Finding 8696 (2023-002)

Significant Deficiency
Requirement
L
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2023
Accepted
2024-01-16
Audit: 11836
Organization: Nebraska Enterprise Fund (NE)

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: The organization failed to submit the 2022 audited financial statements to the SBA within the required 180 days and lacked proof of timely first quarter reports for the Microloan program.
  • Impacted Requirements: Timely submission of various reports on the SBA microloan program and technical assistance grant is mandatory during the reporting period.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Implement improved year-end closing procedures and a data retention policy to ensure timely submissions and maintain proof of reports sent via email.

Finding Text

59.046 MICROLOANS AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE GRANT Condition: The organization was unable to submit the 2022 audited financial statements to the SBA within the required 180-day reporting period. Additionally, proof of timely submission of first quarter quarterly reports for the Microloan program was not available. Criteria: During the reporting period the organization is required to submit various reports on the status of the SBA microloan program and technical assistance grant within a specified timeframe after each reporting period ends. Cause: Due to delays in the completion of the June 30, 2022, financial statement audit, audited financial statements were not able to be sent to the SBA within 180 days after year end. Additionally, proof of timely submission of the first quarter quarterly reports for the Microloan program was not retained. Effect: Audited financial statements were not submitted timely and it was not possible to verify the timely submission of the first quarter quarterly reports. Recommendation: To ensure timely preparation of the audited financial statements for submission we recommend the Organization to implement additional yearend closing procedures and review of required GAAP adjustments prior to the audit. We also recommend the organization implement a data retention policy to retain copies of report submissions for reports submitted via email. Response: Management will review its year-end accounting and internal control procedures and implement improvements where practical.

Corrective Action Plan

To Whom it May Concern, NEF has reviewed the identified weaknesses and has made appropriate corrections in its financials to ensure that its positions are accurately reflected. To rectify these identified weaknesses, NEF will implement appropriate corrective steps to improve. The following action plan is identified: NEF will implement additional year-end closing procedures and review of GAAP adjustments to include a management review of year-end accounting and internal control procedures. This will allow for practical improvemeents and timely submission of Audited Financial Statements. Immediate actions include: • Adjust Journal Entries to ensure assets, depreciation, previous legal expenses, grants receivable, sources of funds, timing of grant awards, Loan provisioning, and payables are properly reflected in adjustments. • Reclassify Journal Entries to reclassify current maturities of longterm obligatons, office expenses, net assets with donor restrictions. We will reclassify journal entries to our year end closing procedures to ensure proper reflection of these categories. Additional actions steps include: • Confirmation of all PY adjustments are entered upon completion of final audit by January 2024. • Our procedures will be reviewed and executed to include all transactions in appropriate accounts to accurately reflect incomes, expenses, assets and liabilities in monthly financial reporting to be reviewed by management monthly. Any adjustments will be reviewed at periodically. • In addition to monthly management review, quarterly finance committee review and annual review will take place. This will ensure these items are included, and additional adjustments will not need to be made in order to present the financial statements in accordance with accounting principles, generally accepted in the United States of America. • Prepare end of quarter and semi-annual proposed adjustments and reclassifications for confirmation. • Quarterly meeting with NEF’s contracted accounting specialist to review areas for improvement and enhancements of efficiency. • Institute a plan to document the retention of quarterly reports. Party Responsible for Implementation: Jane Olson, Program Manager Implementation Start date: January 1, 2024 Signed: James A. Reiff Executive Director

Categories

Reporting Matching / Level of Effort / Earmarking Internal Control / Segregation of Duties

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 8697 2023-002
    Significant Deficiency
  • 585138 2023-002
    Significant Deficiency
  • 585139 2023-002
    Significant Deficiency

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
21.020 Community Development Financial Institutions Program $861,214
59.046 Microloan Program $424,318
10.870 Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance Program $135,736
59.050 Prime Technical Assistance $60,190
59.044 Veterans Outreach Program $19,538
11.307 Economic Adjustment Assistance $13,190