Finding 513676 (2024-003)

Significant Deficiency
Requirement
B
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2024
Accepted
2024-12-09
Audit: 331593
Organization: Great Hearts America - Texas (TX)

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: There is a significant deficiency in internal controls over allowable costs, leading to unauthorized payments.
  • Impacted Requirements: This affects compliance with federal programs like the School Breakfast Program and National School Lunch Program.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Management acknowledges the issue and has a corrective action plan in place; monitor implementation closely.

Finding Text

Finding #2024-003 – Allowable Costs - Significant Deficiency. Applicable federal programs: U. S. Department of Agriculture, Passed through Texas Department of Agriculture: School Breakfast Program, AL#10.553, Contract #’s: 202423N109946 and 202120N19946, National School Lunch Program, AL#10.555, Contract #’s: 202423N109946 and 202222N109946, U. S. Department of Education, Passed through Texas Education Agency: Special Education Grants to States, AL#84.027A, Contract #: H027A230008. Criteria: Same as finding #2024-001. Condition and context: Same as finding #2024-001. The invoice was charged to the Foundation School Program. Cause: Same as finding #2024-001. Questioned costs: $0. Effect: Failure to have an effective system of internal control over non-payroll disbursements resulted in an unauthorized payment and could result in overbilling grant programs. Recommendation: Same as finding #2024-001. Views of responsible officials and planned corrective actions: Management agrees with the finding. See Corrective Action Plan.

Corrective Action Plan

Findings #2024-001 and #2024-003 – Significant Deficiency. Applicable federal programs: U. S. Department of Agriculture, Passed through Texas Department of Agriculture: School Breakfast Program, AL#10.553, Contract #’s: 202423N109946 and 202120N19946, National School Lunch Program, AL#10.555, Contract #’s: 202423N109946 and 202222N109946, U. S. Department of Education, Passed through Texas Education Agency: Special Education Grants to States, AL#84.027A, Contract #: H027A230008. Recommendation: Develop procedures to reconcile accounts payable batches to the related check run, restrict set up of vendors in the check processing application, and develop budget versus actual reporting for the corporate office. Planned corrective action: Management has already developed a process to reconcile accounts payable batches extracted from the Concur system to the related check run in the Ascender general ledger system. In addition, management will create a separation of duties for bank reconciliations and the setup of new vendors. Our financial analyst will also consistently develop budget versus actual reports for the corporate office as is done for the schools. Responsible officer: Kevin Byrne, Vice President of Finance. Estimated completion date: January 1, 2025.

Categories

School Nutrition Programs Allowable Costs / Cost Principles Significant Deficiency Internal Control / Segregation of Duties

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 513677 2024-004
    Significant Deficiency
  • 513678 2024-005
    Significant Deficiency
  • 513679 2024-003
    Significant Deficiency
  • 513680 2024-004
    Significant Deficiency
  • 513681 2024-005
    Significant Deficiency
  • 513682 2024-005
    Significant Deficiency
  • 513683 2024-003
    Significant Deficiency
  • 513684 2024-004
    Significant Deficiency
  • 513685 2024-005
    Significant Deficiency
  • 513686 2024-006
    Significant Deficiency
  • 513687 2024-005
    Significant Deficiency
  • 513688 2024-005
    Significant Deficiency
  • 513689 2024-005
    Significant Deficiency
  • 513690 2024-005
    Significant Deficiency
  • 513691 2024-005
    Significant Deficiency
  • 1090118 2024-003
    Significant Deficiency
  • 1090119 2024-004
    Significant Deficiency
  • 1090120 2024-005
    Significant Deficiency
  • 1090121 2024-003
    Significant Deficiency
  • 1090122 2024-004
    Significant Deficiency
  • 1090123 2024-005
    Significant Deficiency
  • 1090124 2024-005
    Significant Deficiency
  • 1090125 2024-003
    Significant Deficiency
  • 1090126 2024-004
    Significant Deficiency
  • 1090127 2024-005
    Significant Deficiency
  • 1090128 2024-006
    Significant Deficiency
  • 1090129 2024-005
    Significant Deficiency
  • 1090130 2024-005
    Significant Deficiency
  • 1090131 2024-005
    Significant Deficiency
  • 1090132 2024-005
    Significant Deficiency
  • 1090133 2024-005
    Significant Deficiency

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
10.555 National School Lunch Program $1.42M
84.027 Special Education Grants to States $1.37M
84.010 Title I Grants to Local Educational Agencies $670,939
84.425 Education Stabilization Fund $664,366
10.553 School Breakfast Program $281,160
84.367 Supporting Effective Instruction State Grants (formerly Improving Teacher Quality State Grants) $180,204
84.424 Student Support and Academic Enrichment Program $55,334
84.365 English Language Acquisition State Grants $44,401