(Last Modified on February 15, 2024)

Institutions of the University System of Georgia (USG) are subject to audits, special reviews and other engagements regularly conducted by the state Department of Audits and Accounts (DOAA), federal auditors, personnel from the USG Office of Internal Audit, Ethics and Compliance (OIAEC), institutional internal auditors, and other third-party auditors.

OIAEC is under the direction of the Vice Chancellor of Internal Audit, Ethics & Compliance/Chief Audit Officer (CAO) and is comprised of the Board of Regents (BOR) OIAEC staff and institutional internal auditors. OIAEC exists to support the BOR, system administration, and institutional administrations in meeting their governance, risk management and ethics and compliance responsibilities while helping to maintain a culture of accountability and transparency and improve organizational and operational effectiveness and efficiency. OIAEC provides independent and objective assurance, compliance and consulting services to the BOR, the Chancellor, and institutional leadership in order to add value and improve operations. OIAEC activity helps the University System Office (USO) and USG institutions accomplish their objectives by bringing a systematic, disciplined approach to evaluate and improve the effectiveness of governance, risk management, ethics and compliance, and internal control processes.

OIAEC conducts the following types of engagements:

1. operational, financial and information technology assurance engagements of USG institutions and the USO;
2. system-wide reviews of specific programs and processes;
3. consulting services to the USO and to USG institutions; and,
4. special reviews and investigations.

To accomplish these objectives, OIAEC personnel are authorized to have full, free, and unrestricted access to all property, personnel, and records to the extent permitted by law. The USG Human Resources Administrative Practice Manual (HRAP) details additional employee responsibilities pertaining to cooperating with internal audits, reviews and authorized investigations. OIAEC personnel are charged with providing records in their possession the same level of protection provided by the record steward or owner in accordance with USG data protection standards. Audits performed by OIAEC personnel shall adhere to the International Standards for the Professional Practice of Internal Auditing published by The Institute of Internal Auditors.

DOAA is charged by law with providing audit services for all state agencies. Since the USG is an organizational unit of the State of Georgia, DOAA conducts individual financial audit engagements at several selected institutions along with specific audit testing at others as deemed necessary to provide audit coverage needed to express an opinion on the State’s Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR). DOAA also performs federal financial assistance testing at selected institutions as needed for the Statewide Single Audit Report. From time to time the DOAA may also provide special reports for institutions seeking re-accreditation. The Associate Vice Chancellor for Accounting and Reporting serves as primary audit liaison between the USG and the DOAA.

Various federal agencies conduct audits and investigations associated with federal funds, programs, and/or regulated activities administered by USG entities. USG entities may be subject to additional third-party assurance engagements insofar as the third-party has the legal or contractual authority to conduct an assurance engagement or review.