CGFM CGFM Certified Government Financial Manager Questions and Answers

Analyzing Participation and Enrollment Trends:

Dashboards are tools that provide real-time visualizations of data, making them ideal for quickly analyzing trends such as program participation versus enrollment.

They allow program managers to view up-to-date metrics and identify variances without manual data processing.

Explanation of Answer Choices:

A. Crosstab: While useful for comparing categorical data, crosstabs are static and less effective for real-time analysis.

B. Portable document format (PDF): A PDF is a static file format, unsuitable for dynamic data analysis.

C. Text file: Text files provide raw data but require additional processing, making them inefficient for quick analysis.

D. Dashboard: Correct. Dashboards provide dynamic, real-time analytics, perfect for monitoring daily changes in participation and enrollment.

References:

Association of Government Accountants (AGA),Data Visualization in Public Sector Management.

Government Performance Lab,Using Dashboards for Real-Time Program Management.

Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR):

TheACFR(formerly CAFR) is the primary source for a state’s annual financial information, including liability and cash flow data.

It provides comprehensive financial statements, including the balance sheet, statement of activities, and cash flow statements.

Explanation of Answer Choices:

A. PAR: ThePerformance and Accountability Report (PAR)focuses on federal agencies and includes performance goals and achievements but lacks detailed liability and cash flow data for states.

B. ACFR: Correct. The ACFR is the best source for detailed liability and cash flow data at the state level.

C. Appropriations bill: Provides legislative authority for spending but does not include detailed financial data.

D. Statement of activities: This is part of the ACFR but does not include all necessary cash flow or liability data.

References:

Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA),Best Practices for ACFR Reporting.

GASB,Annual Comprehensive Financial Report Guidance.

Risk Assessment Under COSO Framework:

The first step in a COSO-based risk assessment is defining internal control objectives. This establishes what the organization aims to achieve, providing a framework for identifying risks and ensuring controls align with objectives.

Risk assessment focuses on evaluating the likelihood and impact of risks that could hinder these objectives.

Explanation of Answer Choices:

A. Identification of risks: Identifying risks follows the definition of internal control objectives.

B. Defining internal control objectives: Correct. Objectives must be defined first to provide a basis for identifying and assessing risks.

C. Review of prior audit findings: Important, but it’s not the starting point for a risk assessment under COSO.

D. Setting risk tolerance levels: This occurs later, after risks have been identified and evaluated.

References:

COSO,Internal Control - Integrated Framework.

GAO,Standards for Internal Control in the Federal Government (Green Book).

Why Shared Services Agreements Are Cost-Effective:

A shared services agreement allows multiple school districts to pool resources and share the costs of special education services, such as specialized staff, transportation, or facilities.

This reduces duplication of services, increases efficiency, and helps lower costs without reducing the quality of education provided.

Why Federal Maintenance of Effort (MOE) Requirements Matter:

Under federal law, schools must maintain a certain level of funding for special education services to receive federal grants. Cutting budgets or shifting costs directly to parents would likely violate MOE requirements.

Why Other Options Are Incorrect:

A. Shift a portion of the costs in the form of a fee to parents:This violates federal regulations, as public schools cannot charge parents for special education services.

B. Decrease budget allocation for special education services:This would also violate MOE requirements and reduce services for students with special needs.

D. Outsource special needs services to a private contractor:While outsourcing can be an option, it may not always reduce costs and could introduce additional risks (e.g., quality concerns or compliance issues).

References and Documents:

Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA):Mandates federal MOE requirements for special education funding.

GAO Report on Shared Services in Education:Highlights cost-saving benefits of shared services agreements.

What Is Net Present Value (NPV)?

NPV analysisevaluates the profitability of long-term investments by calculating the present value of expected cash inflows and outflows over time, discounted at a specified rate (e.g., the opportunity cost of capital).

It helps decision-makers compare investment options by quantifying their value in today’s dollars.

