Finding 564290 (2024-002)

Material Weakness
Requirement
ABEILN
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2024
Accepted
2025-06-10

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: One employee has too much control over critical areas, risking incompatible duties.
  • Impacted Requirements: This affects compliance with internal control standards for major federal programs.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Implement segregation of duties to enhance oversight and reduce risk.

Finding Text

One important aspect of the internal control structure is the segregation of duties among employees to prevent an individual employee from handling duties which are incompatible. We noted one individual has control over portions of one or more of the following areas for the District relating to major federal programs; cash, receipts, school lunch program and journal entries. See finding 2024-001.

Corrective Action Plan

We acknowledge the auditor’s comment regarding segregation of duties in the handling and recording of cash receipts. The district recently transitioned to a new accounting software system, which has prompted a review and adjustment of internal procedures to strengthen internal controls. As part of this transition, we are actively training building secretaries to assume greater responsibility in the initial steps of the cash receipt process. Specifically, secretaries will be responsible for: • Receiving and documenting cash and checks at their respective buildings. • Preparing and depositing funds directly at the bank. • Completing a cash receipt form and forwarding it, along with deposit confirmation, to the business office. The business office staff will then independently record the transactions into the accounting system, ensuring a clear segregation between the receipt of funds and their entry into the general ledger. We anticipate full implementation of this updated process by 8/2025, with training sessions and support ongoing to ensure consistency and compliance across all buildings. We believe this revised procedure addresses the concern by separating duties between collection/deposit and system entry, thereby reducing the risk of errors or misappropriation.

Categories

Internal Control / Segregation of Duties

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 564291 2024-002
    Material Weakness
  • 564292 2024-002
    Material Weakness
  • 564293 2024-002
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 564294 2024-002
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 564295 2024-002
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 564296 2024-002
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1140732 2024-002
    Material Weakness
  • 1140733 2024-002
    Material Weakness
  • 1140734 2024-002
    Material Weakness
  • 1140735 2024-002
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1140736 2024-002
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1140737 2024-002
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1140738 2024-002
    Material Weakness Repeat

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
10.555 National School Lunch Program $484,906
84.010 Title I Grants to Local Educational Agencies $306,685
10.553 School Breakfast Program $105,034
84.424 Student Support and Academic Enrichment Program $104,586
21.027 Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds $94,682
84.027 Special Education Grants to States $55,416
84.425 Education Stabilization Fund $48,913
10.559 Summer Food Service Program for Children $41,290
84.367 Supporting Effective Instruction State Grants (formerly Improving Teacher Quality State Grants) $29,385
81.041 State Energy Program $28,953
93.235 Title V State Sexual Risk Avoidance Education (title V State Srae) Program $5,000
84.048 Career and Technical Education -- Basic Grants to States $4,721