Finding 526315 (2021-001)

Material Weakness
Requirement
P
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2021
Accepted
2025-03-07

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: Limited segregation of duties in cash receipts increases the risk of undetected errors or fraud.
  • Impacted Requirements: All three key functions—custody, record keeping, and reconciliation—are managed by one person, violating best practices.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Management should assess and improve segregation of duties to enhance internal controls and reduce risk.

Finding Text

Condition: During our audit, it was noted that the organization has limited segregation of duties related to cash receipts transaction cycle. Criteria: There are three general categories of duties in the cash receipts cycle: custody, record keeping and reconciliation. In an ideal system, different employees perform each of these three major functions. In other words, no one person has control of two or more of these responsibilities. Cause:The Accountant had responsibilities over all areas of custody, record keeping and reconciliation. While there is some review of transactions by the Chief Financial Officer, there is more than a remote likelihood that a misstatement of the Organization’s financial statements that is more than inconsequential could go undetected. Effect: The effectiveness of the internal control system relies on enforcement by management. The effect of deficiencies in segregation of duties and internal controls can result in undetected errors or misappropriation of assets of the Organization. Recomendation: Under these circumstances the most effective controls lie in 1) managements knowledge of the Organization's financial operations and 2) striving to obtain as much segregation of duties as possible so that no one person has complete control of any type of financial transaction. We recommend the Organization evaluate its controls and make any changes considered necessary. It is the responsibility of management and those charged with governance to make the decision whether to accept the degree of risk associated with this condition because of cost and other considerations.

Corrective Action Plan

Northwest Indian Community Development Center will correct this material weakness by establishing procedures to monitor revenue and support with donor restrictions to accuratly report net assets.

Categories

Internal Control / Segregation of Duties

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 1102757 2021-001
    Material Weakness

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
21.019 Coronavirus Relief Fund $1.08M
10.561 State Administrative Matching Grants for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program $253,915
93.788 Opioid Str $246,455
93.959 Block Grants for Prevention and Treatment of Substance Abuse $221,767
16.738 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program $143,992
93.982 Mental Health Disaster Assistance and Emergency Mental Health $125,805
14.276 Youth Homelessness Demonstration Program $75,098
17.265 Native American Employment and Training $73,417
94.013 Americorps Volunteers in Service to America 94.013 $50,156
93.434 Every Student Succeeds Act/preschool Development Grants $36,553
97.032 Crisis Counseling $30,800
93.958 Block Grants for Community Mental Health Services $28,390
93.235 Title V State Sexual Risk Avoidance Education (title V State Srae) Program $25,995
14.231 Emergency Solutions Grant Program $23,899
93.556 Marylee Allen Promoting Safe and Stable Families Program $12,429
93.500 Pregnancy Assistance Fund Program $10,384
16.034 Coronavirus Emergency Supplemental Funding Program $4,161