Finding 538676 (2024-001)

Significant Deficiency Repeat Finding
Requirement
BL
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2024
Accepted
2025-03-27
Audit: 349411
Auditor: Wipfli LLP

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: Inconsistent recording of expenses across various VA Supportive Services for Veteran Families grants affects financial reporting accuracy.
  • Impacted Requirements: Internal controls over compliance with federal regulations (2 CFR 200.62) are insufficient, leading to a significant deficiency.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Implement consistent procedures for recording expenditures to enhance accountability and support accurate federal expenditure reports.

Finding Text

FFinding Number: 2024-001 Description: Reporting of major program grant expenditures Repeat Finding: Yes Type of Finding: Significant deficiency in internal controls over the allowable costs and reporting compliance requirements; non-material non-compliance Questioned Costs: None Major Program: AL # 64.033, VA Supportive Services for Veteran Families Program, 2020-OR-430-LT, 2020-OR-430-HL, 2020-OR-430-23, 2020-OR-430-SS Condition: The Organization records its transactions in a general ledger system capable of segregating revenue and expenses by grant, but we have noted there were inconsistencies in how expenses were recorded among the various active VA Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) grants that began in prior fiscal years. Due to these inconsistencies, the agency is not able to reconcile federal expenditures reported on its Federal Financial Reports (FFRs) to specific segments in the general ledger, nor accurately report expenses incurred for each individual SSVF grant on the schedule of expenditures of federal awards. Criteria: 2 CFR 200, Section 200.62 (Uniform Guidance) requires the following: Internal control over compliance requirements for Federal awards means a process implemented by a non-Federal entity designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the achievement of the following objectives for Federal awards: (a) Transactions are properly recorded and accounted for, in order to: (1) Permit the preparation of reliable financial statements and Federal reports; (2) Maintain accountability over assets; and (3) Demonstrate compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal award; (b) Transactions are executed in compliance with: (1) Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal award that could have a direct and material effect on a Federal program; and (2) Any other Federal statutes and regulations that are identified in the Compliance Supplement; and (c) Funds, property, and other assets are safeguarded against loss from unauthorized use or disposition. Cause: Due to turnover at the Organization and its fiscal service providers, there were inconsistencies in internal controls and processes to code expenditures under the proper SSVF grant in prior years, which had a carry-over effect into this fiscal year for multi-year grants. Effect: As a result of the matter identified in the condition paragraph, a significant deficiency in the Organization’s internal controls over compliance and a non-material non-compliance exists. Recommendation: We recommend the Organization continue to implement procedures to ensure it is recording expenditures in a consistent basis to provide adequate accountability of federal funds and properly support expenditure reports submitted to the funding source. View of responsible officials: Management agrees with the assessment and has committed to a corrective action plan.

Corrective Action Plan

Corrective Action: This finding was resolved as of February 2024. The issues related to fiscal management of the SSVF (VA) grant in 2022 and 2023 meant that this finding carried over into the FY 24 audit. In October of 2023, CAPO hired a full time Finance and Grants Manager, and in February of 2024, we hired a full time SSVF Accounts Coordinator (reporting to the Finance Manager) to assume all fiscal tasks for SSVF. All invoicing, PMS draws, and overall grant tracking are provided and managed by this new fiscal team. This has significantly improved the pace of invoicing and payments to subrecipients, as well as the accuracy of coding and timeliness of fund draws. Prior to 2024, there were up to 5 separate grants flowing from the VA simultaneously, making it challenging to track draws separately, across six subrecipients. The inability to fully reconcile final grant expenditures in the SEFA was compounded by the VA’s tendency to extend (without formal contract modification) periods of program performance, meaning that grants would roll across CAPO fiscal years, unexpectedly and inconsistently. We now have just two SSVF grants, with distinct staffing for distinct purposes. We hold monthly fiscal meetings with grant subrecipients and have increased requirements on them for timely invoicing, appropriate documentation of expenditures, and overall grant management. Persons Responsible: Janet Allanach, Executive Director and Shane Melton, Finance Manager Timing for Implementation: Complete

Categories

Reporting

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 1115118 2024-001
    Significant Deficiency Repeat

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
64.033 Va Supportive Services for Veteran Families Program $3.16M
93.647 Social Services Research and Demonstration $627,632
14.267 Continuum of Care Program $240,174
93.569 Community Services Block Grant $61,571