Finding Text
Reference Number: 2024-001
Finding:
Finding Type: Immaterial noncompliance with major program requirements
Title and CFDA Number of Federal Program: 59.046 – Small Business Administration Microloan Program
Finding Resolution Status: In review.
Information on Universe and Population Size: Salaries and wages pursuant to approved budget for the period July 1, 2023 to June 30, 2024. Salaries and wages per approved budget is $1,885,028.
Sample Size Information: A sample of 20 allocations of salaries and wages allocated to the program during the budget period were selected for testing compliance, including to approved time allocations within the payroll processor and as compared to the Executive Level II Salary max amounts in effect during the budget period.
Identification of Repeat Finding and Finding Reference Number: N/A
Criteria: The Organization is required to submit an award budget for approval, including direct costs to be allocated to the award. The Organization is then required to submit a schedule of actual allocated costs incurred for reimbursement.
Statement of Condition: During our testing of allocated salaries and wages, we identified errors in how employee time was allocated to the program, and salaries and wages allocated to the program in excess of the Executive Level II Salary maximum. Specifically, one employee had salaries and wages allocated to the program in excess of hours tracked to the program for a selected month. Another employee had an inappropriate wage rate applied to allocated time to the program. Last, two employees had compensation levels allocated to the program in excess of the Executive Level II Salary max amount in effect for the respective period.
Cause: The Organization did not have adequate procedures in place to ensure that payroll costs were supported by accurate time and rates reporting. Certain allocations were made subsequent to the approved budget amounts, however support was not substantiated for those allocations.
Effect or Potential Effect: Salaries and wages charged to the program included unsupported amounts, resulting in projected questioned costs of $63,740. When the actual errors in the sample tested were projected across the population, the potential error exceeds $25,000, which requires reporting under 2 CFR 200.516(a). However, the total projected questioned costs were not material to the program.
Auditor Noncompliance Code: A – Activities allowed or unallowed
Reporting Views of Responsible Officials: Management agrees with the noncompliance with no sanctions imposed conclusion.
Context: No additional context identified by the Organization which is not otherwise presented herein.
Recommendation: The Organization should strengthen internal controls over payroll cost allocations, including regular reconciliation of payroll charges to actual time records and rates. Time and rate documentation should be properly reviewed and approved.
Auditor’s Summary of the Auditee’s Comments on the Findings and Recommendations: Management should complete regular reconciliations of payroll charges to actual time records and rates. Time and rate documentation should be properly reviewed and approved.
Response Indicator: Agree
Completion Date: In process.
Response: Management acknowledges noncompliance in the current fiscal year and is reviewing its internal controls over payroll cost allocations.
Questioned Costs: $63,740