Division Standards - Code of Ethics

Professional Standards

To provide assurance that the Division of Audits and Detection operates at a high professional level, the Division adheres to the Government Auditing Standards, 2003 Edition (the Yellow Book) promulgated by the Comptroller General of the United States.  These standards, referred to as generally accepted government auditing standards or GAGAS, “pertain to auditors’ professional qualifications, the quality of their work, the performance of field work and the characteristics of meaningful reporting.”  Similarly, the Division of Audits and Detection operates under the Professional Standards of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA Standards) and the Professional Practices Framework of the Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA Standards).

Code of Ethics

The Division of Audits and Detection staff is responsible for conducting themselves so that their good faith and integrity should not be open to question.  The profession of internal auditing is founded on the trust placed in its objective assurance about risk management, control, and governance. The Division of Audits and Detection subscribes to the Code of Ethics of the Institute of Internal Auditors. The provisions of this Code of Ethics cover basic principles in the various disciplines in the practice of professional internal auditing.  The Code obligates members “to exercise honesty, objectivity, and diligence in the performance of their duties and responsibilities.”  The Code requires loyalty to employers and the avoidance of conflicts of interest.  The Code prohibits the acceptance of fees or gifts without the knowledge and consent of senior management or the use of confidential information for personal gain.  Finally, the Code requires sufficient factual evidence to support opinions, to reveal all material facts, and “to continually strive for improvement in the proficiency and effectiveness of their service.”  Moreover, Division employees come under the jurisdiction of the Executive Branch Code of Ethics in KRS Chapter 11A.