5: Establish Property Audit Objectives

PURPOSE:

Help ensure successful audit results by establishing what must be accomplished to conclude the audit. This includes appropriate, unbiased criteria for identifying defects in the property management system and justification for the auditing methods.

DETAILED GUIDANCE AND POLICY:

• How audit objectives are used in reporting: Government Auditing Standards (The Yellow Book), sections 7.09 through 7.13, “Objectives, Scope, and Methodology”
• Types of audit objectives for internal controls and compliance: Government Auditing Standards (The Yellow Book), 2.10(b) and (c), “Performance Audits”
• Explanation of how to set unbiased audit objectives
• List of processes FAR 52.245-1[f]

OVERVIEW OF GOVERNMENT TASKS:

0. Research audit standards (see ASTM or other consensus standards)
0. Cite references to procedures and standards for each applicable process
0. Establish acceptability/rejection parameter for each objective using the appropriate confidence level
0. Assign a level of significance based on risk if findings reveal a deficiency
0. Write audit objective clearly. For example, “A receiving inspection is documented within 3 days of receipt.”

Disclaimer: The information contained in this resource should not be construed as official guidance. This job aid is a work in progress. Please submit suggestions to GovProperty@DAU.mil for how this tool can better support your performance.