Why NPV Is Appropriate for Long-Term Investments:

It considers thetime value of money(a dollar today is worth more than a dollar in the future).

NPV helps the treasurer evaluate and prioritize investments based on their overall profitability and financial impact over the long term.

Why Other Options Are Incorrect:

B. Regression Analysis:This statistical method analyzes relationships between variables but is not commonly used for evaluating long-term investments.

C. Horizontal Analysis:Focuses on financial data changes over time (e.g., year-to-year comparisons), not investment decisions.

D. Ratio Analysis:Measures financial performance but does not evaluate the profitability of long-term investment alternatives.

References and Documents:

GAO Guide on Investment Decision-Making:Recommends using NPV for evaluating long-term projects and investments.

OMB Circular A-94:Provides guidelines for using NPV in benefit-cost analysis of federal investments.

OMB Circular A-11 and Capital Asset Acquisition:

OMB Circular A-11 mandates the use ofearned value management (EVM)for measuring cost, schedule, and performance goals in capital asset acquisition projects.

EVM integrates project scope, schedule, and cost data to assess project performance and forecast outcomes.

Explanation of Answer Choices:

A. Earned value management: Correct. EVM is the prescribed method for tracking progress on capital projects under OMB Circular A-11.

B. Net present value: Used for financial analysis, such as determining the economic value of future cash flows, but not for tracking project progress.

C. Future value: Measures the value of an investment at a future point, not applicable to project tracking.

D. Regression analysis: A statistical method for identifying relationships between variables, not for measuring project performance.

References:

OMB Circular A-11,Capital Programming Guide.

U.S. General Services Administration (GSA),Earned Value Management Implementation.

Performance Audit Overview:

A performance audit focuses on evaluating the economy, efficiency, and effectiveness of government programs or activities.

Due professional care is a requirement inGovernment Auditing Standards (Yellow Book), ensuring auditors perform their duties responsibly and with professional judgment.

Key Requirement: Sufficient and Competent Evidence:

Auditors must collect sufficient and reliable evidence to support their findings, conclusions, and recommendations. This is the cornerstone of "due professional care."

Explanation of Answer Choices:

A. Obtain sufficient and competent evidence: Correct. This ensures audit findings are supported by reliable, documented evidence.

B. Determine scope: While part of audit planning, it is not directly related to due professional care.

C. Set materiality of financial statements: This applies to financial audits, not performance audits.

D. Present the findings in accordance with GAAP: GAAP is not a requirement for performance audits.

References:

GAO,Government Auditing Standards (Yellow Book).

Association of Government Accountants (AGA),Performance Auditing Practices.

What Do Generally Accepted Auditing Standards (GAAS) Require for Financial Audits?GAAS outlines specific requirements for auditors conducting financial audits, including:

Adequately Planning the Work (Option A):Proper planning ensures that audits are efficient and thorough.

Obtaining Sufficient, Appropriate Audit Evidence (Option C):This is critical to support the auditor’s opinion on the financial statements.

Supervising Assistants (Option D):Supervising any audit staff ensures that work is performed in accordance with standards.

What Does GAAS Not Require?

GAAS does not specifically require auditors to make the audit report available to the public (Option B). While making reports available to the public may be required by other laws, regulations, or organizational policies, it is not a standard requirement under GAAS. The decision to make the report public often lies with the audited entity or governing bodies.

References and Documents:

AICPA Statements on Auditing Standards (SAS):The foundational standards that define GAAS requirements.

GAGAS (Yellow Book):While GAGAS may have additional reporting requirements, it does not mandate public access to the audit report unless stipulated by law.

Scope of Single Audit:The scope includes:

Financial Statements: Ensuring accurate reporting of financial activities.

Internal Controls: Evaluating effectiveness in compliance with federal requirements.

Compliance: Ensuring compliance with the terms and conditions of the award.

