Finding 499412 (2024-001)

Significant Deficiency Repeat Finding
Requirement
ABI
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2024
Accepted
2024-09-30

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: The District lacks adequate segregation of duties in key financial processes, increasing the risk of errors or fraud.
  • Impacted Requirements: This situation affects compliance with internal control standards, potentially leading to material misstatements in financial statements.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Management should assess the cost-benefit of enhancing segregation of duties or implementing additional monitoring controls to mitigate risks.

Finding Text

Criteria or Specific Requirement: In any system of internal control, one primary goal is adequate segregation of duties. Statement of Condition: The District has potentially conflicting duties in its revenue, cash receipts and accounts receivable and purchases, cash disbursements and accounts payable cycles which impact the financial statements. Statement of Cause: The size and budget constraints of the District limit the application of adequate segregation of duties. Statement of Effect or Potential Effect: Possible material misstatements in the financial statements, possible unauthorized, unallowable or unallowed expenditures, or material misappropriations of assets due to error or fraud could occur and not be prevented or detected in a timely manner. Perspective Information: An understanding of the District's internal controls was obtained through observation, inquiry and walkthroughs of key areas related to the financial statements. Identification of Repeat Findings: This is a repeat finding for financial statement purposes (2023-01) Recommendation: Management should periodically evaluate the costs versus the benefits of further segregation of duties or addition of monitoring or other compensating controls and implement those changes it deems appropriate for which benefits are determined to exceed costs. Views of Responsible Officials and Planned Corrective Actions: Management realizes the duties are reevaluated regularly and with the size of the District it is not feasible to add additional employees. They believe that they have adequate safeguards against material misstatements; however, they will continue to strive to improve this deficiency. Questioned Costs: None

Corrective Action Plan

1. Finding 2024-001 a. We concur with the finding and recommendation. b. Management realizes the duties are reevaluated regularly and with the size of the District it is not feasible to add additional employees. They believe that they have adequate safeguards against material misstatements; however, they will continue to strive to improve this deficiency. c. The Board of Directors is responsible for evaluating safeguards against material misstatements to the financial statements. d. This is an ongoing process, therefore, there is no anticipated completion date.

Categories

Internal Control / Segregation of Duties Procurement, Suspension & Debarment Subrecipient Monitoring Allowable Costs / Cost Principles

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 499413 2024-002
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 1075854 2024-001
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 1075855 2024-002
    Significant Deficiency Repeat

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
10.760 Water and Waste Disposal Systems for Rural Communities $1.15M
21.027 Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds $247,000