Finding 41558 (2022-002)

Significant Deficiency Repeat Finding
Requirement
P
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2022
Accepted
2023-01-15

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: Limited separation of duties in the accounting department increases the risk of errors and fraud.
  • Impacted Requirements: Internal controls must protect assets, ensure compliance, and provide reliable data.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: The Board should acknowledge the elevated risk and consider additional monitoring or compensating controls.

Finding Text

FINDINGS - FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AUDIT SIGNIFICANT DEFICIENCIES 2022-001 Separation of Duties Criteria: An effective internal control structure of an organization will include procedures and actions to: 1. Protect its assets against theft and waste. 2. Ensure compliance with the organization's policies, procedures and statutory requirements. 3. Evaluate the performance of personnel to promote efficient operations. 4. Ensure accurate and reliable operating and accounting data. Separation of duties requires that someone other than the employee responsible for safeguarding the asset must maintain the accounting records for that asset. When an organization separates duties of the employees, it minimizes the probability of an error or irregularity occurring and not being timely detected Condition: Due to the small size of the accounting department of the District, the possibility of adequate separation of duties over certain transaction cycles is limited. Recommendation: While we recognize that it is impractical for the District to achieve complete separation of duties over all transaction cycles within the District, it is important that the Board be aware of the chance of errors and irregularities not being timely detected is elevated. Auditee Response: The District has separated duties to the extent possible and has implemented compensating controls to monitor the accounting activities. FINDINGS - MAJOR FEDERAL AWARDS PROGRAMS AUDIT U.S. Department of Education, Educational Stabilization Fund (CFDA 84.425) and U.S. Department of Treasury, CARES (CFDA 21.019) 2022-002 Separation of Duties Reportable Condition: Refer to Item 2021-001 in the Findings - Financial Statements Audit for discussion regarding this item.

Corrective Action Plan

To Whom it May Concern: Due to the District?s small office staff, it makes it impractical for the District to achieve full separation of the accounting functions with the business office. We are unable to fully segregate the accounting functions of approval, accounting\reconciling, and asset custody. The District has mitigated the risks associated with this limitation through use of various compensating controls and segregating the functions to the extent reasonably possible. This has been accomplished by placing various levels into the approval process for payroll and cash disbursements, and this is evidenced through an audit trail for approval at each level of approval. Accounting reports are reviewed monthly for discrepancies and errors. The governing board is also involved in the approval process as the final authority over payment approval. The District also has formal policy procedure manuals for accounting controls procedures and follows Wyoming State Statutes to mitigate to as low as level as possible any risk of errors or irregularities and to timely detect any such errors or irregularities. The accounting staff, management and the School Board are fully aware of the situation and therefore on heightened awareness in performing their duties to further mitigate any risks that have not been mitigated. Sincerely, Angela Holliday Business Manager

Categories

Internal Control / Segregation of Duties

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 41559 2022-002
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 41560 2022-002
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 41561 2022-002
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 618000 2022-002
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 618001 2022-002
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 618002 2022-002
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 618003 2022-002
    Significant Deficiency Repeat

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
84.027 Special Education_grants to States $193,400
84.371 Striving Readers $155,884
84.010 Title I Grants to Local Educational Agencies $147,540
84.367 Improving Teacher Quality State Grants $147,540
84.424 Student Support and Academic Enrichment Program $60,683
10.553 School Breakfast Program $57,882
10.555 National School Lunch Program $29,391
84.287 Twenty-First Century Community Learning Centers $12,409
84.173 Special Education_preschool Grants $3,656
84.048 Career and Technical Education -- Basic Grants to States $1,616
84.425 Education Stabilization Fund $26