Finding 397950 (2023-002)

Significant Deficiency Repeat Finding
Requirement
P
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2023
Accepted
2024-05-20
Audit: 306665
Organization: City of South Haven (MN)

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: The City lacks adequate segregation of accounting duties, which is essential for reliable financial reporting.
  • Impacted Requirements: This deficiency compromises the City's ability to accurately initiate, record, process, and report financial data.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Management acknowledges the issue and suggests that maintaining proper segregation of duties is not cost-effective given the limited staff.

Finding Text

Criteria: Internal control that supports the City's ability to initiate, record, process and report financial data consistent with the assertions of management in the financial statements requires adequate segregation of accounting duties. Condition: The City does not have adequate segregation of accounting duties. Cause: There are a limited number of office employees. Effect or Potential Effect: The lack of adequate segregation of accounting duties could adversely affect the City's ability to initiate, record, process and report financial data consistent with the assertions of management in the financial statements. Questioned Cost: None. Context: During our audit, we noted the City does not maintain proper separation within the accounting function of the City to ensure proper segregation of accounting duties. Repeat of Prior-Year Finding: 2022-002 Recommendations: For entities of the City's size, it generally is not practical to obtain the internal control that supports the adequate segregation of duties. Views of Responsible Officials and Planned Corrective Actions: Management agrees with the recommendation that it is not cost effective for the City to maintain proper segregation of duties.

Corrective Action Plan

Segregation of Duties. Name of Contact Person: Melissa Stenson, City Clerk. Correction Action: The finance related tasks will be separated as much as possible and alternative controls will be used to compensate for the lack of separation. The City Council will become more involved in providing some of these controls. Proposed Completion Date: The City Council will implement the above procedures immediately.

Categories

Internal Control / Segregation of Duties

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 397949 2023-001
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 397951 2023-001
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 397952 2023-002
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 397953 2023-001
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 397954 2023-002
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 974391 2023-001
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 974392 2023-002
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 974393 2023-001
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 974394 2023-002
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 974395 2023-001
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 974396 2023-002
    Significant Deficiency Repeat

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
10.770 Water and Waste Disposal Loans and Grants (section 306c) $918,574
14.218 Community Development Block Grants/entitlement Grants $583,928
10.698 State & Private Forestry Cooperative Fire Assistance $2,500