Finding 624302 (2022-001)

Material Weakness Repeat Finding
Requirement
P
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2022
Accepted
2022-11-27
Audit: 51188
Organization: Mitchell Public Schools (NE)

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: Accounting and financial duties are not properly segregated, increasing the risk of fraud.
  • Impacted Requirements: Segregation of duties is essential to minimize fraud risk; current practices fall short.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Management should remain vigilant about potential errors and fraud, continue monitoring practices, and explore additional controls as needed.

Finding Text

Criteria: Accounting and financial duties should be segregated to reduce I the ability of individuals to both commit and conceal instances of fraud to a low level. Condition and Context: Accounting and financial duties are not sufficiently segregated to reduce the risk of fraud to an acceptable low level. Questioned Costs: None Cause: The District has a limited number of personnel involved in the accounting functions. Potential Effect: Improper segregation of duties could cause misstatements, caused by error or fraud to occur and not be detected. Recommendation: The cost of additional personnel to properly segregate accounting and financial responsibilities would appear to outweigh the benefits received. However, the management and Board of Education should constantly be aware of the possibility that errors or fraud could occur and continue current practices mitigating these possibilities and examine and implement other mitigating controls when appropriate. Views of Responsible Officials and Planned Corrective Action: The District understands the inherent risks associated with inadequate segregation of accounting functions. The District requires monthly reporting to the Board of Education and the District superintendent to ensure transactions are recorded, and potential errors and irregularities are identified on a timely basis. The District has implemented procedures to limit the existence of, and mitigate risks associated with, nonsegregated accounting functions. The District has assessed the benefits and costs associated with additional requirements necessary to ensure proper segregation of duties and has determined that cost would outweigh any benefits received.

Categories

Reporting Internal Control / Segregation of Duties

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 47860 2022-001
    Material Weakness Repeat

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
84.425 Education Stabilization Fund $684,675
84.027 Special Education_grants to States $206,350
84.010 Title I Grants to Local Educational Agencies $176,558
10.553 School Breakfast Program $68,352
32.009 Emergency Connectivity Fund Program $66,492
84.367 Improving Teacher Quality State Grants $65,605
10.555 National School Lunch Program $25,437
84.358 Rural Education $15,099
84.424 Student Support and Academic Enrichment Program $10,642
10.559 Summer Food Service Program for Children $6,250
93.778 Medical Assistance Program $5,513
84.173 Special Education_preschool Grants $1,728