Explanation of Answer Choices:

A. Financial statements: Included in the audit.

B. Internal controls: Included to ensure compliance.

C. Performance results: Correct. Single audits do not assess program outcomes or effectiveness.

D. Compliance with terms of the award: Included to ensure federal funds are used appropriately.

References:

Uniform Guidance (2 CFR Part 200),Audit Requirements.

Government Accountability Office (GAO),Yellow Book: Standards for Audits of Federal Awards.

What Is Vertical Analysis?

Vertical Analysisevaluates a single year's financial statements by expressing each line item as a percentage of a base amount. For example, in an income statement, each expense may be presented as a percentage of total revenue.

This approach helps users understand the relative size of each financial statement item within the context of the total.

Why Is Vertical Analysis Used for a Single Year?

Vertical analysis focuses solely on relationships within a single set of financial statements, making it the appropriate choice for single-year evaluations.

Why Other Options Are Incorrect:

A. Comparative:Involves comparing financial data across entities or periods, not within a single year.

B. Horizontal:Focuses on changes in financial data over time (year-to-year comparisons).

C. Trend:Examines patterns over multiple periods to identify long-term trends, not a single year.

References and Documents:

GAO Financial Audit Manual:Recommends vertical analysis for single-year financial statement evaluations.

AICPA Financial Statement Analysis Guide:Provides detailed examples of vertical analysis techniques.

What Is an Outcome Measure?

Anoutcome measureevaluates the results or impacts of a program or service, focusing on whether objectives were achieved (e.g., efficiency, effectiveness, or quality).

Percentage of disaster claims paid on timedirectly reflects the program’s ability to meet its goal of providing timely financial assistance to disaster victims, making it an outcome measure.

Why Other Options Are Incorrect:

A. Amount of disability inquiries received during a pandemic:This is aninput measure, as it reflects the demand or workload, not the results.

B. Total environmental impact statements reviewed:This is anoutput measure, showing the quantity of work done, not the effectiveness or result.

C. Number of federal capital territory students that graduated:While this measures results, it reflects an output rather than an outcome (it doesn’t assess the quality or long-term impact of education).

References and Documents:

Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA):Emphasizes the use of outcome measures to evaluate program performance.

GAO Performance Measurement Guide:Defines and provides examples of outcome, output, and input measures.

What Are We Solving For?

We are calculating thepresent value (PV)of $20,550 to be received at theend of year 2using a discount rate of10%.

The formula for present value is: PV=FV(1+r)nPV = \frac{FV}{(1 + r)^n}PV=(1+r)nFV​ Where:

FVFVFV = Future Value = $20,550

rrr = Discount Rate = 10% or 0.10

nnn = Time Period = 2 years

Calculation:

PV=20,550(1+0.10)2PV = \frac{20,550}{(1 + 0.10)^2}PV=(1+0.10)220,550​ PV=20,550(1.10)2PV = \frac{20,550}{(1.10)^2}PV=(1.10)220,550​ PV=20,5501.21PV = \frac{20,550}{1.21}PV=1.2120,550​ PV≈16,983PV ≈ 16,983PV≈16,983

Why Other Options Are Incorrect:

A. $16,440:Results from incorrect discounting for one year instead of two.

C. $18,495:Results from applying a lower discount rate or an incorrect formula.

D. $20,550:This is the future value, not the present value.

References and Documents:

GAO Financial Analysis Guide:Explains present value calculations for investment decision-making.

AICPA Present Value Guidelines:Provides step-by-step guidance on time value of money calculations.

What Is a Risk Profile?Arisk profileis the formal listing and assessment of an agency's top risks. It identifies the risks that could significantly impact an organization’s ability to achieve its objectives and prioritizes them based on factors like likelihood and impact.

Why Is the Risk Profile Important?

The risk profile helps management focus on the most critical risks and allocate resources to address them effectively. It is a core element of enterprise risk management frameworks (e.g., COSO ERM).

In the federal government,OMB Circular A-123requires agencies to maintain a risk profile as part of their internal control and risk management processes.

