Finding Text
2024-001: Allowable Costs
Federal Agency: U.S. Department of Education
Federal Program Name: Special Education – Special Olympics Education Programs
Assistance Listing Number: 84.380W
Pass-Through Agency: Special Olympics, Inc.
Pass-Through Numbers: Y-16-24-800-12, Y-16-24-800-13
Award Period: January 1, 2024 – December 31, 2024
Type of Finding:
• Significant Deficiency in Internal Control Over Compliance
• Other Matters
Criteria or Specific Requirement: The Compliance Supplement requires that compensation for personal services be charged to the federal grant based upon approved actual time worked on the program and not based on an allocation or budget (2 CFR 200.430(i)).
Condition: While performing audit procedures, it was noted that in one (1) of the eight (8) payroll expenses tested, wages charged to the grant did not match underlying payroll records.
Questioned Costs: $101
Context: During the process of obtaining an understanding of internal controls and processing of payroll expenditures, we noted an instance where payroll was not charged to the grants based upon approved actual time spent in the program.
Cause: Clerical error in summarizing grant expenditures.
Effect: The Organization has not fully followed compliance attributes with the allowable costs principles set forth by the Compliance Supplement related to salary expenditures charged to a program. Personnel need to reinforce policies and control procedures to ensure salaries charged to a grant are appropriately based on actual approved time worked in a program.
Repeat Finding: No
Recommendation: We recommend that the Organization ensure policies and procedures for reviewing and approving payroll expenditures for grant programs be strengthened to ensure mathematically accuracy.
Views of Responsible Officials: There is no disagreement with the audit finding.