Finding 59422 (2022-002)

Significant Deficiency
Requirement
B
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2022
Accepted
2023-03-30

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: Lack of adequate documentation for costs charged to federal programs, making it unclear if expenses were allowable.
  • Impacted Requirements: Compliance with Title 2 U.S. Code of Federal Regulations Part 200, which mandates proper documentation for allowable costs.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Implement stronger internal controls and a formal authorization policy to ensure all disbursements are properly documented.

Finding Text

Finding: 2022-002 ALN and Title: 16.320 ? Services for Trafficking Victims Cluster Name: N/A Federal Agency: U.S Department of Justice FAIN: 2019-VT-BX-K030; 2020-VT-BX-0094 Passthrough Entity: N/A Type of Finding: Significant Deficiency Compliance Requirement: B. Allowable Costs/Cost Principles Criteria: Title 2 U.S. Code of Federal Regulations Part 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards (?Uniform Guidance?) requires that amounts charged to Federal programs must be for allowable costs. To be allowable under Federal awards, costs must be adequately documented and supported. Condition: Supporting documentation could not be provided for costs that were charged to the program to support the allowability of costs. Cause: The Organization had a change in upper-level management during the year under audit and the Organization did not have adequate internal controls to ensure that through transitions, documents were maintained in a central and contained location. Effect: Unable to discern whether the cost charged to the Federal program was allowable, as well as if the subsequent federal payment was either proper or improper as a result of insufficient or lack of documentation. Questioned Costs: N/A Context: A nonstatistical sample was utilized, the federal expenditures reimbursed were compared to total expenditures classified to the grant within the accounting system. Out of 25 transactions tested for this program, adequate supporting documentation could not be provided for 5 transactions. Recommendation: It is recommended that the Organization implement adequate controls to ensure all disbursements have appropriate supporting documentation and follow a formal authorization policy. Management should provide additional resources to monitor compliance with all policies and procedures. Views of Responsible Officials: Management agrees with this recommendation. See auditee prepared corrective action plan for details.

Corrective Action Plan

Name of Contact Person: Kim Small, Chief Executive Officer Corrective Action: Signs of HOPE agrees with the recommendation. Signs of HOPE will implement controls to ensure all disbursements have appropriate supporting documentation. Management will provide additional resources to monitor compliance will all policies and procedures. Completion Date: June 30, 2023

Categories

Allowable Costs / Cost Principles

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 635864 2022-002
    Significant Deficiency

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
16.575 Crime Victim Assistance $1.07M
16.320 Services for Trafficking Victims $427,652
16.017 Sexual Assault Services Formula Program $107,012
93.671 Family Violence Prevention and Services/domestic Violence Shelter and Supportive Services $68,618
93.136 Injury Prevention and Control Research and State and Community Based Programs $27,637
16.609 Project Safe Neighborhoods $7,363
16.588 Violence Against Women Formula Grants $2,973