Finding 32561 (2022-001)

Material Weakness
Requirement
L
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2022
Accepted
2023-07-10
Audit: 27978
Organization: City of Whitewood (SD)

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: Management is responsible for preparing the City’s financial statements, but the auditor also drafts them, leading to potential misstatements.
  • Impacted Requirements: This finding highlights a compliance issue with the reporting requirements for the Community Development Block Grant.
  • Recommended Follow-up: Management should thoroughly review the draft financials and ensure proper classification and disclosure to mitigate risks.

Finding Text

Finding No. 2022-001: Financial Statement and Schedule of Expenditures of Federal Awards Preparation Federal Program Affected: Community Development Block Grant (ALN #14.228) Compliance Requirement: Reporting Questioned Costs: None Condition and Cause: We were requested to draft the audited financial statements and related footnote disclosures as part of our regular audit services. Ultimately, it is management?s responsibility to provide for the preparation of the City?s statements and footnotes, and the responsibility of the auditor to determine the fairness of presentation of those statements. From a practical standpoint, we do both for the City at the same time in connection with our audit. This is not unusual for us to do this with cities of your size. Criteria and Effect: It is our responsibility to inform the Council that this deficiency could result in a material misstatement to the financial statements that could have been prevented or detected by the City?s management. Repeat Finding from Prior Year: Yes, prior year Finding No. 2021-001. Recommendation: As in prior years, we have instructed management to review a draft of the auditor prepared financials in detail for their accuracy, we have answered any questions they might have, and we have encouraged research of any accounting guidance in connection with the adequacy and appropriateness of classification and disclosure in your statements. We are satisfied the appropriate steps have been taken to provide the City with the completed financial statements. It is the responsibility of management and the City Council to make the decision whether to accept the degree of risk associated with this condition because of cost or other considerations. Response/Corrective Action Plan: See City?s Corrective Action Plan.

Corrective Action Plan

Finding No. 2022-001: Financial Statement and Schedule of Expenditures of Federal Awards Preparation The City has accepted the risk associated with Finding #2022-001 regarding the preparation of the financial statements and will continue to have the independent auditor prepare the annual financial statements. For future audits, Finance Officer Cory Heckenlaible will continue to monitor the financial statement preparation and determine if any modification is necessary.

Categories

Reporting

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 32562 2022-004
    Significant Deficiency
  • 609003 2022-001
    Material Weakness
  • 609004 2022-004
    Significant Deficiency

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
14.228 Community Development Block Grants/state's Program and Non-Entitlement Grants in Hawaii $574,483
10.766 Community Facilities Loans and Grants $458,645
21.027 Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds $177,048
20.600 State and Community Highway Safety $4,035