Finding 571480 (2023-001)

Type of Finding: Material Weakness in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting Criteria: The board of directors and management share the ultimate responsibility for the Organization’s internal control system. While it is acceptable to outsource various accounting functions, the responsibility for internal control cannot be outsourced. The Organization engages auditors to assist in preparing its financial statements and accompanying disclosures. However, as independent auditors, Lethert, Skwira, Schultz & Co., cannot be considered part of the Organization’s internal control system. As part of its internal control over the preparation of its financial statements, including disclosures, the Organization has implemented a comprehensive review procedure to ensure that the financial statements, including disclosures, are complete and accurate. Such review procedures should be performed by an individual possessing a thorough understanding of accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America and knowledge of the Organization’s activities and operations. The Organization’s personnel have not monitored recent accounting developments to the extent necessary to enable them to prepare the Organization’s financial statements and related disclosures, to provide a high level of assurance that potential omissions or other errors that are material would be identified and corrected on a timely basis. Condition: A properly designed system of internal control over financial reporting includes the preparation of an organization’s financial statements and accompanying notes to the financial statements by internal personnel of the Organization. Management is responsible for establishing and maintaining internal control over financial reporting and procedures related to the fair presentation of the financial statements in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). Cause: The Organization has not adopted a policy over the annual financial reporting under GAAP; however, they have reviewed and approved the annual financial statements as prepared by the audit firm. Effect: The effect of this condition is that the year-end financial reporting is prepared by a party outside of the Organization. The outside party does not have the constant contact with ongoing financial transactions that internal staff have. Furthermore, it is possible that new standards may not be adopted and applied timely to the interim financial reporting. It is the responsibility of the Organization’s management and those charged with governance to make the decision whether to accept the degree of risk associated with this condition because of cost or other considerations. Recommendation: We recommend that management continue reviewing operating procedures in order to obtain the maximum internal control over financial reporting possible under the circumstances to enable staff to draft the financial statements internally. Managements Response: Management will continue to allow the audit firm to create the draft financial statements and related footnote disclosures, and will review and approve these prior to the issuance of the annual financial statements.