Effective Control Documentation
Parker Skaats Parker Skaats

Effective Control Documentation

Effective control documentation is crucial for auditors, serving as the foundation for accurate workpapers and ensuring compliance with auditing standards. By understanding and implementing detailed documentation practices, auditors can provide clear, actionable insights that support organizational accountability and performance.

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Fostering an Ethical Workplace
Parker Skaats Parker Skaats

Fostering an Ethical Workplace

Creating an ethical workplace is a vital responsibility for leaders across all industries, not just in government. It shapes the core values of an organization, influencing everything from employee satisfaction to public reputation. Let's delve into five key strategies leaders can implement to foster ethical practices in their workplace.

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Audit Work Plans
Parker Skaats Parker Skaats

Audit Work Plans

Annual audit work plans in government offices are crucial for ensuring accountability, transparency, and effective governance. These strategic blueprints guide auditors in prioritizing areas of highest risk and potential improvement, thus maximizing the impact of limited resources. The plans also enhance public trust by communicating audit focuses and encouraging stakeholder collaboration. Key components include outlining audit work, defining purpose statements, and setting the scope for each audit, ensuring that audits are well-defined, focused, and effectively address significant concerns in government operations. Developing these plans involves reviewing past work, conducting risk assessments, considering stakeholder requests, and incorporating audit staff insights, thereby creating comprehensive, risk-focused plans that promote a culture of continuous improvement and accountability.

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GAO’s Cybersecurity Program Audit Guide
Parker Skaats Parker Skaats

GAO’s Cybersecurity Program Audit Guide

With the increasing sophistication of cyber threats and the interconnectedness of systems, ensuring robust cybersecurity measures is no longer optional but a necessity. Recognizing this urgency, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) has unveiled the Cybersecurity Program Audit Guide (CPAG), a comprehensive tool designed to aid in the evaluation of agency cybersecurity programs and systems.

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CRGA's Government Auditing Standards Exam: Practice Questions
Parker Skaats Parker Skaats

CRGA's Government Auditing Standards Exam: Practice Questions

In our latest blog post, we delve deep into the Certified Responsible Government Auditor (CRGA) certification, spotlighting its importance in the realm of governmental auditing. As you consider this esteemed credential, we introduce a quiz to test your knowledge of the Government Auditing Standards.

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Harnessing the Power of IDPs for Government Auditors
Parker Skaats Parker Skaats

Harnessing the Power of IDPs for Government Auditors

The world of government auditing is both intricate and dynamic. Staying ahead of the curve requires a steadfast commitment to professional development. One tool that is gaining traction among forward-thinking professionals is the Individual Development Plan (IDP). An IDP is a personalized roadmap that outlines an individual's career objectives, strengths, areas for improvement, and the strategies and resources they can leverage to achieve these goals.

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Purchase Card Audits: Ensuring Financial Integrity
Parker Skaats Parker Skaats

Purchase Card Audits: Ensuring Financial Integrity

Designed to simplify small-dollar transactions, P-Cards expedite purchasing processes, reduce paperwork, and enhance operational efficiency. However, with convenience comes the potential for misuse, necessitating the importance of rigorous purchase card audits.

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Certified Responsible Government Auditor (CRGA) Credential
Parker Skaats Parker Skaats

Certified Responsible Government Auditor (CRGA) Credential

Parker CPE is excited to announce its collaboration with the Public Sector Audit Institute (PSAI), aiming to reshape the future of government auditing education. This collaboration is poised to roll out an advanced training program tailored for government auditors, preparing them to sit for the Certified Responsible Government Auditor (CRGA) exams, a respected credential that acknowledges the specialized skills required to be a proficient government auditor.

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Gold Standard Meetings for State and Local Governments: Paving the Way for Enhanced Collaboration
Parker Skaats Parker Skaats

Gold Standard Meetings for State and Local Governments: Paving the Way for Enhanced Collaboration

During the course of the pandemic, an innovative collaborative approach known as “Gold Standard” meetings emerged at the federal level. The primary motive was simple yet powerful: incorporate the expertise of the IGs at the inception stage, thereby striking the right balance between efficient results and risks related to fraud, waste, and abuse. All the while still respecting the independence of the IGs.

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