1. California Department of Food and Agriculture
CDFA Audit Process of CAC’s contracts
Presented By:
Alicia Lauron, CPA
Jason Jones, Staff Auditor

2. Audit Process Engagement letter Planning Fieldwork Preliminary report
Response from CAC (Recipient), if applicable
Final report

3. Preparing for the Audit
You will receive an engagement letter that includes a request for accounting records and supporting documents such as:
General ledgers / Object Expenditure Report
Organization chart / flowchart
Contract /agreement files and billing records
Payroll information
Operating expenses documentation
Travel, indirect cost rates and certifications, expense allocation worksheets
Contract agreements, if applicable

4. Audit Objectives Ensure the CAC / Recipient is in compliance with:
Terms and conditions of the contract / agreement
Appropriate state and federal requirements and guidelines
Determine whether the billings are supported by the accounting records and submitted in compliance with all applicable requirements and guidelines

5. Purpose of Audit
The CDFA is accountable for monitoring recipients & sub- recipients of Federal Awards entered into with CDFA.
Our audit is based upon selective testing of your accounting records and related data. Since we will not examine all transactions, there is a risk that we may not detect all errors and irregularities, whether material or not.

6. Cost Principles Applicability
We will perform our audit in compliance with cost principles applicable to state and local governments, Title 2 in the Code of Federal Regulations, Part 225 (2 CFR 225), and the grants management common rule, Title 7 in the Code of Federal Regulations, Part 3016.
Federal 2 CFR 225 can be found at the following website:

7. Allowable Costs
An allowable cost is one that meets both the criteria for authorized expenditures specified in the cost principles in 2 CFR 225 and / or the contract / agreement.
Note: The contract / agreement can be more restrictive than the CFR.

8. Criteria: Allowability of Costs
Cost charged to an award must be:
Necessary and reasonable for proper and efficient performance and administration of Federal Awards
Allocable to Federal Awards under the provisions of 2 CFR 225
Treated consistently as a direct or indirect cost
Adequately documented
Net of applicable credits
Determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), except as otherwise stipulated in the applicable cost principles.

9. Criteria: continued
Not included as cost or used to meet the cost-sharing or matching requirements of another federal award, unless specifically permitted by federal law or regulations.
Authorized or not prohibited under state or local laws and regulations.
In conformance with limits or exclusions on types or amounts of costs, as set forth in the applicable cost principles, federal laws, award terms & conditions, or other governing regulations.
Consistent with the recipient’s policies, regulations, and procedures that apply to both federal awards & other activities of the recipient.

10. Composition of Cost
Direct Costs – those that can be identified specifically with a particular final cost objective.
Indirect Costs – those incurred for a common or joint purpose benefiting more than one cost objective, and not readily assignable to the cost objectives specifically benefitted, without effort disproportionate to the results achieved.

11. Personnel Costs
Compensation for personal services paid currently or accrued, for services rendered during the period of performance under Federal awards includes wages, salaries, and fringe benefits.
Charges to Federal Awards for salaries and wages, whether treated as direct or indirect costs, will be based on payrolls documented in accordance with generally accepted practice of the governmental unit and approved by a responsible official(s) of the governmental unit.

12. Personnel Cost Documentation
Where employees work solely on a single Federal Award or cost objective, charges for their salaries & wages will be supported by periodic certification at least prepared semi-annually and will be signed by the employee or supervisory official having first hand knowledge of the work performed by the employee.
Where employees work on multiple activities or cost objectives, a distribution of their salaries or wages will be supported by personnel activity reports or equivalent documentation which meets the standard discuss on the next slide.

13. Standards: Personnel Activity Reports
Must reflect an after-the-fact distribution of the actual activity of each employee.
Must account for the total activity for which each employee is compensated
Must be prepared at least monthly and must coincide with one or more pay periods
Must be signed by the employee
Budget estimates or other distribution percentages determined before the services are performed do not qualify as support for charges to Federal Awards.

14. Sample: Personnel Activity Report

15. Sample: Payroll Register Report

16. Mileage Reimbursement
Cost claimed needs to be adequately documented, and necessary for the performance of the contract.
Transportation costs may be charged on an actual cost basis or mileage basis in lieu of actual costs incurred.
Mileage reimbursement covers gasoline, the cost of maintenance, insurance, licensing, registration, depreciation, and all other costs associated with the operation of the vehicle.
Federal mileage rate can be found at the following website:

17. Sample: Vehicle Mileage Logs

18. Vehicle Mileage Log Form

19. Additional Information
Federal 2 CFR 225 website: vol1/pdf/CFR-2012-title2-vol1-part225.pdf
Federal mileage rate website:
SCO mandated cost program for local agencies website:
CDFA Audit Office
Main: (916)
Fax: (916)

20. Questions and Answers