Why Other Options Are Incorrect:

B. Risk Management Plan:This is broader and includes strategies for mitigating and monitoring risks, not just listing and assessing them.

C. Risk Assessment:This is a process used to identify and evaluate risks but does not specifically refer to the formal listing of risks.

D. Risk Register:While similar to a risk profile, a risk register typically includes more granular details, such as specific control measures, responsibilities, and timelines.

References and Documents:

OMB Circular A-123:Requires federal agencies to develop a risk profile as part of their risk management framework.

COSO ERM Framework (2017):Describes the risk profile as a tool for managing enterprise-wide risks.

Type of Engagement for Reviewing Pilot Programs:

A performance audit evaluates theeffectiveness, efficiency, and economyof programs or operations.

In this case, the review of the pilot program assessed the number of families served and the efficiencies achieved through community involvement, which aligns with performance auditing objectives.

Explanation of Answer Choices:

A. Financial audit: Focuses on the accuracy of financial statements, not program effectiveness or efficiency.

B. Single audit: Focuses on compliance with federal grant requirements, not program evaluation.

C. Performance audit: Correct. This type of audit reviews program outcomes and operational efficiencies.

D. Attestation: Provides assurance on specific subject matter but does not evaluate program performance.

References:

GAO,Government Auditing Standards (Yellow Book).

Association of Government Accountants (AGA),Performance Auditing Best Practices.

What Is Internal Control Over Financial Reporting?Internal control over financial reporting (ICFR) ensures the reliability of an entity’s financial statements. It focuses on maintaining accurate, complete, and properly valued financial information that complies with accounting standards and meets the needs of users.

Why Is Option C Correct?

Proper valuation of assets and liabilities is a critical component of ICFR. It ensures that financial statements fairly represent the entity's financial position.

Cost allocation is also essential where applicable, such as assigning costs to programs or projects.

Why Other Options Are Incorrect:

A. Sufficient spending authority and financial resources exist:This relates to budgetary control, not financial reporting.

B. Physical inventory of capitalized assets:Conducting a physical inventory is part of asset management, not financial reporting assertions.

D. Legislatively directed program goals:Meeting program goals is related to performance reporting, not ICFR.

References and Documents:

GAO Standards for Internal Control (Green Book):Stresses the importance of proper valuation and cost allocation for accurate financial reporting.

COSO Framework:Emphasizes ICFR’s role in ensuring reliable and accurate financial statements.

Collusion as a Threat to Monitoring:

Collusion occurs when two or more individuals work together to circumvent internal controls.

Even with strong controls in place, collusion can undermine monitoring because it allows individuals to bypass controls without detection.

Explanation of Answer Choices:

A. Theft has occurred: Incorrect. While theft is a problem, it is often detected if controls and monitoring are functioning properly.

B. Financial data is inaccurate: Incorrect. Inaccurate financial data can compromise decision-making, but strong monitoring can help detect and correct errors.

C. Performance data is inaccurate: Incorrect. While inaccurate performance data is problematic, it does not directly compromise the monitoring of financial control weaknesses.

D. Collusion is present: Correct. Collusion is the most significant threat because it undermines the effectiveness of internal controls and makes monitoring ineffective.

References:

GAO,Standards for Internal Control in the Federal Government (Green Book).

Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE),Fraud Risk Management Framework.

Creditworthiness and Loan Approval:

When creditworthiness is a criterion for government loans, the applicant must demonstrate asatisfactory history of repaying debt, as this reflects their ability to fulfill repayment obligations in the future.

Why a Satisfactory History Is Required:

Past repayment behavior is considered the best indicator of future performance. Government agencies prioritize reducing the risk of defaults by ensuring applicants have a proven history of managing debt responsibly.

Why Other Options Are Incorrect:

A. A credit rating from a major bank:While a credit rating is helpful, it is not typically required for government loans. Instead, creditworthiness is evaluated based on repayment history and other financial factors.

