The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Office of Inspector General, audited HUD's Office of Single Family Housing (Single Family) due to concerns over the expected increase in Federal Housing Administration (FHA)-insured loans generated by newly implemented and proposed FHA programs. The objective of our audit was to determine whether Single Family had implemented an internal control structure in accordance with Government Accountability Office (GAO) internal control standards and HUD requirements.
We concluded that Single Family had not fully implemented an internal control structure in accordance with GAO internal control standards and HUD requirements. Specifically, it did not (1) perform a formal, systematic annual risk assessment of its programs and administrative functions, (2) plan and conduct ongoing management control reviews or alternative management control reviews of its programs, (3) establish an overall strategy regarding its risk-based monitoring of program activities and participants, or (4) identify corrective actions required to improve its management controls in a timely manner.
We recommended that HUD ensure that Single Family managers and staff fully implement an acceptable internal control structure by preparing and implementing effective written policies and procedures that comply with the GAO internal control standards and HUD Handbook 1840.1 requirements.