Finding 32911 (2022-001)

Material Weakness Repeat Finding
Requirement
L
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2022
Accepted
2023-09-27

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: Eight out of twelve federal financial reports had cash disbursements that did not match the general ledger, totaling about $199,000 in discrepancies.
  • Impacted Requirements: WPRFMC must submit accurate Form SF-425 reports within 30 days after each reporting period, as per federal guidelines.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Enhance internal controls to ensure timely and accurate recording of expenditures and reconcile cash disbursements with the general ledger.

Finding Text

Finding #2022-001: Reporting Federal Program: U.S. Department of Commerce, Regional Fishery Management Councils CFDA 11.441 Criteria: WPRFMC is required to submit Form SF-425 (Federal Financial Report) for each of its federal awards on a semi-annual basis for the periods ending March 31 and September 30. These reports are due no later than 30 calendar days following the end of each reporting period. Internal controls should provide for these reports to contain accurate, current, and complete financial results (2 CFR ?200.302(b)(2)). Condition: For 8 of 12 semi-annual Federal Financial Reports tested, the reported cash disbursements did not reconcile to the expenditures recorded in the general ledger. Unreconciled differences ranged from $30 to $104,174 and totaled approximately $199,000. Cause: Internal controls over the recording and classification of expenditures in the general ledger were inadequate to permit the accurate reporting of expenditures within the required 30-day period. Effect or Potential Effect: Financial reports provided to the Department of Commerce could be materially misstated. Identification as a Repeat Finding: See Finding #2021-002 included in the Summary Schedule of Prior Audit Findings. Recommendation: We recommend WPRFMC continue to improve the necessary internal controls to ensure expenditures are timely and accurately recorded and classified in the general ledger. These controls should provide for the timely reconciliation of cash disbursements reported on the Federal Financial Reports to expenditures recorded for each federal award in the general ledger.

Corrective Action Plan

AUDIT FINDING #2022-001 Condition: For 8 of 12 semi-annual Federal Financial Reports tested, the reported cash disbursements did not reconcile to the expenditures recorded in the general ledger. Unreconciled differences ranged from $30 to $104,174 and totaled approximately $199,000. CORRECTIVE ACTION Upon transmittal, revenue and total expenses matched the profit and loss reports for the 12 Federal Financial Reports referenced above. The 8 Federal Financial Reports noted above occurred in periods prior to the 2021-002 audit finding that was implemented in October 2022. The Council will continue to follow the 2021-002 corrective action finding. In addition, accruals for expenses paid in the current year for the previous year will be done on a monthly basis with the reversals being done on the first day of each following month. All entries and accruals will be completed prior to the filing of the Federal Financial Reports.

Categories

Reporting

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 32910 2022-002
    Significant Deficiency
  • 609352 2022-002
    Significant Deficiency
  • 609353 2022-001
    Material Weakness Repeat

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
11.441 Regional Fishery Management Councils $4.63M