Finding 570639 (2023-001)

Significant Deficiency
Requirement
C
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2023
Accepted
2025-07-08

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: The Institution failed to disburse funds promptly, averaging 10 to 15 days late for certain payments.
  • Impacted Requirements: Compliance with 2 CFR 200.305(b) regarding timely fund disbursement and cash management procedures.
  • Recommended Follow-up: Strengthen cash management procedures and internal controls to ensure timely disbursement of funds.

Finding Text

Finding No. 2023–001 - CASH MANAGEMENT Name of Federal Agency U.S. Department of Education Pass-through the Puerto Rico Department of Education Federal Programs Charter Schools Assistance Listing Numbers 84.282 Category Significant Deficiency Compliance / Internal control Compliance Requirements Cash Management Criteria According to the 2 CFR 200.305(b) For recipients and subrecipients other than States, payment methods must minimize the time elapsing between the transfer of funds from the Federal agency or the passthrough entity and the disbursement of funds by the recipient or subrecipient regardless of whether the payment is made by electronic funds transfer or by other means. According to the 2 CFR 200.305(b) (2)The recipient or subrecipient must be paid in advance, provided it maintains or demonstrates the willingness to maintain both written procedures that minimize the time elapsing between the transfer of funds and disbursement by the recipient or subrecipient, and financial management systems that meet the standards for fund control and accountability as established in this part. Advance payments to a recipient or subrecipient must be limited to the minimum amounts needed and be timed with actual, immediate cash requirements of the recipient or subrecipient in carrying out the purpose of the approved program or project. The timing and amount of advance payments must be as close as is administratively feasible to the actual disbursements by the recipient or subrecipient for direct program or project costs and the proportionate share of any allowable indirect costs. The recipient or subrecipient must make timely payments to contractors in accordance with the contract provisions. Condition During our audit procedures, we found the following instances on which the Institution did not disbursed funds in an expedite matter: Fund Sample Selected Instances Average of Days Late 84.282 11 Two (2) 10 to 15 days Cause The delay in disbursements responds to several situations: remote work, lack of banking or information from suppliers, multiplicity of tasks under the responsibility of the CFO, which affected the dates of sending the payments. Effect As a result of this condition, the U.S. Department of Education and /or Puerto Rico Department of Education may issue warnings and/or impose penalties to the Institution.-34- Questioned Cost None Recommendation The management of the Institution should reinforce its cash management procedures and internal controls to ensure the disbursement of funds in the required time frame. Views of Responsible Officials of the Auditee The management of the Institution agrees with this finding. Responsible Person Yusein Duarakov Business Administration

Corrective Action Plan

For recipients and subrecipients other than States, payment methods must minimize the time elapsing between the transfer of funds from the Federal agency or the pass-through entity and the disbursement of funds by the recipient or subrecipient regardless of whether the payment is made by electronic funds transfer or by other means. See § 200.302(b)(6). Except as noted in this part, the Federal agency must require recipients to use only OMB approved, government-wide information collections to request payment. The management of the Instuitution should reinforce its cash management procedures and internal controls to ensure the disbursement of funds in the required tme frame. Advance payment requests are done under the advance method to cover anticipated cash needs. The Federal drawdowns are requested by the Finance Office on a monthly basis and Drawdowns are based on budget forecasting and subrecipient encumbrances. All procedures for drawdowns were handled most efficiently and with proper accounting standards. However, there are instances that took more than five days to make the payments to some vendors because of invoices being received late, missing information, management resolved the issues with the vendors but the time it takes is longer than the five days. The finance department now is monitoring the upcoming expenditures and making the reimbursement request closely to the date of payments due to the vendors. Yusein Durakov (CFO) Brenda Ortiz (Business Specialist) Procedures have been implemented

Categories

Cash Management Subrecipient Monitoring Significant Deficiency

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 570640 2023-002
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 570641 2023-002
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 1147081 2023-001
    Significant Deficiency
  • 1147082 2023-002
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 1147083 2023-002
    Significant Deficiency Repeat

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
84.425 Education Stabilization Fund $1.11M
84.282 Charter Schools $853,284
10.559 Summer Food Service Program for Children $646,670
66.818 Brownfields Multipurpose, Assessment, Revolving Loan Fund, and Cleanup Cooperative Agreements $12,730