Two recent postings to the ALGA Listserv regarding initialing work papers and documenting supervisory reviews generated a number of responses and a great deal of dialogue on these subjects.

This sharing of ideas and exchange of information is exactly the purpose of the Listserv and, if you are not already a subscriber, I encourage you to give it a try. It takes only a moment to subscribe through the ALGA web site.

Two recent postings to the ALGA Listserv regarding initialing work papers and documenting supervisory reviews generated a number of responses and a great deal of dialogue on these subjects.

This sharing of ideas and exchange of information is exactly the purpose of the Listserv and, if you are not already a subscriber, I encourage you to give it a try. It takes only a moment to subscribe through the ALGA web site.

These Listserv postings and the related responses brought to mind the following provisions of the Quality Control and Assurance section of Government Auditing Standards (GAS).

Requirements for initialing work papers and documenting supervisory reviews sometime seem to reach urban legend status. GAS does not require that an auditor and/or supervisor initial every work paper. In addition to GAS 3.51 cited above, GAS 7.67 and GAS 4.67 directly address work paper documentation and supervisory reviews, respectively. While GAS 3.51 does require that audit organizations “…prepare appropriate documentation … to demonstrate compliance with its policies…”, the same GAS paragraph also states “The form and content of such documentation is a matter of professional judgment.” Obviously, GAS provides auditors latitude in establishing internal quality control policies and procedures that are right for their organization.