Finding 560282 (2024-001)

Significant Deficiency
Requirement
ABCFHIMN
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2024
Accepted
2025-05-13

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: The amounts reported on the SEFA did not match the financial statements, indicating a lack of accurate financial reporting.
  • Impacted Requirements: Internal controls and procedures for federal award expenditures were inadequate, violating Government Auditing Standards and Uniform Guidance.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Establish and document clear internal controls for tracking grant funds to improve the accuracy of the SEFA preparation.

Finding Text

Criteria Internal controls and procedures should be established to ensure accurate and complete financial reporting of all federal award related expenditures within the Schedule of Expenditures of Federal Awards (SEFA) in accordance with Government Auditing Standards, issued by the Comptroller General of the United States; and the audit requirements of Title 2 U.S. Code of Federal Regulations Part 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards (Uniform Guidance). Condition Initial amounts reported on the SEFA were not in agreement with expenditure amounts reflected in the financial statements, as originally prepared. Further, there were multiple control deficiencies identified and an overall lack of adequate understanding of procedures and how they were performed. Cause The Director of Finance & HR is new to her position after fiscal year end and did not have clear procedures to follow to draft the Schedule of Expenditures of Federal Awards. There was a limited transition period, if any, for both the Director of Finance & HR and the Interim Executive Director positions for overlap of policies and procedures instruction. In addition, there was significant turnover in key positions during the year, resulting in current management unable to reperform or explain prior procedures performed. Effect Several corrections were necessary to ensure the completeness of the SEFA. Many of the adjustments were identified as a result of audit procedures performed for the basic financial statements. Recommendation In order to ensure the accuracy and completeness of the SEFA it is important to ensure internal controls related to tracking remaining grant related funds are clearly defined and documented in order to correctly prepare the Schedule of Expenditures of Federal Awards. Views of responsible officials See the corrective action plan.

Corrective Action Plan

CORRECTIVE ACTION PLAN For the Fiscal Year Ended 2024 Auditee: ARCUS Finding Number: 2024-001 1. Strengthen Internal Controls ■ ARCUS will provide training to accounting and grants management staff on: o Identifying the funding source of each grant received, reconciling to the general ledger, and documenting federal program expenditures o Grant compliance monitoring and documentation standards o SEFA preparation and reconciliation ■ ARCUS will establish a reconciliation process between the SEFA and the financial statements. ■ ARCUS wil assign a secondary review by a separate staff or board member to validate completeness and accuracy of SEFA before final submission. 2. Use of External Resources (if needed) ■ ARCUS will consider engaging a financial consultant or CPA with expertise in federal grants to review the SEFA preparation process during the next audit cycle to ensure compliance and accuracy, if expertise in SEFA preparation does not exist within current staff group or recent turnover in personnel has occurred. IMPLEMENTATION During fiscal year 2025

Categories

Reporting

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 560283 2024-001
    Significant Deficiency
  • 560284 2024-001
    Significant Deficiency
  • 1136724 2024-001
    Significant Deficiency
  • 1136725 2024-001
    Significant Deficiency
  • 1136726 2024-001
    Significant Deficiency

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
15.944 Natural Resource Stewardship $114,277
47.050 Geosciences $39,860
11.012 Integrated Ocean Observing System (ioos) $33,818
47.078 Polar Programs $602