Finding 538160 (2024-003)

AL# 93.323 - Epidemiology and Laboratory Capacity for Infectious Diseases (ELC) Activities Allowable/ Allowable Costs/Cost Principles Criteria The Association is required to maintain internal controls at a level where underlying support for federal award disbursements can be developed and a determination can be made that the federal awards are getting disbursed properly in accordance with the grant requirements. Condition There is a lack of internal control around the review of allowable costs of federal funds and the distributions of those funds. Cause The Association is subject to size and budget constraints limiting the number of personnel within the grant department. Effect The design of internal control over financial reporting could adversely affect the ability to record, process, summarize and report federal awards in accordance with grant requirements. Questioned Costs $0 Effect The design of internal control over financial reporting could adversely affect the ability to record, process, summarize and report federal awards in accordance with grant requirements. Recommendation We recommend the Association review their internal controls over grants to determine if additional procedures can be implemented that are cost effective. The board should constantly be aware of this condition. Compensating controls that mitigate the related risks could be (or are) provided through appropriate oversight of the performance of these functions and review of grant disbursements by individuals with knowledge of current grants and grant requirements. View of responsible officials and corrective actions We agree with this finding. We will improve monitoring and implement new procedures to properly segregate accounting functions as much as possible for the small size of the Association.