Finding 48750 (2022-001)

Significant Deficiency
Requirement
B
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2022
Accepted
2023-07-31

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: Payroll allocations do not accurately reflect employee work and salary rates.
  • Impacted Requirements: Must comply with Title 2 U.S. CFR Part 200, ensuring accurate and allowable salary charges.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Finance should enhance review processes for monthly payroll allocations to ensure accuracy.

Finding Text

Finding 2022-001: Payroll Allocations Federal Program: ALN 19.701 Criteria or Specific Requirement: Title 2 U.S. Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 200, paragraph 430 ?Compensation ? personal services? requires that charges to Federal awards for salaries and wages must be based on records that accurately reflect the work performed, and that these records must be supported by a system of internal control which provides reasonable assurance that the charges are accurate, allowable, and properly allocated. Additionally, these records must comply with established accounting policies and practices of the non-Federal entity. Condition: As part of our audit procedures around payroll, we noted instances of payroll allocations to programs which did not accurately represent the time worked and/or salary rate of the employee. While misallocations were not significant in their amounts, the errors themselves suggest the need for more detailed review of the payroll allocation approval and entry process. Cause: The review of the payroll allocation entry and process was not sufficient to catch the errors. Effect or Potential Effect: The Global Center could inadvertently mischarge salaries and wages to its various programs. Recommendation: We recommend that the finance department perform a more detailed review of the monthly program allocations, including the pay rates used for the allocation to ensure complete and accurate entry of payroll allocations. Questioned Costs: Undetermined Identification as a Repeat Finding: Not applicable

Corrective Action Plan

Views of Responsible Officials: Management acknowledges the need for closer monitoring of staff labor billing rates and tighter internal control procedures surrounding calculating and recording time allocations in our accounting system. Management also notes that after a thorough internal review of 2022 payroll allocations we determined that the scope of total misallocations was isolated in program impact and minimal in financial scale and that audit sampling overrepresented the extent of the issues by capturing some of the very few instances of misallocation. To eliminate misallocation of time worked and/or salary rates, the following actions will be implemented: Monthly program time allocation calculations prepared by the Finance and Operations Officer will be reviewed and approved by the Director of Finance prior to entry into the accounting system to confirm correct rate application and time allocation. Payroll allocation rates will be monitored and updated as needed quarterly for review and approval by the Chief of Operations.

Categories

Allowable Costs / Cost Principles Matching / Level of Effort / Earmarking Internal Control / Segregation of Duties

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 48751 2022-001
    Significant Deficiency
  • 48752 2022-001
    Significant Deficiency
  • 48753 2022-001
    Significant Deficiency
  • 625192 2022-001
    Significant Deficiency
  • 625193 2022-001
    Significant Deficiency
  • 625194 2022-001
    Significant Deficiency
  • 625195 2022-001
    Significant Deficiency

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
19.701 Global Counterterrorism Programs $415,216
19.124 East Asia and Pacific Grants Program $216,112