Finding 398260 (2023-002)

Significant Deficiency
Requirement
A
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2023
Accepted
2024-05-22
Audit: 306956
Auditor: Rkl LLP

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: There is a significant deficiency in segregation of duties, allowing one staff member to manage cash receipts, disbursements, and reconciliations.
  • Impacted Requirements: The lack of separation increases the risk of errors and irregularities in financial transactions.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Management should review staff roles to establish proper segregation and ensure a final check is performed by someone without access to the related processes.

Finding Text

Finding 2023-002 Significant Deficiency Segregation of duties. Criteria An effective system of internal accounting control necessities an adequate segregation of duties so that no one individual handles a transaction from its inception to its completion. Condition One position within the Authority's staff had access to cash receipts, cash disbursements/purchasing, and cash reconciliations. Cause Due to the size of the Authority's staff, we found some critical duties are combined and assigned to the available employees. Effect The internal control system is more susceptible to errors and other irregularities, either intentional or unintentional, not being discovered. Recommendation Management should continue to review staff responsibilities and analyze where segregation of duties can be established and maintained. A final cross check of cash receipts, cash disbursements/purchasing, and cash reconciliations should be done by someone that does nto have access to any of the processes involved in generating the source document. Management's Response and Corrective Action Plan See attached response.

Corrective Action Plan

In response to your audit Findings 2023-001 and 2023-002, I would like to offer the following response: Due to the size of the Authority, it is not feasible at this time to hire additional employees to segregate the financial responsibilities. Management will continue to monitor this situation and segregate duties as is economically feasible.

Categories

Internal Control / Segregation of Duties Significant Deficiency

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 398259 2023-001
    Significant Deficiency
  • 974701 2023-001
    Significant Deficiency
  • 974702 2023-002
    Significant Deficiency

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
21.027 Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds $1.00M