Finding 301 (2022-003)

Significant Deficiency Repeat Finding
Requirement
P
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2022
Accepted
2023-09-28

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: The Village relies on its auditor for preparing financial statements, which may lead to misstatements in federal reporting.
  • Impacted Requirements: Compliance with the Uniform Guidance and State Single Audit Guidelines requires accurate financial statements and schedules of expenditures.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Village staff should thoroughly review the single audit report to ensure proper reporting of all federal programs.

Finding Text

2022-003 Financial Reporting for Federal and State Assistance. Conditions: The Uniform Guidance and the State Single Audit Guidelines requires the Village to prepare appropriate financial statements, including the schedules of expenditures of federal awards. While the current staff of the Village maintains financial records supporting amounts reported in the schedules of expenditures of federal awards, the Village contracts with its auditor to compile the data from these records and prepare the single audit report for the Village. Criteria: Having staff with expertise in federal reporting to prepare the Village’s single audit report is an internal control intended to prevent, detect and correct a potential misstatement in the schedules of expenditures of federal awards, or accompanying notes to the schedule. Cause:The additional cost associated with hiring staff sufficiently experienced to prepare the Village’s single audit report, including the additional training time, outweigh the derived benefits. Effect: Because management relies on its auditor to assist with the preparation of the financial statements, including single audit reports, the Village’s system of internal control may not prevent, detect or correct misstatements in these financial statements. Recommendation: We recommend Village personnel continue reviewing the Village’s single audit report prepared by its auditor. While it may not be cost beneficial to hire additional staff to prepare these items, a thorough review of this information by appropriate staff of the Village is necessary to ensure all federal programs are properly reported in the Village’s single audit report. Management Views and Corrective Action Plan: See corrective action plan 2022-003.

Corrective Action Plan

Significant Deficiency 2022-003 Financial Reporting for Federal and State Assistance. Management Views – Management agrees with the finding and the recommendation. Corrective Action Planned – Management and the Common Council will continue to designate competent staff to oversee and review the financial reports and approve them before issuance. However, it is not feasible or cost effective to add staff with the competence to prepare these reports. Anticipated Completion Date – This action will be on going.

Categories

Reporting Internal Control / Segregation of Duties

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 300 2022-002
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 576742 2022-002
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 576743 2022-003
    Significant Deficiency Repeat

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
14.228 Community Development Block Grants/state's Program and Non-Entitlement Grants in Hawaii $1.51M
10.766 Community Facilities Loans and Grants $236,000
21.027 Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds $18,840