C. Sufficient capitalization:This is important for business loans, but it does not address creditworthiness.

D. A promise to pay interest at the government borrowing rate:A promise is not sufficient to establish creditworthiness.

References and Documents:

OMB Circular A-129:Requires agencies to assess creditworthiness before granting loans.

GAO Loan Management Guide:Highlights repayment history as a key criterion for loan approval.

Performance Audit Objectives:

Performance audits evaluate theeffectiveness,efficiency, andeconomyof government programs, operations, or activities.

These audits focus on improving operations, achieving program goals, and ensuring responsible use of public resources.

Explanation of Answer Choices:

A. Providing an opinion on the entity's financial statement: This is the objective of a financial statement audit, not a performance audit.

B. Assessing program effectiveness, economy, and efficiency: Correct. This is the primary objective of performance audits.

C. Providing an opinion on a subject matter that is the responsibility of another party: This aligns with attestation engagements, not performance audits.

D. Issuing a report of findings based upon an agreed-upon procedure: This describes agreed-upon procedures engagements, not performance audits.

References:

GAO,Government Auditing Standards (Yellow Book).

Association of Government Accountants (AGA),Performance Auditing Guidance.

Role of the Independent Auditor in Financial Reporting:

Independent auditors evaluate internal controls as part of their audit procedures to support an opinion on the fair presentation of the financial statements. This includes assessing whether internal controls over financial reporting are designed and operating effectively.

This evaluation helps ensure that financial statements are free of material misstatements, whether due to error or fraud.

Why Management Does Not Do This:

Managementdesigns and implements internal controls but does not evaluate them to support the auditor’s opinion. Management’s responsibility is to certify the accuracy of the financial statements, while the auditor provides an independent opinion.

Why Other Options Are Incorrect:

C. The program office:This entity oversees operations but does not perform evaluations to support an audit opinion.

D. The audit committee:The committee provides oversight of the audit process but does not perform the evaluation itself.

References and Documents:

GAAS (Generally Accepted Auditing Standards):Outlines the responsibilities of independent auditors regarding internal control evaluation.

GAO Yellow Book:Specifies the role of external auditors in evaluating internal controls during financial audits.

Regression Analysis:

Regression analysis is a statistical method used to examine relationships between variables and make predictions.

To estimatesales tax revenue, a CGFM can use regression to analyze how population growth, housing, and employment trends correlate with tax revenue over time.

Explanation of Answer Choices:

A. Regression analysis: Correct. This method uses historical and predictive data to model the relationship between variables (e.g., population growth and sales tax revenue).

B. Cash flow analysis: Focuses on analyzing cash inflows and outflows, not predicting revenue based on external factors.

C. Payback analysis: Used to calculate the time needed to recover an investment, unrelated to tax revenue estimation.

D. Flow charting: Used to visualize processes, not for predictive analytics.

References:

Association of Government Accountants (AGA),Predictive Analytics in Public Sector Finance.

U.S. Census Bureau,Data Analytics for Revenue Forecasting.

Response to Weaknesses in Shared Service Providers:

Shared service providers often issue reports on internal controls (e.g., SOC 1 or SOC 2 reports).

When a weakness is identified, the recipient agency must evaluate whether compensating or mitigating controls exist to address the risk, ensuring continued reliability.

Explanation of Answer Choices:

A. Consider the existence of compensating or mitigating controls: Correct. This is a standard response to internal control weaknesses, as outlined in auditing and risk management best practices.

B. Ask the service provider to correct the weakness: Incorrect. While this may be appropriate, the recipient agency is ultimately responsible for evaluating and addressing the risk.

C. Dismiss the weakness: Incorrect. Ignoring a weakness can expose the agency to risk.

D. Refer the weakness to the Contracting Officer: Incorrect. This may be part of the process, but the agency must first assess the impact and controls.

References:

American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA),SOC Reports Guidance.

Government Accountability Office (GAO),Internal Control Standards for Federal Agencies.

What Is Control Risk?

