Finding 497624 (2023-003)

Significant Deficiency Repeat Finding
Requirement
P
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2023
Accepted
2024-09-23
Audit: 320417
Organization: Peace Villa Inc. (MN)

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: The Organization lacks adequate internal controls due to limited office personnel, resulting in insufficient segregation of duties.
  • Impacted Requirements: Internal controls should ensure reasonable assurance of proper segregation of duties to prevent misstatements.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: The Board should continue its active oversight, including regular reviews of financial activities, to mitigate risks associated with limited staff.

Finding Text

Segregation of Duties Condition: The Organization has a limited number of office personnel and accordingly, does not have adequate internal controls in certain areas because of a lack of segregation of duties. An effective internal control structure provides an adequate segregation of duties so that no one individual handles a transaction from its inception to its completion. Criteria: Internal controls should be in place that provides reasonable assurance that proper segregation of duties is achieved. Cause: The Organization has a limited number of office personnel and inadequate internal controls. Effect: The failure to properly segregate duties increase the risk that misstatements may occur and not be detected within a timely period by employees in the normal course of performing their assigned functions. Recommendation: While it is recognized that the Organization’s office staff may not be large enough to permit an adequate segregation of duties in all respects for an effective internal control structure, it is important that the Organization be aware of this situation. Response: The Board has already taken measures to attempt to comply even though the Organization is relatively small and the number of clerical/bookkeeping staff they can employ is limited. The Board has addressed this circumstance by active participation in the Organization’s affairs. This includes approval of disbursements, regular review of financial reports, regular review of bank reconciliations and budget comparisons.

Corrective Action Plan

Corrective Acton Plan (CAP) a) Actions Planned in Response to the Finding: The Organization has determined the benefit of adequately segregating duties is less than the cost. Based on this assessment, the Organization is accepting the risk posed by the deficiency while also evaluating mitigating controls that will help reduce the risk of material misstatement of the financial statements. Management is attempting to mitigate the associated risks by doing the following: 1. Identifying areas lacking segregation of duties and where there are higher risks of fraud occurring. 2. Implementing limited segregation to the extent possible to reduce risks without impairing efficiency. 3. Using the knowledge of management and the Board to review accounting records and reports, b) Official Responsible for Ensuring Corrective Action: Brenda Schmitz, Office Manager, will monitor the effectiveness of the above actions and make changes as considered appropriate. c) Planned Completion Date for the Corrective Action: The corrective action plan for this finding will be completed by December 31, 2024. d) Explanation of Disagreement: There is no disagreement with the audit finding. e) Plan to Monitor Completion of Corrective Action: The Board will be monitoring this corrective action plan to review the recommendations and take appropriate action.

Categories

Internal Control / Segregation of Duties

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 497622 2023-001
    Material Weakness
  • 497623 2023-002
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 497625 2023-001
    Material Weakness
  • 497626 2023-002
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 497627 2023-003
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 497628 2023-001
    Material Weakness
  • 497629 2023-002
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 497630 2023-003
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 1074064 2023-001
    Material Weakness
  • 1074065 2023-002
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 1074066 2023-003
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 1074067 2023-001
    Material Weakness
  • 1074068 2023-002
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 1074069 2023-003
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 1074070 2023-001
    Material Weakness
  • 1074071 2023-002
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 1074072 2023-003
    Significant Deficiency Repeat

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
10.766 Community Facilities Loans and Grants $5.62M
10.415 Rural Rental Housing Loans $1.05M
10.427 Rural Rental Assistance Payments $120,308