Finding 583273 (2023-001)

Material Weakness
Requirement
P
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2023
Accepted
2023-12-28
Audit: 8763
Organization: Minnesota Land Trust (MN)

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: Management failed to provide a complete list of federal expenditures at the start of the audit, risking inaccuracies in the Schedule of Expenditures of Federal Awards (SEFA).
  • Impacted Requirements: Compliance with 2 CFR 200.510(b) and 2 CFR 200.502 is compromised due to inadequate internal controls over the identification of federal awards.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Implement stronger internal controls and a review process within the Finance Department to ensure all federal expenditures are accurately captured and verified before audits.

Finding Text

Internal Controls over Compliance and Other Matters Identification of Federal Funds for Purposes of Assembling the Schedule of Expenditures of Federal Awards (SEFA) – Other ALL FEDERAL PROGRAMS IDENTIFIED ON THE SEFA Criteria: Per 2 CFR 200.510(b) Schedule of expenditures of Federal awards (SEFA), “the auditee must prepare a schedule of expenditures of Federal awards for the period covered by the auditee's financial statements which must include the total Federal awards expended as determined in accordance with 2 CFR 200.502, Basis for determining Federal awards expended. While the auditor is able to assist with SEFA preparation, management remains responsible for identifying all federal expenditures to enable the preparation of a complete and accurate SEFA. Condition: Management was unable to provide a complete listing of federal expenditures at the start of audit fieldwork. Cause: Internal controls were not in place to require a final review of the listing of federal expenditures by the Director of Finance prior to audit fieldwork when the listing was prepared by another staff person. Questioned Costs: None. Effect: By not having proper controls over SEFA preparation at the beginning of the audit, there is a risk that the SEFA will not reflect all the federal awards subject to the Uniform Guidance, which could lead to an incorrect major program determination and a substandard single audit. Context: We requested that the Organization provide a list of all federal expenditures at the start of audit fieldwork. During the audit, we detected federal expenditures that were not identified by the Organization as federal. Additionally, the Organization identified federal expenditures during their review of the draft financial statements, which were previously not identified as federal. identified as federal. Identification of Repeat Finding: Not a repeat finding. Recommendation: We recommend that Minnesota Land Trust implement internal controls to ensure there is an adequate communication and review process in place to capture all federal awards expended at the correct amounts in accordance with the criteria above. Views of Responsible Officials and Corrective Action Plan: The Minnesota Land Trust has internal controls to ensure that federal expenditures are accurately identified and reviewed. We will add additional internal controls to ensure a complete listing of federal expenditures is easy to provide and that the listing is reviewed by the Finance Department prior to audit fieldwork.

Categories

Reporting

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 6827 2023-001
    Material Weakness
  • 6828 2023-001
    Material Weakness
  • 6829 2023-001
    Material Weakness
  • 6830 2023-001
    Material Weakness
  • 6831 2023-001
    Material Weakness
  • 6832 2023-001
    Material Weakness
  • 6833 2023-001
    Material Weakness
  • 6834 2023-001
    Material Weakness
  • 6835 2023-001
    Material Weakness
  • 6836 2023-001
    Material Weakness
  • 6837 2023-001
    Material Weakness
  • 6838 2023-002
    Significant Deficiency
  • 6839 2023-002
    Significant Deficiency
  • 6840 2023-002
    Significant Deficiency
  • 6841 2023-002
    Significant Deficiency
  • 583269 2023-001
    Material Weakness
  • 583270 2023-001
    Material Weakness
  • 583271 2023-001
    Material Weakness
  • 583272 2023-001
    Material Weakness
  • 583274 2023-001
    Material Weakness
  • 583275 2023-001
    Material Weakness
  • 583276 2023-001
    Material Weakness
  • 583277 2023-001
    Material Weakness
  • 583278 2023-001
    Material Weakness
  • 583279 2023-001
    Material Weakness
  • 583280 2023-002
    Significant Deficiency
  • 583281 2023-002
    Significant Deficiency
  • 583282 2023-002
    Significant Deficiency
  • 583283 2023-002
    Significant Deficiency

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
10.664 Cooperative Forestry Assistance $115,108
15.658 Natural Resource Damage Assessment and Restoration $88,682
15.630 Coastal $64,183
66.469 Geographic Programs - Great Lakes Restoration Initiative $15,440
15.608 Fish and Wildlife Management Assistance $14,137
11.419 Coastal Zone Management Administration Awards $4,871
15.662 Great Lakes Restoration $1,216