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Consultant Audit Guide for Audits of Architectural and Engineering (A&E) Consulting Firms
This Uniform Audit and Accounting Guide was developed by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) Audit Subcommittee with assistance from the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), and the American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC). The AASHTO Audit Subcommittee is comprised of the senior audit representative from each State’s transportation or highway department.
The purpose of the update was to help ensure that the Guide is consistent with current auditing standards and procedures, accounting principles, and Federal regulations. The update also was intended to strengthen the Guide by providing additional guidance and clarification regarding the existing policies and procedures set forth in the Federal Regulations. The update helps to address questions and concerns expressed by various parties, including the FHWA, State DOT audit agencies, Architectural and Engineering design firms (hereinafter referred to as “A/E firms” or “engineering consultants”), and public accounting firms.
This Guide was designed to be used as a tool by State DOT auditors, A/E firms, and public accounting firms that perform audits and attestations of A/E firms. The techniques presented herein primarily focus on examination, auditing, and reporting procedures to be applied to costs that are incurred by A/E firms for engineering and design related services, performed on various Federal, State, and Local transportation projects. These costs are normally billed to applicable agencies through their State DOTs.
The techniques discussed in this Guide were designed to be applied to audit and attestation engagements performed in connection with engineering consultants’ Statements of Direct Labor, Fringe Benefits, and General Overhead (hereinafter referred to as “overhead schedules”), as well as the related accounting systems, job-costing systems, and labor-charging systems that serve as the basis for the overhead schedules.
This Guide is not intended to be an auditing procedures manual but is instead a guide to assist users in understanding terminology, policies, procedures and audit techniques, and sources for applicable Federal Regulations. This Guide is designed to provide general guidance only and is not meant to supersede the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) or any related laws or regulations. Users should be aware that the FAR Cost Principles change frequently; accordingly, the applicable FAR version should be referenced in conjunction with the use of this Guide.
Although the guide is accessible through this link created by the South Carolina Department of Transportation, the source of this document is AASHTO. An electronic version can also be found at the AASHTO home page.
Disclaimer:
"The SCDOT assumes no responsibility for the accuracy of the information contained in this guide. Consultants are required to comply with the standards set forth under state, federal or local laws and regulations."
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