Finding 26264 (2022-001)

Significant Deficiency Repeat Finding
Requirement
P
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2022
Accepted
2023-01-09

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: The District lacks adequate segregation of accounting duties, allowing one person to control multiple functions, increasing the risk of errors or fraud.
  • Impacted Requirements: The current setup does not meet the necessary standards for separating asset management from recordkeeping, which is essential for accurate financial reporting.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Enhance oversight by the Administrator and School Board to monitor accounting activities closely, as hiring additional staff is not feasible.

Finding Text

Criteria: The District should segregate duties, at a minimum to separate the asset and the recordkeeping function, to minimize the opportunity for misstatements caused by error or fraud to occur and go undetected within a timely period by employees in the normal course of performing their assigned functions. Condition: The District does not have adequate segregation of duties in its accounting function. Specifically, one individual has the ability to cut checks, performs the bank reconciliations and enters transactions in the accounting software. Checks print automatically with an electronic signature when printed from the accounting system. Cause: A small number of individuals within the District?s administration perform substantially all accounting functions and have control over both records and assets. Effect or Potential Effect: The lack of segregation of accounting duties could create an opportunity for misstatements caused by error or fraud to occur and go undetected within a timely period by employees in the normal course of performing their assigned functions. Recommendation: Due to the size of the District, it is not practical to hire additional individuals in order to adequately segregate accounting duties; therefore, we recommend that the Administrator?s and School Board?s close supervision, review of accounting information and knowledge of matters relating to the District?s financial operations provide an effective means of preventing and detecting errors and irregularities.

Categories

Internal Control / Segregation of Duties

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 26262 2022-001
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 26263 2022-001
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 602704 2022-001
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 602705 2022-001
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 602706 2022-001
    Significant Deficiency Repeat

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
10.555 National School Lunch Program $484,906
84.425 Education Stabilization Fund $395,660
84.027 Special Education_grants to States $222,703
84.010 Title I Grants to Local Educational Agencies $139,646
93.778 Medical Assistance Program $123,381
84.287 Twenty-First Century Community Learning Centers $107,861
10.553 School Breakfast Program $103,438
21.027 Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds $23,880
10.579 Child Nutrition Discretionary Grants Limited Availability $17,360
84.173 Special Education_preschool Grants $13,472
84.367 Improving Teacher Quality State Grants $10,614
84.424 Student Support and Academic Enrichment Program $10,000
84.048 Career and Technical Education -- Basic Grants to States $4,969