Finding 512254 (2023-001)

Material Weakness
Requirement
AB
Questioned Costs
$1
Year
2023
Accepted
2024-11-26
Audit: 330028
Organization: Center on Halsted (IL)
Auditor: Rsm US LLP

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: Missing documentation for certain non-payroll expenses under the COVID-19 grant raises concerns about compliance and allowability.
  • Impacted Requirements: Internal controls and documentation standards outlined in the grant agreement were not met, risking future funding.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Enhance internal controls and ensure all expenses, like transportation charges, are properly documented and approved.

Finding Text

Finding 2023-001: Activities Allowed-Unallowed and Allowable Costs/Cost Principles– Lack of supporting documentation Assistance Listing Number title and number: COVID-19- Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds, 21.027 Federal grant number: FSCAH06318 Federal agency: U.S. Department of Treasury Pass through entity: Illinois Department of Human Services, Cook County Health and Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority Criteria: Exhibit A of the Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds – American Rescue Plan Act Add ons, Cook County Health Building Health Communities ARPA – American Rescue Plan Act, and the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority grant agreement outline the grantor specific terms and scope of the grant funding. The Compliance Supplement outlines that the Center must establish and maintain internal control over the Federal award that provides reasonable assurance that the Center is managing the Federal award in compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal award. Condition: Certain expenses related to non-payroll transactions charged to the federal program did not have adequate support for the purchase or underlying expense in order to determine if the expense was allowable under the grant. For these same transactions, there was no evidence of review and approval by the Program Manager. Cause: Due to turnover in program staffing, program oversight was not performed timely. Effect: Lack of expense documentation and controls can result in actions taken by oversight agencies which could impact future funding. Questioned costs: Known questioned cost was $4,381. Context: Total non-payroll transactions charged to the program was $70,201, of which $14,123 were selected for testing through a sample of 40. The Center could not provide support demonstrating the expense was allowable under the federal program for 28 of the non-payroll transactions totaling $4,381. Repeat finding: No Recommendation: We recommend that management improve internal controls and documentation for grant expenditures. For items such as uber trips, management should document the grant purpose for the charge and have proper approval for the grant expense. Views of responsible officials: Management agrees with this finding. Please see corrective action plan attached.

Corrective Action Plan

Corrective Actions Taken or Planned: ▪ Taken: This finding was a result of staff turnover and Center on Halsted has put in place an established relationship with an external accounting firm (Sikich), that will help create stability and support in all financial processes including grant reconciliation. This updated contractual agreement & relationship occurred on March 1, 2024. ▪ Taken: Documentation has already begun to be gathered for allowable expenses and approval of certain expenses per grant, via written email documentation. This is currently being operationalized and will be fully implemented by our Senior Accountant Jeong Shin and our Senior Director of Finance Reginald Walker. Anticipated completion date: August 15th, 2024. ▪ Planned: Ensure adequate documentation for approval and alignment of expenses to specific grants. This is currently being operationalized and will be fully implemented by our Senior Accountant Jeong Shin and our Senior Director of Finance Reginald Walker. Anticipated completion date: August 15th, 2024. ▪ Planned: Verification of allowable expenses with grant management and finance leadership with monthly check-ins with program directors. This will be facilitated by our Director of Grants Brenna Quinn, our Senior Accountant Jeong Shin, and led by our Senior Director of Finance Reginald Walker. Anticipated completion date: September 1st, 2024. ▪ Planned: New Senior Director of Finance Reginald Walker has been hired and a priority of their job function is to create stronger internal controls with sufficient checks and balances. Anticipated completion date: September 1st, 2024.

Categories

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

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 512255 2023-002
    Material Weakness
  • 512256 2023-003
    Significant Deficiency
  • 512257 2023-003
    Significant Deficiency
  • 512258 2023-003
    Significant Deficiency
  • 512259 2023-003
    Significant Deficiency
  • 512260 2023-003
    Significant Deficiency
  • 512261 2023-003
    Significant Deficiency
  • 512262 2023-003
    Significant Deficiency
  • 512263 2023-003
    Significant Deficiency
  • 512264 2023-003
    Significant Deficiency
  • 512265 2023-003
    Significant Deficiency
  • 512266 2023-003
    Significant Deficiency
  • 512267 2023-003
    Significant Deficiency
  • 512268 2023-003
    Significant Deficiency
  • 512269 2023-003
    Significant Deficiency
  • 512270 2023-003
    Significant Deficiency
  • 512271 2023-003
    Significant Deficiency
  • 512272 2023-003
    Significant Deficiency
  • 512273 2023-003
    Significant Deficiency
  • 512274 2023-003
    Significant Deficiency
  • 512275 2023-003
    Significant Deficiency
  • 512276 2023-003
    Significant Deficiency
  • 512277 2023-003
    Significant Deficiency
  • 512278 2023-003
    Significant Deficiency
  • 512279 2023-001
    Material Weakness
  • 512280 2023-002
    Material Weakness
  • 512281 2023-001
    Material Weakness
  • 512282 2023-002
    Material Weakness
  • 1088696 2023-001
    Material Weakness
  • 1088697 2023-002
    Material Weakness
  • 1088698 2023-003
    Significant Deficiency
  • 1088699 2023-003
    Significant Deficiency
  • 1088700 2023-003
    Significant Deficiency
  • 1088701 2023-003
    Significant Deficiency
  • 1088702 2023-003
    Significant Deficiency
  • 1088703 2023-003
    Significant Deficiency
  • 1088704 2023-003
    Significant Deficiency
  • 1088705 2023-003
    Significant Deficiency
  • 1088706 2023-003
    Significant Deficiency
  • 1088707 2023-003
    Significant Deficiency
  • 1088708 2023-003
    Significant Deficiency
  • 1088709 2023-003
    Significant Deficiency
  • 1088710 2023-003
    Significant Deficiency
  • 1088711 2023-003
    Significant Deficiency
  • 1088712 2023-003
    Significant Deficiency
  • 1088713 2023-003
    Significant Deficiency
  • 1088714 2023-003
    Significant Deficiency
  • 1088715 2023-003
    Significant Deficiency
  • 1088716 2023-003
    Significant Deficiency
  • 1088717 2023-003
    Significant Deficiency
  • 1088718 2023-003
    Significant Deficiency
  • 1088719 2023-003
    Significant Deficiency
  • 1088720 2023-003
    Significant Deficiency
  • 1088721 2023-001
    Material Weakness
  • 1088722 2023-002
    Material Weakness
  • 1088723 2023-001
    Material Weakness
  • 1088724 2023-002
    Material Weakness

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
21.027 Covid-19-Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds $163,350
14.241 Housing Opportunities for Persons with Aids $93,139
93.940 Hiv Prevention Activities_health Department Based $74,270
93.914 Hiv Emergency Relief Project Grants $46,183
16.034 Covid-19-Coronavirus Emergency Supplemental Funding Program $33,115
93.368 21st Century Cures Act - Precision Medicine Initiative $22,612
16.575 Crime Victim Assistance $22,015
97.008 Non-Profit Security Program $242