Supporting Performance Audits

The Washington state legislature’s audit staff defines it simply: A performance audit is analysis that answers a question. The audit uses objective analysis to compare the current condition (“what is”) against stated criteria (“what should be”).

Federal Yellow Book standards must be followed while conducting performance audits. These generally accepted government auditing standards issued by the U.S. Accountability Office are also known as GAGAS or Yellow Book standards. These standards apply to both financial and performance audits. The Yellow Book lists four types of performance audits:

1. Program effectiveness (Is a program achieving its goals and objectives?)
2. Internal control (Are controls sufficient to achieve goals and objectives?)
3. Compliance (Is the program following the law, regulations, contracts and agreements?)
4. Prospective analysis (What might happen in the future and what actions might the program take?)

In financial audits, auditors use standard procedures and rely on accounting principles to determine the financial health of an organization. While performance audits may have a financial element, generally they determine whether an agency program is efficiently and effectively delivering the intended results.

In contrast to financial audits, performance audits are research-based, and often require the auditor to determine the criteria against which a program will be evaluated. These audits apply a variety of methodologies beyond accounting procedures.

In Washington, two primary entities conduct performance audits of state agencies: the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee (JLARC) and the State Auditor’s Office (SAO). Performance audits may also be conducted by agency internal auditors or consultants hired by an agency.

1. JLARC conducts objective performance audits and other studies and reviews on behalf of the Legislature and the citizens of Washington. JLARC staff follow up with agencies and the legislature to track implementation of report recommendations and to track cost savings from these recommendations. View JLARC’s upcoming work plan.
2. The State Auditor’s Office also conducts performance audits through the authority of citizen Initiative 900 that passed in 2005. View the SAO’s work in progress. The law provides for the Governor to periodically follow up with the audited agencies under the Governor’s authority until all resolution has occurred. Your Washington monitors agency action plans for SAO performance audits until completed on behalf of the Governor.

Your Washington also works with executive branch agencies and the State Auditor’s Office to encourage performance management and continuous improvement principles throughout the performance audit process. Additionally, it provides leadership support and assistance in:

• Guiding executive branch agencies through the performance audit process, joint management response with the Office of Financial Management and the public hearing
• Informing the Governor and executive staff of significant issues and actions
• Helping to identify significant budget or statewide policy issues
• Development and review of action plans that address root causes of audit findings and alignment with the Governor’s policies and goals
• Monitoring audit progress, federal standards and agency action plans to address SAO findings through completion
• Integrating actions and outcomes with the Governor’s goal council work when appropriate

You should receive written notification from the auditor. You can also view the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee’s current work plan or the State Auditor’s Office work in progress.

Yes! Some general guidance includes:

1. Welcome the auditor
   • Set a constructive tone in your office and with the auditor
   • Use the audit as an opportunity to look critically at the program
2. Educate the auditor
   • Program mission, goals, objectives and accomplishments
   • Constraints and obstacles
   • Efforts to correct previously noted problems
3. Work with (help) the auditor
   • Selecting and setting the criteria
   • Interpreting the evidence
   • Diagnosing problems
4. Be an open book
   • Set a tone of openness and transparency
   • Assist the auditor with data collection
   • Provide requested evidence
   • Make auditors aware of problems — don’t make the auditors “find” them
5. Make the auditor part of the solution
   • Enable the auditor to become your consultant
   • Listen to and learn from the auditor
   • Ask for data about leading practices and proven solutions

Additionally, the following resources offer valuable tips on hosting performance audits.

• How to Host a Performance Audit: Helpful Tips and Best Practices. This report explains the phases of an audit and provides tips and best practices for each phase. There is also a summary PowerPoint training based on the report.