AUDIT STANDARDS - 20050

(Revised and Renumbered 12/2017)

Various organizations promulgate audit standards for auditors to follow. Standards are designed to enhance the quality and consistency of audits and audit reports. GC 13886.5 specifies that all state agencies that have their own internal auditors or that conduct internal audit activities shall conduct internal audit activity under the general and specified standards of internal auditing prescribed by the Institute of Internal Auditors or the Government Auditing Standards issued by the Comptroller General of the United States, as appropriate. In addition, auditors are required to adhere to other generally accepted audit standards whenever applicable, such as the Generally Accepted Auditing Standards promulgated by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.

INTERNAL AUDIT STANDARDS

The Institute of Internal Auditors promulgates standards for internal auditors in a publication titled International Standards for the Professional Practice of Internal Auditing (Standards) known as the “Red Book.” These standards are principle-focused and provide a framework for performing and promoting internal auditing.

The Standards are mandatory requirements consisting of statements of basic requirements for the professional practice of internal auditing and for evaluating the effectiveness of its performance. Additionally, management must ensure that the internal audit organization is independent of the activities and programs it audits.

GOVERNMENT AUDITING STANDARDS

The Comptroller General of the United States issued the Generally Accepted Government Auditing Standards, known as the “Yellow Book,” to provide a framework for conducting high quality audits with competence, integrity, objectivity, and independence. The Yellow Book is for use by auditors of government agencies, agencies that receive government awards, and other audit organizations performing Yellow Book audits.

GENERALLY ACCEPTED AUDITING STANDARDS

The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants requires adherence to Generally Accepted Auditing Standards (GAAS) for external audits of financial statements as codified in GAAS and in interpretations of those standards. Statements on Standards for Attestation Engagements supplement these standards. Together, these standards provide a general framework and guidelines when performing various audits from an external audit perspective.

QUALITY ASSURANCE REVIEWS

Standards require an external quality assurance review every five years and Yellow Book requires an external peer review every three years. Consistent with GC 13071, Finance may perform quality assurance reviews of the state’s internal audit units to determine their compliance with appropriate audit standards. The reviews result in reports containing an opinion that the internal audit unit fully complies, adequately complies, or does not comply with the required standards.