Design and test internal controls for grants, aligning GAO Green Book/COSO with real operations and monitoring. An ideal course for professionals who manage, oversee, or support federal assistance programs.
Overview
Syllabus
Module 1: Understanding Internal Control in the Grants Environment
- Define internal control components and objectives.
- Connect GAO Green Book/COSO concepts to grants operations.
- Identify typical control activities across the lifecycle.
Module 2: Legal Requirements for Internal Control
- Explain statutory/administrative expectations for controls.
- Align policy to risk, compliance, and performance objectives.
- Translate requirements into agency/recipient procedures.
Module 3: Grants Management and Internal Control
- Design controls for procurement, payments, and reporting.
- Embed preventative and detective controls in processes.
- Document controls and responsibilities.
Module 4: Relationship Between Risk and Internal Controls
- Define risk criteria and appetite in the grants context.
- Use risk assessment to prioritize control activities.
- Monitor and adapt controls based on results.
Module 5: GAO Greenbook
- Link Green Book principles to grant management by ensuring control activities align with compliance requirements, allowable costs, and program objectives.
- Apply risk assessment to identify vulnerabilities in grant spending, reporting, and subrecipient monitoring.
- Document and monitor control activities (e.g., approvals, reconciliations, and segregation of duties) to strengthen accountability for grant funds.
- Use ongoing evaluation and corrective actions to address internal control deficiencies and demonstrate compliance with federal standards.
Taught by
Alan McCain and Brian Simms
