Finding 969934 (2023-006)

Material Weakness
Requirement
L
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2023
Accepted
2024-04-16
Audit: 303684
Organization: City of Elizabeth (NJ)

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: Financial reports submitted do not match the general ledger amounts, indicating a lack of internal controls.
  • Impacted Requirements: Compliance with monthly/quarterly reporting and internal control standards as per Uniform Guidance 2 CFR 200.303 is not being met.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Enhance internal controls to ensure proper reconciliation of reports with the general ledger to achieve compliance.

Finding Text

Criteria: The grantee is required to submit financial reports on a monthly/quarterly basis to the pass-through entities for reimbursement. Reports are to include only amounts that have been incurred and paid. In addition, per the Uniform Guidance 2 CFR 200.303, non federal entities receiving federal awards are required to establish and maintain internal controls designed to provide reasonable assurance of compliance with federal laws, regulations and program compliance requirements. Condition:Amounts reported on the financial reports do not agree to the amounts recorded in the general ledger. Cause:There is a lack of internal control over compliance related to reporting expenditures. Effect:The City is not in compliance with reporting requirements and establishing good internal controls Questioned Costs: None Context/Sampling: During our testing, we looked at all required reports and compared amounts recorded in the general ledger to amounts recorded on the reports. In all instances the amounts did not agree and there was no reconciliation of reports to the general ledger. Prior Year: None Recommendation: We recommend that the City enhance internal controls to ensure reports are reconciled to the general ledger and the City is in compliance with the requirements of the Uniform Guidance. Client Response: The City recognizes the importance of internal controls and plans to enhance procedures to ensure that financial reports include amounts that have been incurred and paid and that they are reconciled to the general ledger in compliance with the requirements of Uniform Guidance. Covid interruptions with related illnesses, early retirements and hiring difficulties all contributed to a negative impact on productivity.

Categories

Cash Management Reporting Internal Control / Segregation of Duties

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 393490 2023-005
    Material Weakness
  • 393491 2023-005
    Material Weakness
  • 393492 2023-006
    Material Weakness
  • 393493 2023-006
    Material Weakness
  • 393494 2023-007
    Significant Deficiency
  • 393495 2023-003
    Material Weakness
  • 393496 2023-004
    Significant Deficiency
  • 969932 2023-005
    Material Weakness
  • 969933 2023-005
    Material Weakness
  • 969935 2023-006
    Material Weakness
  • 969936 2023-007
    Significant Deficiency
  • 969937 2023-003
    Material Weakness
  • 969938 2023-004
    Significant Deficiency

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
97.036 Disaster Grants - Public Assistance (presidentially Declared Disasters) $4.72M
21.027 Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds $1.61M
14.218 Community Development Block Grants/entitlement Grants $1.51M
93.323 Epidemiology and Laboratory Capacity for Infectious Diseases (elc) $835,481
14.241 Housing Opportunities for Persons with Aids $678,104
16.922 Equitable Sharing Program $261,103
14.239 Home Investment Partnerships Program $208,027
10.559 Summer Food Service Program for Children $201,220
93.354 Public Health Emergency Response: Cooperative Agreement for Emergency Response: Public Health Crisis Response $129,600
16.738 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program $108,675
93.268 Immunization Cooperative Agreements $94,991
20.205 Highway Planning and Construction $56,469
97.056 Port Security Grant Program $16,925
93.136 Injury Prevention and Control Research and State and Community Based Programs $5,803
93.421 Strengthening Public Health Systems and Services Through National Partnerships to Improve and Protect the Nation’s Health $779