Rethinking Single Audit Findings

Federal agencies rely on single audit reports to obtain critical information about nonfederal entities’ internal control over compliance and compliance with applicable federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of federal awards.

Feedback from federal agencies has identified opportunities to improve the development and reporting of single audit findings and to promote greater consistency in practice.

Variability in the format, level of detail, and clarity of findings can make it challenging for federal agencies to evaluate the significance, scope, and potential impact of reported matters.

This Governmental Audit Quality Center (GAQC) webcast will examine best practices for improving the clarity, consistency, and overall effectiveness of single audit findings. Presenters will discuss how to develop findings that are informative, well-structured, and responsive to the needs of federal agencies while remaining compliant with Uniform Guidance and applicable auditing standards.

Through practical examples and real-world insights, participants will learn techniques for clearly articulating the elements of a finding, including the condition, criteria, cause, effect, and recommendations, as well as providing appropriate context regarding the related compliance requirement or internal control.

Topics to be covered include:

• How federal agencies use information reported in single audit findings
• Common challenges federal agencies encounter when evaluating audit findings
• Uniform Guidance and auditing standards requirements related to finding development and reporting
• Best practices for drafting clear, concise, and complete finding elements, including criteria, condition, cause, effect, and recommendations
• Examples illustrating effective and ineffective finding language
• Common reporting pitfalls and strategies for avoiding them
• Enhancing the usefulness of findings for federal agencies and other stakeholders through clear and actionable reporting

Key Topics

Single audits, Government Auditing Standards, Yellow Book, Uniform Guidance compliance audit, Uniform Guidance

Learning Outcomes

• Identify key considerations and requirements for single audit findings.
• Recognize common challenges federal agencies encounter when evaluating audit findings.
• Apply best practices for drafting clear, concise, and complete finding elements.
• Recognize common reporting pitfalls.
• Apply strategies for avoiding common reporting pitfalls.

Who Will Benefit

Auditors performing single audits