Control riskrefers to the risk that an organization’s internal controls will fail to prevent or detect material misstatements in a timely manner.

The effectiveness of internal controls directly influences control risk. If controls are weak or poorly designed, the risk increases.

Why Is Option B Correct?

The primary focus of control risk is the adequacy and effectiveness of an entity’s internal controls. Effective controls reduce the likelihood of material misstatements, while deficiencies increase control risk.

Why Other Options Are Incorrect:

A. Inherent Risk:This is the risk of material misstatements due to the nature of the business or transactions, independent of controls.

C. Detection Risk:This refers to the risk that auditors will fail to detect material misstatements. It is influenced by the nature and extent of audit procedures, not internal controls.

D. Audit Risk:This is the overall risk that an auditor will issue an incorrect opinion. It combines inherent, control, and detection risks.

References and Documents:

AICPA Standards on Audit Risk (AU-C 315):Explains control risk and its relationship to the effectiveness of internal controls.

GAO Yellow Book:Emphasizes assessing control risk when evaluating internal controls in audits.

What Are Disbursement Techniques?

Disbursement techniques refer to the methods used by organizations to pay vendors or settle financial obligations. The timeliness of payments depends on the technique used.

Why Are Drafts the Best Option for Timely Payments?

Adraftis a payment instrument issued by an organization’s bank, drawn against its account, and typically includes specific payment timing instructions.

Drafts allow the payer to specify the timing of payments, ensuring they are made on time.

Why Other Options Are Incorrect:

A. Warrants:Warrants authorize payments but do not ensure timeliness as they require additional processing before funds are disbursed.

B. Checks:Checks rely on postal delivery and clearing times, which may delay payments.

D. Bank cards:While convenient, bank cards are typically used for immediate payments, not for ensuring future timely disbursements.

References and Documents:

Treasury Financial Manual:Highlights drafts as a disbursement tool for controlling the timing of payments.

GAO Cash Management Guide:Discusses the benefits of drafts in ensuring timely payments.

Understanding Resource Allocation in Street Maintenance:When additional resources are provided for street maintenance, their allocation should address the most pressing infrastructure needs to maximize impact and public benefit.

Key Indicator (Pavement Rating Scores):Pavement rating scores are used to evaluate the condition of roads. Areas with the lowest scores (representing unmet needs) require prioritized funding to bring the infrastructure to acceptable levels.

Explanation of Answer Choices:

A. Number of intersections: The number of intersections is not directly related to road conditions or pavement scores.

B. Historical budgeted amounts: Allocating based on past budgets does not address current infrastructure conditions or unmet needs.

C. Lane miles rated as acceptable by citizens: Roads already rated as "acceptable" do not require immediate attention.

D. Lane miles with unmet needs: Correct, as this aligns with addressing the most critical deficiencies based on the pavement scores.

References:

Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA),Best Practices in Capital Asset Management.

Federal Highway Administration (FHWA),Performance-Based Planning and Programming Guidebook.

Purpose of the Analysis:A finance director needs to assess whether the organization has enough funds available to cover short-term obligations (bills due within 30 days). This requires evaluating liquidity.

Explanation of Key Ratios:

Quick/Current Ratio: Measures an entity’s ability to pay its short-term liabilities using liquid assets.

Current Ratio= Current Assets ÷ Current Liabilities.

Quick Ratioexcludes less liquid assets (e.g., inventory), focusing on assets that can quickly convert to cash.This is the appropriate measure for assessing immediate liquidity.

Receivables Turnover Ratio: Measures how efficiently receivables are collected but doesn’t directly evaluate liquidity for bills due within 30 days.

Budgetary Cushion Ratio: Refers to financial reserves relative to annual spending, not short-term liquidity.

Debt Burden Ratio: Evaluates debt relative to revenues but does not address immediate cash flow needs.

References:

Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA),Liquidity Management Best Practices.

Association of Government Accountants (AGA),Financial Statement Analysis for Government Finance Officers.

