Finding 35510 (2022-002)

Significant Deficiency Repeat Finding
Requirement
L
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2022
Accepted
2023-04-10
Audit: 26807
Organization: Bishop State Community College (AL)
Auditor: Kassouf & CO PC

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: The College lacks adequate controls to review and approve grant reports, risking inaccuracies and late submissions.
  • Impacted Requirements: Compliance with 2 CFR section 200.303 and timely submission of quarterly reports for HEERF funding.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Strengthen internal controls to ensure accurate and complete grant report submissions before deadlines.

Finding Text

Reference Number: 2022-002 Compliance Requirement: Reporting Type of Finding: Internal Control and Compliance Internal Control Impact: Significant Deficiency Compliance Impact: Nonmaterial Noncompliance Assistance Listing Number(s) and Title: 84.425 ? Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund(HEERF) Federal Awarding Agency: U.S. Department of Education As specified in 2 CFR section 200.303 the non-Federal entity must establish and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award that provides reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal award in compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal award. Adequate controls must be in place to ensure proper expenditures are reported in the applicable reporting periods. Adequate controls were not in place to review and approve grant reports for accuracy and completeness of the report prior to their submission to the grantor. Appropriate supporting documentation was not retained in order to reconcile the amounts reported on the HEERF I, II, & III Annual Performance Report Form to the College?s books of record. The College also failed to submit quarterly reports on a timely basis for the quarters ending December 31, 2021, March 31, 2022 and June 30, 2022. Lack of sufficient controls over the review and approval of grant reports to ensure the accuracy and completeness of the report being submitted to the grantor can result in improper reporting which could lead to disallowed costs and late reporting submissions. However, our audit disclosed no instances of unallowable costs. Lack of sufficient controls can result in improper reporting which could lead to late reporting submissions. Recommendation We recommend the strengthening of controls to ensure the quarterly grant reports are reviewed and approved for accuracy and completeness prior to submission to the grantor. The College should design and implement internal controls to ensure compliance with the federal reporting requirements. Views of Responsible Officials of the Auditee The College agrees with Finding 2022-002.

Corrective Action Plan

Reference Number: 2022-002 Compliance Requirement: Reporting Type of Finding: Internal Control and Compliance Internal Control Impact: Significant Deficiency Compliance Impact: Nonmaterial Noncompliance Assistance Listing Number(s) and Title: 84.425 ? Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund(HEERF) Federal Awarding Agency: U.S. Department of Education Bishop State has reviewed and recognized the needed changes to be put into place to ensure timely reporting and accurate record keeping for all reported data. Bishop State has the Restricted accountant complete the quarterly and annual HEERF reports and file all data according to the report in an organized and methodical method. Once the Restricted Accountant completes the report the Chief Financial Officer and/or Director of Accounting will review the reports and backup data for approval. Once the reports are approved they are handed over to the Grants Administrator for filing on-line with the Department of Education via the HEERF site. This audit finding is a duplicate to the audit finding 2021-005 from the previous fiscal year. The 2022 fiscal year was 75% of the way over at the time the prior year audit finding was presented to Bishop State Community College. At the point of notification all quarterly and annual reports were filed according to HEERF uniform guidance. No other corrective action had to be taken in the 2022 fiscal year as all other uniform reporting guidance was met for the 2022 audit. Anticipated Completion Date: October 2022. Contact Person: Jessica Davis, Chief Financial Officer

Categories

Allowable Costs / Cost Principles Reporting Significant Deficiency Matching / Level of Effort / Earmarking

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 611952 2022-002
    Significant Deficiency Repeat

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
84.425 Education Stabilization Fund $15.14M
84.063 Federal Pell Grant Program $6.11M
84.031 Higher Education_institutional Aid $3.22M
17.268 H-1b Job Training Grants $1.23M
84.007 Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants $277,067
84.042 Trio_student Support Services $269,880
84.048 Career and Technical Education -- Basic Grants to States $244,651
17.259 Wia Youth Activities $185,659
84.033 Federal Work-Study Program $77,161
20.205 Highway Planning and Construction $42,627
84.002 Adult Education - Basic Grants to States $19,334