Finding 515512 (2024-001)

Significant Deficiency
Requirement
AB
Questioned Costs
$1
Year
2024
Accepted
2024-12-18
Audit: 333255
Organization: Project Learn of Summit County (OH)
Auditor: Sikich CPA LLC

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: Management failed to provide adequate documentation for payroll costs related to the federal program, leading to unsupported reimbursements.
  • Impacted Requirements: Noncompliance with Code of Federal Regulations 200.403(g) and Uniform Guidance regarding documentation and allocation of costs.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: The Agency should consistently follow its policies and procedures to ensure proper documentation and approval of costs before reimbursement requests.

Finding Text

Condition: During our testing of allowable costs and reporting requirement, we noted exceptions in the ability of management to support payroll incurred for the federal program. The Agency submitted reimbursement for costs that could not be supported as relating to the federal program. Criteria: Under Code of Federal Regulations 200.403(g) states that for costs to be allowed under Federal awards, they must be adequately documented and there must be sufficient documentation. Further under the Uniform Guidance, if a cost benefits two or more projects or activities in proportions that cannot be determined because of the interrelationship of the work involve, then the costs may be allocated or transferred to benefited projects on any reasonable documented basis. Cause: Principles and procedures were not appropriately adhered to in certain instances to ensure that supporting documentation was maintained to evidence that costs were allowable and that an appropriate level of review and approval was completed prior to charging costs to a federal program. Effect: An ineffective control system related to charging of costs to federal programs in order to ensure that only hours work relating the program is charged and requested for reimbursement can lead to noncompliance with law and regulations and possible loss of funding for the related program. Questioned Costs: $383 Context: We sampled 40 items and found 2 exceptions resulting in over reimbursement of $383. This is a condition identified per review of the Agency’s compliance with specified requirements using a statistically valid sample. Recommendation: We recommend that the Agency ensure its policies and procedures are followed on a consistent basis.

Corrective Action Plan

To strengthen internal control measures and mitigate risk, the following procedures have been implemented in an effort to eliminate the significant deficiency identified in the audit. The corrective actions will help to ensure the supporting payroll documentation from Paychex matches the Access database that is used for reimbursement of payroll costs of the federal award: 1. Project Learn's operation manager will verify entries in the Access database, where employee hours are entered by type and job function, against the payroll report from Paychex. 2. Project Learn's executive director will verify the Access database entries of the Operations Manager as part of the monthly drawdown reimbursement process against the payroll report from Paychex. 3. The executive director and operations manager will use the filter feature in Access to ensure all payroll dates are correct. 4. The Access database will be reviewed for accuracy and backed up quarterly by the operations manager and the executive director. 5. The executive director will review the Access database for accuracy for a final time during the last monthly drawdown reimbursement process of the fiscal year.

Categories

Questioned Costs Allowable Costs / Cost Principles Cash Management Reporting

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 1091954 2024-001
    Significant Deficiency

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
84.002A Adult Basic and Literacy Education $768,847