Definition of a Material Weakness:According to auditing standards, a material weakness in internal control over financial reporting is a deficiency or combination of deficiencies that creates a reasonable possibility of a material misstatement in the financial statements that will not be prevented or detected on a timely basis.

Key Characteristics of a Material Weakness:

Reasonable Possibility:The likelihood of a misstatement is more than remote but less than certain.

Material Misstatement:The error or omission could impact the decisions of users relying on the financial statements.

Timely Detection:The deficiency allows errors to go undetected for an extended period, potentially affecting financial statement reliability.

Why Other Options Are Incorrect:

A.A misstatement in the basic financial statements may result from a material weakness, but the definition focuses on the reasonable possibility, not the actual result.

B.A material weakness impacts the financial statements, not "other accompanying financial information."

C.While timely detection is part of the issue, the definition focuses on the reasonable possibility of a misstatement, not management’s inability to perform specific duties.

References and Documents:

GAAS (AICPA SAS No. 115):Provides the formal definition of material weaknesses and guidance for auditors in evaluating control deficiencies.

COSO Framework:Emphasizes the need for effective internal controls to mitigate material misstatement risks.

Business Process Re-Engineering (BPR):

BPR focuses onredesigning key processesto achieve dramatic improvements in efficiency, effectiveness, and performance.

It typically involves addressing technical systems, human factors, and process workflows, but it does not involve redefining the organization’s mission, which is a strategic activity outside the scope of BPR.

Explanation of Answer Choices:

A. Key processes: Incorrect. Key processes are the primary focus of BPR.

B. Human environment: Incorrect. BPR often addresses human factors, such as roles and responsibilities.

C. Organizational mission: Correct. The mission is a strategic element and not typically redefined as part of process re-engineering.

D. Technical environment: Incorrect. BPR often involves rethinking technical systems and workflows.

References:

Hammer & Champy,Reengineering the Corporation: A Manifesto for Business Revolution.

GAO,Business Process Re-Engineering for Government Efficiency.

Why Hire Contractors for Management Control Evaluations?Management may decide to bring in external contractors when there are gaps in the organization’s capacity to perform evaluations internally. One key factor is thelack of management expertise—if management lacks the necessary knowledge or experience to evaluate controls effectively, it may outsource this task to qualified contractors.

Why Other Options Are Incorrect:

B. Availability of Qualified Contractors:While availability is a factor, it’s not a variable that influences the decision to outsource. Instead, it’s a logistical consideration once the decision has been made.

C. Suspicion of Internal Fraud:Suspicion of fraud may lead to investigations, but hiring contractors to evaluate controls is driven by expertise gaps rather than fraud concerns.

D. Knowledge of Systemic Deficiencies:If management already has knowledge of systemic deficiencies, they may focus on remediation rather than outsourcing evaluations.

References and Documents:

GAO Standards for Internal Control in the Federal Government (Green Book):Emphasizes the need for knowledgeable personnel to evaluate controls.

GAGAS (Yellow Book):Highlights the role of external expertise in cases where internal expertise is insufficient.

Performance Audit Objectives:

Performance audits evaluate whether government entities are operating efficiently, effectively, and in compliance with applicable laws.

A critical aspect is assessing whether the entity has implementedcorrective actionsin response to prior audit findings and recommendations, as this demonstrates accountability and progress.

Explanation of Answer Choices:

A. Updated its vision and strategic mission statements: Incorrect. While strategic planning is important, it is not the primary focus of performance audit objectives.

B. Corrective actions to address prior findings and recommendations: Correct. Addressing prior findings is a key objective to ensure identified issues have been resolved.

C. Updated its financial reports’ MD&A: Incorrect. MD&A (Management’s Discussion and Analysis) is related to financial reporting, not performance audits.

D. Internal controls in place: Incorrect. While internal controls are reviewed, the focus here is on corrective actions to past findings.

References:

GAO,Government Auditing Standards (Yellow Book).

GAO,Performance Auditing Guidance.