Finding 44249 (2022-001)

Significant Deficiency Repeat Finding
Requirement
P
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2022
Accepted
2023-03-30
Audit: 39369
Organization: Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. (DC)
Auditor: Sb & Company LLC

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: There is a significant deficiency in financial reporting due to inadequate internal controls over credit card transactions.
  • Impacted Requirements: 17 of 25 transactions lacked valid business purpose documentation, 6 lacked vendor receipts, and 15 had no approval evidence.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Implement a formal credit card policy and consider electronic tracking for purchases, approvals, and receipts.

Finding Text

Reference Number: 2022-001 Federal Program: All Programs Type of Finding: Significant Deficiency over Financial Reporting Repeat Finding: Yes ? 2021-001 Criteria Entities should maintain an adequate system of internal controls over financial reporting in order to initiate, authorize, record, process, and report financial data reliably in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Condition Our credit card transaction testing resulted in the following findings: (1) 17 out of 25 credit card sections did not have documentation of a valid business purpose; (2) 6 out of 25 credit card selections did not have vendor receipts; and (3) 15 out of 25 credit card selections had no evidence of approval. Cause Management did not have a formal credit card policy in place during all of fiscal year 2022 to document requirements for credit card usage and retention of supporting documents for credit card transactions (i.e. vendor invoices, approval of expenditures, proof of valid business purpose, etc.). Effect A fraud risk exists that credit card purchases are unauthorized and are not used for valid business purposes. Questioned Costs Unknown Recommendation Management should enforce its formal credit card policy through-out the year. Management should also consider electronic methods to track credit card purchases, approvals, and receipts. The Grand Chapter should maintain all credit card receipts with business purpose documentation. Management Response and Corrective Action Plan Management agrees with the finding. See schedule of corrective actions.

Corrective Action Plan

Finding 2022-001: Significant Deficiency over Financial Reporting Responsible Official?s Response and Corrective Action Plan The Board approved a new Credit Card Policy for the Sorority in May 2021. Credit cards are an integral part of the mix of instruments available for managing payment relationships with vendors. At present, the Sorority maintains only three (3) sponsored credit cards. Generally, payments to vendors through credit card instruments account for less than three percent (3%) of all expenditures processed by the organization. Nevertheless, we recognize and acknowledge that a material risk of exposure is present. To mitigate this risk, the Sorority has established a Board-level committee whose sole responsibility was to establish a set of policies and guidelines around: 1. Who may have access to Sorority-sponsored credit cards, 2. The range of limits that will be available to staff on individual cards, 3. The frequency of required reconciliations by the Accounting and Finance Department, 4. The chains of approval that will be required for each in the range of limits established by the Board; and 5. The consequence(s) of deviation from the Board?s mandated Policy. The Board?s guidelines are now published and available; however, no new cards will be issued in the near-term. Further, the Sorority?s Accounting Department continues its practice of conducting robust, monthly reviews of each line-item appearing on the three (3) credit card statements. The Team will continue to make certain that receipts are present for all expenditures that exceed $25; and will monitor the types of transactions processed via credit card to ensure their legitimacy. Planned Implementation Date of Corrective Action April 2023 Person(s) Responsible for Corrective Action Pamela R. Hill, Treasurer Meskerem Alemu, Sr. Accounting Manager

Categories

Procurement, Suspension & Debarment Reporting Significant Deficiency Internal Control / Segregation of Duties

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 620691 2022-001
    Significant Deficiency Repeat

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
84.066 Trio_educational Opportunity Centers $1.16M