Finding 559166 (2022-001)

Significant Deficiency
Requirement
L
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2022
Accepted
2025-05-02
Audit: 355405
Organization: Fresno Metropolitan Ministry (CA)

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: The Organization failed to submit required federal reports on time, indicating a significant deficiency in internal controls over compliance.
  • Impacted Requirements: Timely filing of the Federal Financial Report (FFR) and the single audit is mandatory, with specific deadlines set by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Establish clear reporting deadlines to ensure all reports are submitted accurately and on time to avoid potential restrictions on grant funds.

Finding Text

Finding 2022 - 001 Reporting (L) Significant Deficiency in Internal Controls over Compliance Identification of the Federal Program: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; ALN 93.498 Criteria or Specific Requirement: Recipients of federal awards must establish internal controls over reports that are prepared and submitted. Finding/Condition: Pursuant to the reporting requirement set forth by the Department of Health and Human Services, the Organization is required to file the quarterly Federal Financial Report (FFR) within 30 days of the end of the quarter and submit the single audit to the Federal Audit Clearinghouse within the sooner of 30 days of the issuance of the audit report or nine months after the end of the Organization’s fiscal year. During our reporting period, we were unable to determine the submission of the quarterly reports and noted also that the audit was not completed and filed timely. Cause: First year with federal grant reporting requirements. Effect: The delay in submitting the required reports may lead to the granting agency imposing temporary restrictions on the drawdown of grant funds process. Questioned Cost: None Recommendation: The Organization should establish reporting deadlines so that reports are filed accurately and on a timely basis. Views of Responsible Officials and Corrective Action Plan: See corrective action plan.

Corrective Action Plan

Finding Reference #: 2022-001 Description of Finding: Significant Deficiency in Internal Controls over Compliance. Identification of the Federal Program: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; CFDA 93.498 Criteria or Specific Requirement: Recipients of federal awards must establish internal controls over reports that are prepared and submitted. Finding/Condition: Pursuant to the reporting requirement set forth by the Department of Health and Human Services, the Organization is required to submit the single audit to the Federal Audit Clearinghouse within the sooner of 30 days of the issuance of the audit report or nine months after the end of the Organization’s fiscal year. During our reporting period, the audit was not completed and filed timely. Corrective Action: As of January 2023, the Organization underwent a leadership transition, including the appointment of a new Executive Director and a restructuring of the finance team’s roles and responsibilities. This was also the Organization’s first year subject to a Single Audit, which introduced new compliance and reporting requirements. Although the audit was not submitted within the required timeframe, strategic steps have since been taken to ensure full compliance moving forward. Under new leadership, a strengthened financial management team with clearly defined responsibilities now supports our established internal controls, enhancing our capacity to meet federal reporting standards. The Organization is currently finalizing the 2022 Single Audit and is on track to submit it by April 30, 2025. Name of Responsible Person: Emogene Nelson, Executive Director Projected Completion Date: Completed at time of report. Cause: The audit filing deadline was missed due to several overlapping challenges, including the lasting operational impacts of COVID-19, which strained financial systems and overwhelmed existing staff. Compounding this were ongoing employee retention issues that affected continuity and capacity within the finance team. During the same period, the Organization transitioned from a desktop-based accounting system to an online platform, requiring specialized support to rebuild data files, ensure accuracy, and resolve reporting issues. These factors, along with leadership transitions, contributed to the delay. The Organization has since stabilized its financial operations and is on track to submit the 2022 Single Audit by April 30, 2025. Questioned Cost: None

Categories

Reporting

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 1135608 2022-001
    Significant Deficiency

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
93.498 Provider Relief Fund $3.57M
10.170 Specialty Crop Block Grant Program - Farm Bill $735,920
10.561 State Administrative Matching Grants for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program $34,895