation to CCLA Board 6/14/23 Written Final Report Delivered to CCLA 6/21/23 Final Report Forwarded to Legal Services Corp. 7/1/23