Finding 417709 (2022-001)

Material Weakness
Requirement
AB
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2022
Accepted
2023-03-29

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: There is a material weakness in internal controls over financial reporting, leading to unrecorded adjustments and potential misstatements.
  • Impacted Requirements: Internal controls must be effective and include proper segregation of duties to prevent misstatements before audits.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Implement timely account reconciliations and require reviews of journal entries by someone other than the preparer; provide training for the fiscal team on grant accounting and financial closing procedures.

Finding Text

Finding Number: 2022-001Repeat Finding: NoType of Finding: Material WeaknessDescription: Internal Control over Financial ReportingCondition: During the audit, Wipfli LLP proposed several adjusting journal entries to properly record cash, grants receivable, prepaid expenses, accrued expenses, payroll liabilities, refundable advance liability, grant revenue and expenses which we deem to be material in relation to the financial statements. When reviewing the June 2022 health insurance premiums bill, terminated employees were listed and premiums paid for them. We noted that not all accounts were consistently reconciled on a timely basis and adjusting journal entries are not consistently reviewed by someone other than the preparer. Since the internal controls of the Organization did not detect and record the adjustments described above prior to the audit, a material weakness exists in the Organization?s internal controls over financial reporting and the preparation of the financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States.Criteria: Internal controls are effective if they are properly designed and implemented to prevent or detect account misstatements prior to the audit. Internal controls that provide for proper segregation of duties should be in place.Cause: The internal controls of the Organization were not effective in preventing or detecting and correcting the misstatements described above prior to the audit. In an organization with a small number of personnel in its business office and accounting department, there may be an inadequate segregation of duties. This results in certain internal control limitations, including, but not limited to, proper review and approval of adjusting journal entries prior to posting.Effect: As a result of the financial reporting matters identified in the condition paragraph, including the lack of segregation of duties, the potential for misstatements or misappropriated assets and a material weakness in internal controls over financial reporting exists.Recommendation: We recommend the Organization implement procedures, such as timely reconciling of accounts and review of all reconciliations and adjusting journal entries by someone other than the preparer, to provide sufficient internal control over financial reporting so all necessary transactions are recorded in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. We also recommend members of the fiscal team receive training in grant accounting and financial month end and year end closing procedures and adjustments necessary for a proper close.View of responsible officials: Management agrees with the finding and has committed to a corrective action plan.Finding Number 2022-001: Represents a material weakness in internal control over compliance with Tallatoona Community Action Partnership, Inc.?s major federal programs.Repeat Finding: NoType of Finding: Material WeaknessDescription: Internal Control over Financial ReportingMajor Programs: AL#93.569 ? Community Services Block Grant (Passed Through the Georgia Department of Human Services) and AL#93.600 ? Head Start Cluster (Direct)Questioned Costs: NoneHow the questioned costs were computed: N/ACompliance Requirements: Activities Allowed or Unallowed and Allowable Costs, Cost PrinciplesAwards effected:CSBG 42700-040-0000096839 and CSBG 42700-040-0000103931COVID-19 CSBG 42700-040-0000103959 and COVID-19 CSBG 42700-040-0000095979Head Start FY-21 04CH010523-04-01 and Head Start FY-22 04CH010523-05-02COVID-19 Head Start ? CARES - FY21-FY23 04HE000247-01-01COVID-19 Head Start ? ARPA ? FY21-FY 23 04HE000247-01-01Early Head Start CCP FY 21 04HP000305-02-01 and Early Head Start CCP FY 22 04HP000305-03-00COVID-19 Early Head Start CCP CARES ? FY 21-FY 23 04HE000247-01-01COVID-19 Early Head Start CCP ARPA ? FY 21-FY 23 04HE000247-01-01View of responsible officials: Management agrees with the finding and has committed to a corrective action plan.

Categories

Allowable Costs / Cost Principles Internal Control / Segregation of Duties Material Weakness Reporting

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 417704 2022-001
    Material Weakness
  • 417705 2022-001
    Material Weakness
  • 417706 2022-002
    Significant Deficiency
  • 417707 2022-002
    Significant Deficiency
  • 417708 2022-001
    Material Weakness
  • 417710 2022-002
    Significant Deficiency
  • 417711 2022-002
    Significant Deficiency
  • 994146 2022-001
    Material Weakness
  • 994147 2022-001
    Material Weakness
  • 994148 2022-002
    Significant Deficiency
  • 994149 2022-002
    Significant Deficiency
  • 994150 2022-001
    Material Weakness
  • 994151 2022-001
    Material Weakness
  • 994152 2022-002
    Significant Deficiency
  • 994153 2022-002
    Significant Deficiency

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
93.568 Low-Income Home Energy Assistance $688,620
81.042 Weatherization Assistance for Low-Income Persons $518,773
93.600 Head Start $496,706
10.558 Child and Adult Care Food Program $341,937
93.569 Community Services Block Grant $274,488