Financial Audit Manual

The Financial Audit Manual (FAM) is a joint effort between GAO and the Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency (CIGIE). The FAM presents a methodology for performing financial statement audits of federal entities in accordance with professional standards.

The FAM is a three-volume publication. Volume 1 is the audit methodology, volume 2 is detailed implementation guidance, and volume 3 is the Federal Financial Reporting Checklist.

How to Access the FAM

You may download the full volumes in PDF format or Word format. FAM volume 1 (June 2026), FAM volume 2 (June 2026), and FAM volume 3 (July 2026) supersede previously issued versions and are effective beginning with fiscal year and calendar year 2026 audits of federal entity financial statements.   

Volume 1, Audit Methodology (June 2026)

View FAM Volume 1

Download volume 1 in Word [DOCX].

Volume 2, Detailed Implementation Guidance (June 2026)

View FAM Volume 2

Download volume 2 in Word [DOCX].

Volume 3, Federal Financial Reporting Checklist (July 2026)

View FAM Volume 3

Download volume 3 in Word [DOCX].

Excel Templates

Download templates of the specific control evaluation, line item risk analysis, audit sampling documentation, audit exposure evaluation, and summary of uncorrected misstatements in Excel:

• All Files [ZIP]
• Individual Files 
  • FAM 395 G, Specific Control Evaluation: [XLSX]
  • FAM 395 H, Line Item Risk Analysis: [XLSX]
  • FAM 495 D, Audit Sampling Documentation: [XLSX]
  • FAM 545 A, Audit Exposure Evaluation [XLSX]
  • FAM 595 C, Summary of Uncorrected Misstatements: [XLSX]

Revisions 

The current revisions of FAM volumes 1 and 2 reflect changes in auditing financial statements of federal entities since the last revisions in June 2025 and June 2024, respectively. Users should consider any subsequently issued standards and guidance.

The current revision of FAM volume 3 reflects changes in accounting standards issued by the Federal Accounting Standards Advisory Board through June 2026 that are effective for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2026, and Office of Management and Budget Circular No. A-136, Financial Reporting Requirements, guidance issued on May 29, 2026. Users should also consider any subsequently issued standards and guidance.

For the superseded versions, see FAM archives [ZIP]