Mission The mission of the Legislative Audit Division is to provide factual and objective information to the legislative and executive managers of the public trust. The Legislative Auditor is an agent for positive change in government by providing a uniquely independent view of the success of legislative policy implementation, agency management, and program operations in meeting the public's needs.
Authorization Article V, Section 10(4) of the 1972 Montana Constitution mandates a legislative post-audit function.
Title 5, chapter 13, MCA. The Legislative Audit Act governs the Legislative Audit Division and establishes the goals and objectives of the post-audit function.
Goals and Objectives The goal of the Legislative Audit Division is to conduct independent audits and provide factual and objective information to the legislative and executive managers of the public trust. The division may examine, at any time, the books, accounts, and records, confidential or otherwise, of a state agency. This involves using division resources to:
Conduct
Financial-compliance audits in accordance with applicable auditing standards to determine whether an audited agency's financial operations are properly conducted, the financial reports are presented fairly, and the agency has complied with applicable laws and regulations.
An audit of each state agency at least once each biennium in accordance with state and federal laws.
Audits on an annual basis on agency requests or legal requirements.
Performance audits in an objective and systematic manner to assess the performance of state government operations, evaluating the audited program in relation to principles of proper management, control, and use of resources and in accordance with auditing standards, and to determine whether the audited activity is accomplishing its purposes and whether those purposes can be achieved with greater efficiency and economy.
Information systems (IS) audits to examine controls within the IS environment to determine whether controls exist and are operating to provide assurance over the accuracy, reliability, and integrity of the information processed and reported.
Objectives
All audits are completed in accordance with applicable auditing standards issued by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the United States Government Accountability Office.
Audits required by federal and state laws are completed within the biennium and within 1 year of the end of the fiscal year under audit.
Agencies and programs selected and prioritized for audit by the Legislative Auditor, are audited with reports completed and issued each biennium.
Audit work requested by the Legislative Audit Committee is completed in a timely manner.
Complete the annual statewide audit
Objectives
The statewide audit is completed by December 31 of each year.
The statewide audit is completed in accordance with applicable auditing standards issued by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the United States Government Accountability Office.
Complete the biennial federal Single Audit
Ojectives
The Single Audit is issued within 9 months of the end of the audit period.
The Single Audit is completed in accordance with applicable auditing standards issued by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the United States Government Accountability Office and in accordance with Single Audit Act Amendments of 1996 and the Office of Management and Budget Circular A-133.
Complete special projects and investigate identified or suspected fraudulent activities involving federal or state agencies subject to program jurisdiction.
Objectives
All special projects will be completed in a timely manner.
Identified or suspected fraudulent activities will be investigated in a timely manner and will be referred on to other appropriate agencies as necessary in a timely manner.
Provide the state Legislature and state agency directors and program managers with independent information regarding whether state agencies or programs:
Conduct only those activities and programs authorized by the legislature.
Conduct programs effectively and efficiently.
Make expenditures only in accordance with applicable laws and regulations.
Collect and account properly for all revenues and receipts.
Adequately safeguard and control assets.
Objectives
All audit reports issued by the Legislative Audit Division will fully disclose the nature and scope of the audit activities conducted and provide a proper basis for evaluating the agency's operations.
Follow up on all recommendations made in reports issued by the Legislative Audit Division for implementation status.
Provide assistance requested by committees and members of the Legislature.
Objective
Assistance requested by committees and members of the Legislature is completed in a timely manner.
