Finding Text
Federal Agency: U.S. Department of Justice
Federal Program Title: Crime Victim Assistance
Federal Assistance Listing Number: 16.575
Pass-Through Agency: Minnesota Office of Justice Programs
Pass-Through Number(s): A-CVS-2022-AMS-157
Award Period: 10/01/2021 to 09/30/2023
Type of Finding:
• Significant Deficiency in Internal Control over Major Federal Programs
Criteria or Specific Requirement: Under 2 CFR section 200.303, a non-federal entity must establish and maintain effective internal controls over the federal awards that provides reasonable assurance that the non-federal entity is managing the federal award in compliance with federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the federal award. These internal controls should be in compliance with guidance in “Standards for Internal Control in the Federal Government” issued by the Comptroller General of the United States or the “Internal Control Integrated Framework”, issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO).
Timely review and approval should be maintained to ensure accurate amounts are being drawn down and accurate reports are submitted.
Condition: The Organization does not have adequate internal controls in place to ensure cash drawdowns and required reports are approved by the appropriate personnel before being submitted.
Questioned Costs: N/A
Context: Three of the twelve reimbursement requests and five of the nine reports selected for testing did not have support retained to show the drawdowns, financial status reports, and other performance reports were reviewed and approved prior to submission.
Cause: Management currently does not have a separate individual assigned to review the cash drawdowns and required reports for the Crime Victim Assistance program after being prepared by the Director of Finance.
Effect: Potential for inaccurate amounts of funds to be requested or inaccurate information reported.
Repeat Finding: This is not a repeat finding.
Recommendation: A separate individual with supervisory authority over the preparer should be assigned to review and approve the cash drawdowns and reports prior to submission.
Views of Responsible Officials and Planned Corrective Actions: The Organization will designate an individual to review and approve the cash drawdowns and reports prior to submission.