Why the Army Should Strengthen Its Internal Audit Function

Gao ID: FGMSD-77-49 July 26, 1977

The Army Audit Agency's internal audit activities were reviewed for the period from August 1975 to September 1976. A number of conditions, measured against GAO standards and Department of Defense (DOD) policy, gave cause for concern.

Restrictions on the scope of internal auditing resulted in a lack of audit coverage of important areas. The Audit Agency is not placed high enough in the Army's organization to grant it maximum independence in its audit functions. Contrary to DOD policy, the Agency is headed by a high ranking military officer not by a civilian. More effective use of audit staff is needed; work is increasing at the same time that staff is decreasing. Additionally, the system does not provide for an effective followup of findings.

Recommendations

Our recommendations from this work are listed below with a Contact for more information. Status will change from "In process" to "Open," "Closed - implemented," or "Closed - not implemented" based on our follow up work.

Director: No director on record Team: No team on record Phone: No phone on record


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