Finding 392642 (2023-001)

Significant Deficiency
Requirement
P
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2022
Accepted
2024-04-09
Audit: 302955
Organization: Mesa Independent Living (CA)

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: There is a lack of proper documentation management and retention policies, leading to missing or hard-to-find documents.
  • Impacted Requirements: Insufficient internal controls regarding document management can affect the accuracy of financial statements.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Management should create and enforce a document retention policy to ensure compliance and improve accessibility of records.

Finding Text

• Criteria or specific requirement: Proper Documentation Finding 2023-1 • Condition: Document management and retention polices need to be implemented and adhered to. Certain documents were either missing or difficult to obtain. • Context: At times requested documents were not found or were only found after an exhaustive search. • Effect: Internal control polices and procedures with respect to document management and retention are not sufficient or are not in place which can affect the financial statements. • Cause: Management has not instituted nor monitored a proper document retention policy. • Recommendation: Management should develop and consistently monitor a document retention policy and ensure that the procedures are adhered to. Management’s response: Mesa maintained an Amazon account that was used for the purchase of approximately 20 small office supply orders totaling $2,170. This account was closed and access to receipts were lost. MESA utilizes a Missing Receipt Form in the event that a receipt is not available. This form was used in the case of these missing Amazon purchase receipts. On three (3) occasions, MESA did not have easy access to physical invoices for manual labor that were ultimately identified. On one (1) occasion, MESA was not able to identify an invoice associated with the delivery of an item. A Missing Receipt Form, evidence of communication regarding the services rendered, and cost associated with the delivery was utilized to document the expenditure.

Corrective Action Plan

Finding: 2023-1 In 2023, MESA implemented the use of new software that requires a receipt to be uploaded after time of purchase. This software integrates with MESA's accounting software to ensure that all receipts and invoices are retained. All expenditures are reviewed on a weekly basis by the Director of Operations to ensure proper documentation is in place. All purchases are reviewed by the Director of Operations, verified by the bookkeeper, and reviewed by the Executive Director during monthly reconciliations. This policy and the procedures to support it are codified in MESA's Accounting Manual.

Categories

Procurement, Suspension & Debarment Internal Control / Segregation of Duties

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 392643 2023-002
    Significant Deficiency
  • 392644 2023-003
    Significant Deficiency
  • 392645 2023-001
    Significant Deficiency
  • 392646 2023-002
    Significant Deficiency
  • 969084 2023-001
    Significant Deficiency
  • 969085 2023-002
    Significant Deficiency
  • 969086 2023-003
    Significant Deficiency
  • 969087 2023-001
    Significant Deficiency
  • 969088 2023-002
    Significant Deficiency

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
21.027 Department of the Treasury $1.20M