Finding 613210 (2022-004)

Material Weakness Repeat Finding
Requirement
BEN
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2022
Accepted
2023-01-04

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: The Authority has a significant internal control weakness due to having only one employee, leading to a lack of segregation of duties.
  • Impacted Requirements: This situation increases the risk of material noncompliance with Section 202 Capital Advance program requirements.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: The Board should evaluate the cost-benefit of potential solutions, recognizing that additional staff may not be financially feasible.

Finding Text

Finding 2022-004: Internal Control Structure Section 202 Capital Advance, 14.157 Material Weakness - Allowable Costs, Eligibility, Special Tests and Provisions Repeat Finding ? Finding 2021-002 Criteria: The Authority is responsible for establishing an effective internal control process to ensure the Authority complies with the requirements governing the Section 202 Capital Advance program. Condition: The Authority only had one employee which makes it difficult for the Authority to have controls beyond the Authority Manager?s knowledge. As a result, we noted the Authority had a lack of segregation of duties related to all applicable compliance requirements. Cause: The Authority has limited resources and one staff. Effect or Potential Effect: The control deficiencies are deficiencies that result in more than a reasonable possibility that material noncompliance with program requirements could occur and not be prevented or detected. Recommendation: As noted above, the Authority has limited resources and additional controls are not financially feasible in the hiring of additional staff. In addition, the Board of Commissioners is considered a governing Board and the Board performing management or day-to-day activities is not recommended based on our previous experience and is not intended to be a solution to this situation. The Authority is a small entity and the lack of segregation of duties is common among entities with minimal employees and should be recognized as such. However, it is not our intent to establish internal controls as the Authority?s Board should make the final determination in the cost versus benefit. View of the Responsible Officials of the Auditee: The auditee?s management agrees with the finding but can not reasonably adopt internal control procedures to correct the material weakness.

Categories

Internal Control / Segregation of Duties Special Tests & Provisions Allowable Costs / Cost Principles Eligibility Material Weakness

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 36768 2022-004
    Material Weakness Repeat

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
14.157 Supportive Housing for the Elderly $635,688
10.415 Rural Rental Housing Loans $199,299
10.447 The Rural Development (rd) Multi-Family Housing Revitalization Demonstration Program (mpr) $63,571
14.872 Public Housing Capital Fund $61,673
14.850 Public and Indian Housing $39,203
10.427 Rural Rental Assistance Payments $37,690