6 Quality Objectives for Government Engagements

Chapter 5 of the 2024 Yellow Book specifies 6 engagement quality objectives. Audit teams use these objectives to assess quality risk and design responses to address those risks. Be careful… These objectives overlap quite a bit!

6 Quality Objectives for Government Engagements

1. Governance & Leadership

Engagement leaders need to… well… lead. Leaders set the tone, set an example, assign roles and responsibilities, and make sure the team has the resources it needs to create high quality audits.

2. Independence, Legal & Ethical Requirements

GAGAS standards for independence are tougher than any other audit standard. Leaders need to stay vigilant to make sure the team and the audit organization remain independent and ethical. And, oh yeah, don’t forget about complying with laws and regs.

3. Acceptance, Initiation & Continuance of Engagements

The audit organization should only accept engagements for which it is qualified and has time to complete. Also, consider independence, legal mandates and authority when agreeing to take on a project.

4. Engagement Performance

This is the most involved of all of the quality objectives and asks whether the nature, timing, and extent of direction and supervision on the engagement are appropriate. This objective also asks if the audit report is appropriate given the engagement objectives.

5. Resources

People! People who need people are the luckiest people in the world! High quality work results from high quality personnel who are continually trained and held accountable for performance. Make sure to give them the technology, tools and time so they can do their work.

6. Information & Communication

Leaders and team members need to exchange valid information about the system of quality management. Everyone involved should be alerted to quality issues and act promptly to prevent the issues from damaging the quality of future engagements.

Want to learn more?

Want to dig into the new changes and find out more about these 6 quality objectives with a certifiable Yellow Book nerd? Then join Leita on June 25 for the two-hour webinar GAGAS 2024: The New Quality Management System. She will guide you through what you need to know to pass that next peer review. As a bonus, receive Leita’s Excel spreadsheet that walks you through a GAGAS compliant quality management system including risk assessment.