Finding Text
Criteria: Management is responsible for providing timely and accurate financial information. Since the Center has expended over $750,000 of expenditures in federal awards, Title 2 U.S. Code of Federal Regulations Part 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Award (Uniform Guidance), states the Center is required to submit the Data Collection Form and the reporting package to the Federal Audit Clearinghouse, which include the Financial Statements of the Center, within the earlier of 30 days after receipt of auditors? report, or nine months after the end of the audit period. Condition: The Center has experienced significant delays in the preparation and issuance of the year ended June 30, 2022 financial statements and its Single Audit required under Uniform Guidance. Cause: Due to changes in accounting staff and the impact of a significant unforeseen workload, the Finance Department had difficulty handling the day-to-day operations and perform year-end closing procedures and the required external reporting functions simultaneously in order to provide timely financial statements. Effect: Delays in processing year-end closing procedures caused the financial statements release to be delayed. In addition, the Center is neither in compliance with Uniform Guidance nor is it meeting its current demands for external financial reporting. Questioned Costs: None. Identification as a Repeat Finding, if Applicable: Not applicable. Recommendation: Finance Department should look at increasing the amount of experienced staff to help facilitate the year-end closing processes and the preparation of basic financial statements. Because the financial statements are the responsibility of the Center, it is in its own best interest to closely monitor the accounting process to ensure that financial position and operating results are accurately and timely reported. The following steps could be used to avoid future delays: ? Assign additional qualified accounting personnel to help process complex transactions; ? Identify crucial due dates and develop a listing of assignments, including department coordinated items, based on available resources to meet those due dates; ? Hold periodic meetings to monitor the progress of assignments and responsibilities