Reporting Guidelines

The Office of the Auditor General has created reporting guidelines following the Governmental Accounting Standards Board’s, the Office of Management and Budget’s, and the AICPA’s authoritative literature and the Uniform Expenditure Reporting System. They include illustrative examples of financial statements, disclosures, and schedules, as well as the auditors’ reports. These reporting guidelines also include an illustrative example of an annual expenditure limitation report and related disclosures as well as the accountants’ report. The examples are neither authoritative nor required to be followed. Instead, they provide sample displays and disclosures to help ensure consistent and accurate presentation. 

When a government’s management uses these guidelines, management agrees to take responsibility for preparing and fairly presenting the annual financial statements and annual expenditure limitation report, related note disclosures, and all accompanying information, including required supplementary information (RSI), supplementary information other than RSI, and other required disclosures. Management should ensure that its reports follow applicable authoritative guidance.

The Office prepares these guidelines for Arizona’s counties, community college districts, and school districts. However, municipalities, state agencies, or others could modify and use the county guidelines and universities could modify and use the community college district guidelines.