Audit Methodology Update—Report Templates and Selected Planning Templates
Jul-2016

Audience: Auditors working on

  • special examinations, or
  • performance audits for tabling in spring 2017 or after.

Effective date: Immediately upon release

This notice is to inform auditors who are working on performance audits or special examinations that the following report templates have been updated to bring them into compliance with the new Canadian Standard on Assurance Engagements (CSAE 3001), Direct Engagements. These are the final updates required to ensure the Office’s full implementation of the standards. As of spring 2017, all published reports should be compliant with CSAE 3001. The following report templates and related instructions have been updated:

  • Performance Audit Report template,
  • Instructions for Completing the Performance Audit Report,
  • Special Examination Report template, and
  • Instructions for Completing the Special Examination Report.

The Special Examination Report template and related instructions also include the following structural changes:

  • The separate Special Examination Opinion section and associated signature block have been removed. The opinion statement is included as part of the conclusion.
  • The team’s assessment of each system and practice against the relevant criterion is presented in table form within the main body of the report. The criteria sources are included in About the Audit.

We have also updated the following planning templates:

  • The Recommended Criteria and Audit Approach for Special Examinations template has been edited to facilitate consistent reporting in tables.
  • The Functional Risk Identification (FRIT) template now includes assessment questions for the internal specialist areas of Efficiency and Compliance with Authorities.

All of these revised templates are now available in TeamMate and from the “Templates and Checklists” page of the Direct Engagements section of the INTRAnet. Teams that have not yet started using the previous versions of these templates must use the updated versions.

If you have any questions on methodology for performance audits or special examinations, please contact the Direct Engagement Practice Team (DEPT) through the DEPT mailbox.