This GS provides guidance to auditors when establishing and agreeing the conditions under which an auditor voluntarily grants third parties and group auditors access to their audit working papers. Audit working papers are prepared to meet the documentation requirements of applicable Australian Auditing Standards, Standards on Assurance Engagements, Standards on Sustainability Assurance and Standards on Review Engagements. The protocols outlined in this GS follow consultation with practitioners, and are on the basis of a willingness by practitioners to co-operate in providing access to their audit working papers to another party in certain circumstances.

The protocols in this GS endeavour to promote cooperation when access to an auditor’s audit working papers is requested. Audit working papers are the auditor’s property, and they may, at their discretion, grant, decline or restrict access (subject to regulatory, legislative or other legal requirements). Each request to access audit working papers is decided on its merits. An auditor might, for example, exercise their discretion to restrict or decline access to their audit working papers when their audit fees are outstanding, or if litigation has commenced or is threatened (unless the auditor becomes compelled to produce audit working papers in connection with that litigation).

Regulators may also, pursuant to legislative requirements, request access to audit working papers. When access to audit working papers is required by a regulator, the auditor provides access in accordance with the requirements of the relevant legislation.