Finding Text
2024-003 – Significant Deficiency and Noncompliance - Data Collection Form
All Assistance Listing Numbers and Federal Agencies (and pass-through entities) included on the accompanying schedule of federal awards for the year ended September 30, 2024.
Criteria: Uniform Guidance requires that the City’s annual audit package and data collection be submitted to the federal audit clearinghouse within 30 days after receipt of the auditor’s reports or 9 months after the end of the City’s fiscal year, whichever comes first.
Condition: The City’s audit package and data collection form for the year ended September 30, 2024 was not submitted timely to the federal audit clearinghouse.
Cause: The City implemented a new Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system which delayed the completion of the City’s annual audit.
Context: See “Condition” above.
Effect or potential effect: Failure to submit the annual audit package and data collection form to the federal audit clearinghouse in a timely manner could result in a loss of grant funding.
Questioned costs: None.
Identification as a repeat finding, if applicable: Not applicable.
Recommendation: We recommend that the City enhance its internal control policies and procedures to mitigate the risk of future delays. This includes developing contingency plans for major system implementations and ensuring adequate training and resource allocation during such transition periods.
Views of Responsible Officials: Management acknowledges that the City’s audit package and Data Collection Form were not submitted timely to the Federal Audit Clearinghouse within the required timeframe in accordance with Uniform Guidance (2 CFR 200.512). We understand the importance of timely submission in maintaining compliance with federal grant requirements and ensuring continued eligibility for federal funding. The delay was due to new ERP system conversion and staffing shortages. We will re-evaluate our current processes and ensure that all deadlines associated with the Single Audit process are clearly documented and monitored. We will conduct internal reviews after each year-end closing to ensure audit-related deadlines are met and updates will be provided to senior leadership as needed. We will strengthen internal controls and improve communication with our auditors to avoid future delays in submission to the Federal Audit Clearinghouse.