Finding 496623 (2023-001)

Material Weakness Repeat Finding
Requirement
B
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2023
Accepted
2024-09-12

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: There is a material weakness in internal controls, leading to potential noncompliance with federal cost principles.
  • Impacted Requirements: Compliance with 2 CFR Part 200 is necessary to ensure only allowable costs are charged to the award.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Implement a formal review process to ensure salary allocations are based on actual time and effort, not just budgeted amounts.

Finding Text

Finding No. 2023-001 Federal Agency: U.S. Department of State Federal Program Name: Professional and Cultural Exchange Programs - Citizen Exchanges Assistance Listing Number: 19.415 Award Period: September 30, 2019 - September 30, 2023; July 26, 2022 – September 30, 2025; September 14, 2022 – September 30, 2026 Type of Finding: -Material Weakness in Internal Control over Compliance -Material Noncompliance (Modified Opinion) Criteria: 2 CFR Part 200 Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Award requires compliance with the provisions of allowable costs. American Institute For Foreign Study Foundation, Inc. should have internal controls designed to ensure compliance with those provisions. Condition: During our testing of payroll expenditures, we noted American Institute For Foreign Study Foundation, Inc. did not have adequate internal controls designed to ensure only allowable costs were charged to the award. Questioned costs: Unknown Context: American Institute For Foreign Study Foundation, Inc. is charging to the award based on the budgeted payroll expenses which does not correspond with the actual salary expense that should have been allocated to the award. Cause: Management believed that they should charge the award based on budget. Effect: The effect is that salaries charged may not represent the award's allocable share. Repeat Finding: Yes, 2022-001 Recommendation: American Institute For Foreign Study Foundation, Inc. should formalize review over allocations to the award to ensure that allocations are based on actual time and effort. Views of Responsible Officials: Management concurs with the finding. See separate corrective action plan.

Corrective Action Plan

2023-001 Professional and Cultural Exchange Programs - Citizen Exchanges – Assistance Listing No. 19.415 Recommendation: American Institute For Foreign Study Foundation, Inc. should formalize review over allocations to the award to ensure that allocations are based on actual time and effort. Explanation of disagreement with audit finding: There is no disagreement with the audit finding. Action taken in response to finding: Management will ensure only actual salary is charged to the awards. Name of the contact person responsible for corrective action: James Mahoney, CFO Planned completion date for corrective action plan: August 31, 2024 If the U.S. Department of State has questions regarding this plan, please call James Mahoney at 203-399-5143.

Categories

Allowable Costs / Cost Principles

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 496624 2023-001
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 496625 2023-001
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1073065 2023-001
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1073066 2023-001
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1073067 2023-001
    Material Weakness Repeat

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
19.415 Professional and Cultural Exchange Programs - Citizen Exchanges $311,437