Finding 26356 (2022-003)

Significant Deficiency
Requirement
P
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2022
Accepted
2023-03-14

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: Lack of approval on two journal entries due to human error during personnel changes.
  • Impacted Requirements: Authorization and approval processes were not followed, increasing the risk of undetected errors.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Ensure all journal entries are approved by the CEO to prevent future issues.

Finding Text

#2022-003 ? Significant Deficiency ? Authorization and Approval Criteria Authorization and approval are control activities that mitigate the risk of inappropriate transactions. They serve as fraud deterrents and enforce segregation of duties. Thus, the authorizer and the approver should generally be two separate people. Condition During the course of the audit, no approval was noted on two entries selected. Cause This cause is human error which occurred during a change in personnel. Effect There is always the potential for errors or irregularities that would not be detected by employees in the normal course of performing their assigned functions. Questioned Costs None Perspective Information While testing journal entries, no approval was noted on two entries selected. These entries were made during the leadership of the interim CEO and before CAAP transitioned their systems fully online. All journal entries selected for testing that occurred after the new CEO started were properly approved and documented. H&M determined that as of December 31, 2021 this internal control issue had been corrected. Identification as a repeat finding There was no similar finding in the prior year. Recommendation Non-cash journal entries make it easy for organizations to overstate their revenue or understate their expenses with unsubstantiated accruals/deferrals. We recommend that all journal entries be authorized and approved by the CEO prior to entry. View of Responsible Official As noted, this is no longer an issue with internal controls having been corrected as of December 31, 2021. All non-recurring journal entries will be approved by the CEO.

Corrective Action Plan

CORRECTIVE ACTION PLAN February 16, 2023 Community Action Association of Pennsylvania respectfully submits the following corrective action plan for the year ended June 30, 2022. Cognizant or Oversight Agency for Audit: Community Service Block Grant Program Name and address of independent public accounting firm: Hamilton & Musser, PC 176 Cumberland Parkway Mechanicsburg, PA 17055 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 number assigned in the schedule. Findings ? Financial Statement Audit Significant Deficiencies #2022-001 ? Significant Deficiency ? Segregation of Duties Recommendation We recommend someone other than the Finance Director, preferably the CEO or another office staff, open the mail and record/scan the checks received into a check log. View of responsible officials and planned corrective action The Executive Administrative Assistant is now tasked with and responsible for opening the mail and recording the checks into a check log. The Executive Administrative Assistant will forward checks to the financial services team for additional action steps. #2022-002 ? Significant Deficiency ? Authorization and Approval Recommendation We recommend that all credit card charges are matched to a receipt and reviewed and approved by both the Board President and Board Treasurer, as is the policy with other payables/disbursements. This eliminates the risk associated with having the CEO issue approval over his own credit card charges. View of responsible officials and planned corrective action All credit card receipts will be submitted by the CEO or appropriate staff member to the financial services team. Credit card reconciliation documentation and appropriate receipts will be provided to the Board Treasurer for regular review. -28- Findings ? Financial Statement Audit (Continued) #2022-003 ? Significant Deficiency ? Authorization and Approval Recommendation Non-cash journal entries make it easy for organizations to overstate their revenue or understate their expenses with unsubstantiated accruals/deferrals. We recommend that all journal entries be authorized and approved by the CEO prior to entry. View of responsible officials and planned corrective action As noted, this is no longer an issue with internal controls having been corrected as of December 31, 2021. All non-recurring journal entries will be approved by the CEO. Findings ? Federal Award Programs Audit Community Service Block Grant, CFDA #93.569 #2022-004 ? Significant Deficiency ? Allowable Costs Recommendation We recommend maintaining weekly timesheets with CEO approval, itemized by time allocated per grant. The financial statement records should be supported by direct time allocated to the grant as indicated on the approved timesheets. View of responsible officials and planned corrective action CAAP will do its due diligence in appropriately allocating costs should similar costs be incurred. If the Community Service Block Grant Program has questions regarding this plan, please call Community Action Association of Pennsylvania Chief Executive Officer Beck Moore at 717-233-1075 extension 12.

Categories

Internal Control / Segregation of Duties Significant Deficiency

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 26354 2022-001
    Significant Deficiency
  • 26355 2022-002
    Significant Deficiency
  • 26357 2022-004
    Significant Deficiency
  • 26358 2022-001
    Significant Deficiency
  • 26359 2022-002
    Significant Deficiency
  • 26360 2022-003
    Significant Deficiency
  • 26361 2022-004
    Significant Deficiency
  • 602796 2022-001
    Significant Deficiency
  • 602797 2022-002
    Significant Deficiency
  • 602798 2022-003
    Significant Deficiency
  • 602799 2022-004
    Significant Deficiency
  • 602800 2022-001
    Significant Deficiency
  • 602801 2022-002
    Significant Deficiency
  • 602802 2022-003
    Significant Deficiency
  • 602803 2022-004
    Significant Deficiency

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
93.569 Community Services Block Grant $733,946