Peer Review
State audit organizations may follow professional standards in order to ensure that audits are conducted with excellence, competence, integrity, objectivity and independence. Government Auditing Standards are set by the United States Government Accountability Office for financial statement audits, audits of federal awards, performance audits, and other attestation engagements.
A peer review holds audit organizations accountable to the professional standards they cite in their reports. Professional standards require a peer review at least once every three years.
For over 3 decades, the National State Auditor’s Association peer review program has provided robust, independent, and nonpartisan reviews for state audit organizations. The NSAA peer review program is specifically named as a recognized organization in Government Auditing Standards, which demonstrates that the program meets professional standards for peer reviews.
NSAA's peer reviews are conducted by a team of technical experts that are independently identified and assigned by NSAA from other state audit organizations. Each peer review is designed to have a sufficient scope and procedures to conclude on whether the state audit organization is performing and reporting audits in conformity with professional standards. Procedures include:
- Survey of all audit staff.
- Review of quality control monitoring documentation and results.
- Review of audit staff qualifications and compliance with continuing professional education requirements.
- Review of audit staff and organizational independence documentation and compliance.
- Review of selected audit policies and procedures.
- Comprehensive, on-site review of selected audits.
- In-person observation and discussions.
The latest peer review report for each state audit organization can be found on their website.