Finding 49858 (2022-001)

Significant Deficiency Repeat Finding
Requirement
P
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2022
Accepted
2023-01-26

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: The Cooperative lacks proper segregation of duties due to a small staff size, which increases the risk of errors or fraud.
  • Impacted Requirements: Internal control standards require that no one person should handle all aspects of a transaction, but this is not feasible with the current staffing.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: The Cooperative should continue to improve segregation of duties as much as possible, considering cost-effectiveness, and adhere to the corrective action plan outlined in the audit report.

Finding Text

Finding 2022-001 Criteria: Generally, a system of internal control contemplates segregation of duties such that no individual has responsibility to execute a transaction, have physical access to the related assets, and have responsibility or authority to record the transactions. Condition: Due to the limited size of the Cooperative?s business staff, the Cooperative has limited segregation of duties. Questioned Costs: None. Context: The Cooperative has informed us that the small size of its business office staff precludes proper segregation of duties at this time. Effect: The Cooperative is unable to maintain segregation of incompatible duties. Cause: Limited number of staff in the business office. Repeat Finding: This finding was reported in the prior year as finding 2021-001. Recommendation: We recommend that the Cooperative continue to segregate incompatible duties as best it can within the limits of what the Cooperative considers to be cost beneficial. Current Status: Unresolved, the Cooperative still has a limited number of staff in the business office. Action Taken: The Cooperative reviews and makes improvements to its internal controls on an ongoing basis, and attempts to maximize the segregation of duties in all areas within the limits of the staff available. Views of Responsible Officials and Planned Corrective Actions: The Cooperative agrees with this finding and will adhere to the corrective action plan on page 27 in this audit report.

Corrective Action Plan

Housing and Urban Development Realife Cooperative of St. Peter respectfully submits the following corrective action plan for the year ended September 30, 2022. Westberg Eischens, PLLP 2630 1st Street South P.O. Box 362 Willmar, MN 56201 Audit Period: September 30, 2022 The findings from the September 30, 2022 schedule of findings and questioned costs and the summary schedule of prior audit findings are discussed below. The findings are numbered consistently with the numbers assigned in the schedules. Summary of audit results does not include findings and is not addressed. Finding 2022-001 Recommendation: We recommend that the Cooperative continue to segregate incompatible duties as best it can within the limits of what the Cooperative considers to be cost beneficial. Action Taken: The Cooperative reviews and makes improvements to its internal controls on an ongoing basis, and attempts to maximize the segregation of duties in all areas within the limits of the staff available. Planned Completion Date: Not Applicable.

Categories

Internal Control / Segregation of Duties

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 49859 2022-002
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 626300 2022-001
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 626301 2022-002
    Significant Deficiency Repeat

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
14.126 Mortgage Insurance_cooperative Projects $1.49M