Developing strategies for effective financial monitoring of sub-recipients of icddr,b

Abstract

The study provides an internal analysis and SWOT analysis of Finance Services of icddr,b and develops strategies to overcome the shortcomings focusing on Grants and Compliance Unit of Finance Services. The primary and secondary sources of data are collected mainly from the Finance Department. OMB Circular A-133 Single Audit 2013 conducted by KPMG, Bangladesh identified that icddr,b did not maintain a list of allowable and unallowable expenditures to be charged to each project to provide reasonable assurance that costs of goods and services charged to Federal Awards are allowable and in accordance with OMB Circular A-122. The audit also identified that icddr,b did not have official policies and procedures for sub-recipient monitoring. The OMB A-133 audit findings are reported to Federal government and become public record, distributed to all Federal Agencies through a clearing house. Federal and Non-Federal sponsors look at A-133 as a ‘report card’ of how icddr,b spend their money. Therefore, there is a possibility of risk to loss or shrinkage of federal and non-federal funds due to non-compliance and break of trust on icddr,b. In addition, the reputation of icddr,b would be threaten because of publishing the shortcomings of internal control of icddr,b. Therefore, the study identifies the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats of Finance Services and develops strategies to offset the weaknesses and threats by utilizing its strengths and opportunities. The report provides a comprehensive list of allowable and unallowable expenditure, a guideline and tools for effective monitoring of sub-recipients for icddr,b. icddr,b needs to adopt these policies and guidelines to strengthen its internal control. It will then strengthen the relationship of trust that exists between the sponsors and icddr,b.