Finding 952275 (2021-003)

Material Weakness
Requirement
A
Questioned Costs
$1
Year
2021
Accepted
2024-03-13

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: The Chamber billed the Department of Commerce for grant expenses that were not properly supported by accounting records, leading to potential overbilling.
  • Impacted Requirements: The Chamber failed to perform necessary reconciliations between grant expenses and revenues, violating 2 CFR 200.400 regarding proper documentation and cost allocation.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Implement a system to ensure all grant-related expenses are accurately recorded and reconciled with billed amounts to prevent future discrepancies.

Finding Text

Finding 2021-003: Material Weakness and Questioned Cost – Grant Claim Support Federal grantor: Department of Commerce Condition: The Chamber’s expenditure detail for the grant funded projects do not support the amounts billed to the Department of Commerce. The amounts billed were more than the general ledger detail supported. Criteria: A reconciliation of grant project expenses to the grant revenue billed should be performed. The supporting documentation of any reconciling items should be maintained with the grant bills. Also, 2 CFR 200.400 states that accounting practices of the entity be consistent with cost principals required under the CFR and support the accumulation of costs and provide adequate documentation to support costs charged to the Federal award. Cause: The Chamber billed costs to the grant that were not allocated in the accounting system to that grant and a reconciliation was not performed comparing the grant billings to the expense detail. Effect: The expenses billed to the grant may not be correct. Our reconciliation of these expenses disclosed an overbilling to the grant of approximately $2,500. Recommendation: The Chamber needs to ensure that expenses to be reimbursed by federal grant funds are recorded in the class code in the accounting system for that grant so that federal grant revenue in the accounting system match the expenses allocated to that grant. The Chamber needs to include in their year-end reconciliations a comparison of grant revenue and expense and ensure they match or can be reconciled. Management’s Response: Management’s response to the finding is discussed in the Corrective Action Plan.

Categories

Questioned Costs Allowable Costs / Cost Principles Material Weakness

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 375831 2021-001
    Material Weakness
  • 375832 2021-002
    Material Weakness
  • 375833 2021-003
    Material Weakness
  • 375834 2021-004
    Significant Deficiency
  • 952273 2021-001
    Material Weakness
  • 952274 2021-002
    Material Weakness
  • 952276 2021-004
    Significant Deficiency

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
11.802 Minority Business Resource Development $352,881
20.910 Assistance to Small and Disadvantaged Businesses $133,758
11.805 Mbda Business Center $107,993