Finding 497343 (2023-002)

Material Weakness Repeat Finding
Requirement
L
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2023
Accepted
2024-09-19
Audit: 320057
Organization: Town of Paradise (CA)

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: The Town submitted its financial reports six months late, violating federal reporting deadlines.
  • Impacted Requirements: Timely submission of Audited Financial Statements and Single Audit Report is mandated by federal regulations (due by March 31, 2023).
  • Recommended Follow-up: The Town should consider hiring an external accounting firm to ensure timely completion and submission of required reports.

Finding Text

Finding 2023-002 – Material Weakness Federal Grantor: Various Passed-through: Various Pass-through Grantor’s No.: Various Compliance Requirement: Reporting Condition: The Town submitted its Audited Financial Statements and Single Audit Report to the federal clearinghouse in September 2024, six months after it was due, mostly the result of delays in reconciling grant activity to revenue recorded. Criteria: The Town was required to submit its Audited Financial Statements and Single Audit Report to the federal audit clearinghouse no later than March 31, 2023, nine months after the fiscal year-end (2 Code of Federal Regulations §200.512). Effect: Federal awarding agencies may deny future federal awards or subject the Town to additional cash monitoring requirements. Cause: The Town did not prepare its Audited Financial Statements and Schedule of Expenditures of Federal Awards in a timely manner due to the number of federal awards tested in the current year compared to prior years. In addition, the Town lost its finance director during the financial and single audit process. Context: The Town has had complete turnover of finance department personnel and has found difficulty in replacing key personnel for its finance department. Recommendation: The Town should consider contracting with an external accounting firm so that it can close its books and submit its audited financial statements and single audit to the federal audit clearinghouse no later than the statutory reporting deadline. Views of Responsible Officials and Planned Corrective Action: We agree with the finding and have implemented a new process during fiscal year 2023/24.

Corrective Action Plan

Description of Finding: The Town submitted its Audited Financial Statements and Single Audit Report to the federal clearinghouse in September 2024, six months after it was due, mostly the result of delays in reconciling grant activity to revenue recorded. Statement of Concurrence or Nonconcurrence: The audit was not submitted on time. Corrective Action: Staff turnover contributed to the need for multiple adjustments after the fact. Of the five positions within the department five were vacated within a 12 month period During and leading up to the closing of the FY 22/23 year, a complete turnover of staff occurred including all senior staff within the Finance Department. There were a number of journal entries that required a depth of historical knowledge to perform properly as many of the capital projects associated with the SEFA are multi year. Budgeted large transfers and project transfers complicated the process of closing projects and funds. Currently all positions are filled. To reduce the need for as many audit adjustments, a new process was implemented during the FY 23/24. Payroll and invoices are being direct billed to the funds and projects to reduce the need for unnecessary transfers. This step will simplify the structure of funds. This standard accounting practice will enable staff to reconcile, evaluate, and accrue much more timely and accurately. Name of Contact Person: Aimee Beleu, Finance Director, (530) 872-6291, abeleu@townofparadise.com Projected Completion Date: 4/1/24

Categories

Reporting Subrecipient Monitoring Material Weakness

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 497342 2023-001
    Material Weakness
  • 497344 2023-003
    Material Weakness
  • 497345 2023-004
    Significant Deficiency
  • 497346 2023-005
    Significant Deficiency
  • 1073784 2023-001
    Material Weakness
  • 1073785 2023-002
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1073786 2023-003
    Material Weakness
  • 1073787 2023-004
    Significant Deficiency
  • 1073788 2023-005
    Significant Deficiency

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
21.027 Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds $1.71M
14.228 Community Development Block Grants/state's Program and Non-Entitlement Grants in Hawaii $1.18M
16.710 Public Safety Partnership and Community Policing Grants $615,000
97.083 Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (safer) $525,612
97.036 Disaster Grants - Public Assistance (presidentially Declared Disasters) $425,027
10.766 Community Facilities Loans and Grants $256,760
11.307 Economic Adjustment Assistance $243,300
20.205 Highway Planning and Construction $179,129
14.239 Home Investment Partnerships Program $117,119
14.218 Community Development Block Grants/entitlement Grants $40,000
97.039 Hazard Mitigation Grant $25,576