Finding 496351 (2023-001)

Significant Deficiency
Requirement
C
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2023
Accepted
2024-09-10

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: Lack of supervisory review for billing invoices, with two out of three invoices submitted by one person.
  • Impacted Requirement: Controls over the preparation and submission of monthly billing invoices are not being followed.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Implement a process for documented review and approval of invoices by a different manager before submission.

Finding Text

Finding # 2023-001 Type: Significant deficiency Assistance Listing Number: 93.323 Epidemiology and Laboratory Capacity for Infectious Diseases Requirement: There should be controls over the preparation and submission of monthly billing invoices Condition/Context: Two out of three billing invoices tested were prepared by submitted by the same individual without supervisory review and approval before submission. Cause: The Organization was short staffed in the Finance Department during this time. Effect: Billing invoices may be inaccurate Questioned Costs: None. Recommendation: We recommend documented review and approval of billing invoices before submission by a member of management different from the preparer.

Corrective Action Plan

Contact Person of Southwest Washington Accountable Community of Health: Eddie Gallagher, Director of Finance and Operations Name and Address of Independent Public Accounting Firm: McDonald Jacobs, P.C. 121 SW Salmon Street, Suite 1100 Portland, OR 97204 Audit Period: January 1, 2023 through December 31, 2023. The finding from the December 31, 2023 schedule of findings and questioned costs is discussed below. The finding is numbered consistently with the numbers assigned in the schedules. Finding #2023-001 Significant deficiency over cash management 93.323 Epidemiology and Laboratory Capacity for Infectious Diseases Federal Agency: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Pass-thru Agency: State of Washington Finding Controls should be in place over the preparation and submission of monthly billing invoices. Two out of three billing invoices tested were prepared and submitted by the same individual without supervisory review and approval prior to submission. The Organization was understaffed in the Finance Department during this time. Recommendation We recommend documented review and approval of billing invoices before submission by a member of management different from the preparer. Corrective Action: Processes were subsequently updated to prevent further instances of this deficiency. Updated processes were in place for the remainder of 2023. It is noteworthy that the State of Washington Department of Health performed a site visit and no findings or recommendations were identified.

Categories

Significant Deficiency

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 1072793 2023-001
    Significant Deficiency

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
93.323 Epidemiology and Laboratory Capacity for Infectious Diseases (elc) $371,185
93.959 Block Grants for Prevention and Treatment of Substance Abuse $345,713
93.391 Activities to Support State, Tribal, Local and Territorial (stlt) Health Department Response to Public Health Or Healthcare Crises $121,875