INTOSAI and IFAC
Robert F. Dacey
Chief Accountant
US Government Accountability
Office
INTOSAI (International Organisation of
Supreme Audit Institutions)
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Represents the external government audit community.
Objectives
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promote the development and transfer of knowledge,
improve government auditing worldwide, and
enhance professional capacities, standing and influence of
member SAIs in their respective countries.
autonomous, independent and non-political organisation.
non-governmental organisation with special consultative
status with the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC)
of the United Nations.
Almost 200 Member SAI’s.
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INTOSAI Professional Standards Committee
- Financial Audit Subcommittee
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Strategic objective - To develop high quality
guidelines that are globally accepted for the
audit of financial statements in the public sector.
Strategy - To leverage the expertise and
resources of the IAASB, an internationally
respected auditing standards setting
organization, in a strategic and cooperative
partnership.
Chaired by Mr Gert Jönsson, Deputy Auditor
General of Sweden
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Actions to Achieve the Strategic
Objective
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Incorporate public sector consideration into the
ISAs by:
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Participating as members in IAASB task forces to write
audit standards on current and future projects
 Writing comment letters on exposure drafts of ISAs where
there was no INTOSAI input on the IAASB task force
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Provide guidance (auditing guidelines) above
and beyond what is provided in each ISA for
public sector audits by:
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Drafting practice notes for all ISAs in order to provide
special considerations for the public sector
 Drafting additional guidance to deal with the special needs
of the public sector
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Auditing Guidelines
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Translate the fundamental auditing principles into more
specific, detailed and operational guidelines.
Guidelines for financial audits, performance audits and
compliance audits.
Financial audit guidelines are based on the International
Standards of Auditing (ISA’s).
Each guideline on financial auditing consists of an ISA
together with an INTOSAI Practice Note outlining the
modifications and further elaborations that need to be
considered in public auditing.
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GAO Involvement in Standard
Setting
Coordinate with INTOSAI members on
IAASB task forces
 Provide comment letters on IAASB, ASB
and PCAOB Exposure Drafts
 Participate on many AICPA Auditing
Standards Board (ASB) task forces,
including the International Auditing
Standards Subcommittee
 Observer to the PCAOB SAG and ASB
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GAO Involvement in Standard
Setting
The Comptroller General of GAO issues
generally accepted government auditing
standards (GAGAS)
incorporate ASB field work and reporting
standards unless specifically excluded
or modified
 Participate in the U.S. Auditing Standards
Coordinating Forum with PCAOB and ASB
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