Auditors, particularly auditors conducting governmental audits, frequently have poor relationships with the entities they are auditing. In some ways, this is predictable because government auditors aren’t usually hired by the entity under audit. Instead, the auditor gets to choose who gets audited, and the auditee rarely appreciates being selected.

Wouldn’t it be great if the auditor could have friendly and productive conversations with the auditee starting with the entrance conference? When the auditor says the classic auditor line, “We’re here to help,” wouldn’t it be amazing to hear back from the auditee, “And we’re happy to have you”? That can happen if the auditor nurtures the auditor and auditee relationship. 

After applying the techniques for improving the auditor and auditee relationship covered in this short course, the auditee will be more apt to welcome you and courteously give you what you need to get your work done, making the whole audit experience much more enjoyable for everyone involved.

The Generally Accepted Governmental Auditing Standards, also known as the Yellow Book, provides a comprehensive framework for conducting governmental audits with a focus on high quality, integrity, competence, independence, and objectivity. The Yellow Book is used by auditors of government organizations, entities that receive government awards, and any other audit organization performing Yellow Book audits. The Yellow Book outlines all requirements for governmental audit reports, professional qualifications for auditors, and audit organization quality control.

This course will describe when the Yellow Book standards must be applied. This course will identify the types of auditors and audit organizations that may employ GAGAS to conduct their work. This course will identify the categories of requirements that GAGAS uses to describe the degree of responsibility imposed on auditors and audit organizations. This course will identify the ethical principles that guide the work of auditors who conduct engagements in accordance with GAGAS. This course will identify the individuals that have a role on an audit engagement. This course will Recognize the methods for selecting individuals of integrity who have the capacity to develop the competence and capabilities necessary to perform the audit organization’s work competently. This course will identify the requirements for auditor communication. This course will identify the three levels of service as identified by the AICPA. This course will identify the general planning requirements for an audit that must comply with all of the applicable requirements for a review of financial statements conducted in accordance with GAGAS. Finally, this course will describe what must be included and what must be excluded from an audit report.

In this course, two retired Federal Regional Inspectors General will explain what government auditors expect to see when they read an audit finding in a governmental audit, including Single Audits.  In governmental audits, a finding is a construct with components that have been in place for over 50 years.  As a result, government auditors expect all findings to have all the components that the Yellow Book calls for.  Issuing a Single Audit with deficient findings can harm a CPA’s finances and his or her reputation.

If you administer government grants, you should also know what a finding should contain in order to properly review findings that CPAs prepare when auditing your organization.

Auditors, particularly auditors conducting governmental audits, frequently have poor relationships with the entities they are auditing. In some ways, this is predictable because government auditors aren’t usually hired by the entity under audit. Instead, the auditor gets to choose who gets audited, and the auditee rarely appreciates being selected.

Wouldn’t it be great if the auditor could have friendly and productive conversations with the auditee starting with the entrance conference? When the auditor says the classic auditor line, “We’re here to help,” wouldn’t it be amazing to hear back from the auditee, “And we’re happy to have you”? That can happen if the auditor nurtures the auditor and auditee relationship. 

After applying the techniques for improving the auditor and auditee relationship covered in this short course, the auditee will be more apt to welcome you and courteously give you what you need to get your work done, making the whole audit experience much more enjoyable for everyone involved.

The Generally Accepted Governmental Auditing Standards, also known as the Yellow Book, provides a comprehensive framework for conducting governmental audits with a focus on high quality, integrity, competence, independence, and objectivity. The Yellow Book is used by auditors of government organizations, entities that receive government awards, and any other audit organization performing Yellow Book audits. The Yellow Book outlines all requirements for governmental audit reports, professional qualifications for auditors, and audit organization quality control.

This course will describe when the Yellow Book standards must be applied. This course will identify the types of auditors and audit organizations that may employ GAGAS to conduct their work. This course will identify the categories of requirements that GAGAS uses to describe the degree of responsibility imposed on auditors and audit organizations. This course will identify the ethical principles that guide the work of auditors who conduct engagements in accordance with GAGAS. This course will identify the individuals that have a role on an audit engagement. This course will Recognize the methods for selecting individuals of integrity who have the capacity to develop the competence and capabilities necessary to perform the audit organization’s work competently. This course will identify the requirements for auditor communication. This course will identify the three levels of service as identified by the AICPA. This course will identify the general planning requirements for an audit that must comply with all of the applicable requirements for a review of financial statements conducted in accordance with GAGAS. Finally, this course will describe what must be included and what must be excluded from an audit report.

In this course, two retired Federal Regional Inspectors General will explain what government auditors expect to see when they read an audit finding in a governmental audit, including Single Audits.  In governmental audits, a finding is a construct with components that have been in place for over 50 years.  As a result, government auditors expect all findings to have all the components that the Yellow Book calls for.  Issuing a Single Audit with deficient findings can harm a CPA’s finances and his or her reputation.

If you administer government grants, you should also know what a finding should contain in order to properly review findings that CPAs prepare when auditing your organization.