The impact of performance audit planning on the generation of added value, management of public financial resources and heritage. Theoretical aspects and practical approaches

The performance audit is an effective instrument in the process of managing public money by analyzing a border range of matters, conducting an objective and independent evaluation of the extent to which public funding is used using the principles of economy, efficiency, effectiveness. The progress of performance audit in the Republic of Moldova is as well a priority because the allocation of public resources takes place to achieve social and economic objectives, but having regard to that resources are limited and allocated as a result of setting priorities and needs, they are managed based on the principles of "3E". In this regard, the auditors, at the performance audit planning stage, exclude the risk that the audit activities will not be proficient or efficacious, and the results of the audit will not add value to the public entity in managing public financial resources and public heritage. The author, in this study, examines the quality assurance of the processes performed during the performance audit planning stage and proposes to the auditors the use of other tools practiced in developed countries in selecting entities/programs or activities for auditing with the implementation of professional judgment.

The Impact of Performance Audit: the New Zealand Experience

<p>Performance audit, compared to the traditional financial and compliance audits, is a relatively new innovation that emerged amidst accountability concerns in the public sector. Economic crises, ministerial scandal and inefficiencies were among the impetus that led the public to demand better performance and greater accountability in the public sector, and performance audit was among the many responses to such demand. In New Zealand, performance audit is carried out by the Controller and Auditor General (the AG) under the mandate granted by the Public Audit Act 2001. Adapting the methodology from grounded theory, this study looks at the impact of performance audit on seven entities audited in 2006 by the AG. This study found that the entities were impacted through the manifestation of implemented audit recommendations and the attainment of performance audit goals. In particular, there is a high acceptance and implementation rate to the audit recommendations made in the seven audits. The implementation of accepted recommendations consequently led to the changes within the entities in terms of managerial practices, as well as internal systems and processes. In some entities, these changes were translated into performance improvement, where the entities experienced changes in the way that they carried out their operations. However, based on interviewees' accounts being the auditees of the audits, most interviewees viewed performance audit as having a greater role for performance accountability compared to performance improvement. Whilst the auditees found the audit recommendations useful, the impact on performance in their view has not been significant. Rather, the auditees viewed performance audit as having a more important role as an assurance tool in terms of their accountability to the public.</p>

The Impact of Performance Audit: the New Zealand Experience

<p>Performance audit, compared to the traditional financial and compliance audits, is a relatively new innovation that emerged amidst accountability concerns in the public sector. Economic crises, ministerial scandal and inefficiencies were among the impetus that led the public to demand better performance and greater accountability in the public sector, and performance audit was among the many responses to such demand. In New Zealand, performance audit is carried out by the Controller and Auditor General (the AG) under the mandate granted by the Public Audit Act 2001. Adapting the methodology from grounded theory, this study looks at the impact of performance audit on seven entities audited in 2006 by the AG. This study found that the entities were impacted through the manifestation of implemented audit recommendations and the attainment of performance audit goals. In particular, there is a high acceptance and implementation rate to the audit recommendations made in the seven audits. The implementation of accepted recommendations consequently led to the changes within the entities in terms of managerial practices, as well as internal systems and processes. In some entities, these changes were translated into performance improvement, where the entities experienced changes in the way that they carried out their operations. However, based on interviewees' accounts being the auditees of the audits, most interviewees viewed performance audit as having a greater role for performance accountability compared to performance improvement. Whilst the auditees found the audit recommendations useful, the impact on performance in their view has not been significant. Rather, the auditees viewed performance audit as having a more important role as an assurance tool in terms of their accountability to the public.</p>

Some methods of performance audit

In this article, the author proposes a methodology for conducting an efficiency audit used by the internal audit services of state bodies. In order to effectively use the appropriate time resources to achieve the objectives of the performance audit for efficiency, cost-effectiveness, productivity, priority should be given to the analysis, evaluation of management, finance, information, public services, strategic results, the opinions of the company, the results of audits of authorized bodies, audit bodies and other information of the audited entity for a certain period. High-quality developed special indicators and evaluation criteria and performance audit indicators are the most necessary tool for achieving the audit objective and detailed determination of the results of the object's activities audit based on these indicators.

Public Sector Audit, Transparency and Good Governance on Financial Accountability of Public Sector Entities in Rivers State, Nigeria

This study investigated the effects of public sector audit, good governance and financial transparency on financial accountability of twenty – six (26) ministries in the Rivers State Civil Service. The study employed cross sectional survey research design. The population consisted of twenty – eight ministries and the Taro Yamene model was used for sample size determination while simple random sampling was employed. The study used primary and secondary sources of data collection. Questionnaire was the primary source of data collections after the application of content and face validity while Cronbach alpha was employed to test the reliability of the instrument. The dependent variable was financial accountability index while the independent variables consisted of financial audit index, performance audit index, compliance audit index, good governance index and financial transparency index. The responses obtained from the questionnaire were analysed with univariate, bivariate and multivariate analysis. The multiple regression analysis suggested that there is a positive and significant relationship between financial audit index, performance audit index, compliance audit index, good governance index and financial transparency index on accountability in public sectors in Rivers State. The study concluded that public sector audit, good governance and financial transparency promote financial accountability in the Nigerian public sector. Therefore, the following recommendations were provided amongst others that The Accounting Officers in government Ministries, Department and Agencies (MDA) should carry out government business in accordance with accountability, transparency, effectiveness and efficiency, responsiveness, forward vision and rule of law for the welfare of the citizens.

Foreign Approac hes to the Audit of Transport System Efficiency at the Regional Level

The article is devoted to consideration of foreign instruments for performance audit in the transport sector and to assessment of possibility of applying the methods and procedures of performance audit by Russian regional control and accounting bodies. The objective of the study is to comprehensively analyse the international experience of regulation and organisation of performance audit in the transport sector based on the practices of the Auditor General of Scotland (Great Britain) and the Auditor General of Manitoba (Canada).Considering the traditionally high share of regional budget expenditures spent on development of the transport system, it is noted that assessment of the economy, productivity and efficiency of the use of public resources is important not only for regional authorities, but also for the population and business entities.Based on the analysis of the best practices of regional government audit bodies of Great Britain and Canada in terms of performance audits in the transport sector, advanced methods and audit procedures were recorded that can be applied by Russian regional control and accounting bodies. In particular, the specifics and accuracy of recommendations to the executive authorities presented in the audit report; procedure of assessing correctness of tender procedures and effectiveness of contract execution as part of the performance audit; wide use of external experts during inspections and other features have been noted.

Performance audit in the public sector: Domestic and foreign experience

The study is devoted to the problems of organising a state efficiency audit in the Russian Federation, which is a key tool for assessing the utilisation of public resources and the degree of achievement of the country's socio-economic goals. Based on the analysis of foreign practices, the study of problematic aspects of the organisation and implementation of state financial control, such as the audit of the efficiency of the use of public resources, was carried out. The purpose of the study was to investigate the essence and organisational and methodological aspects of conducting such a type of financial control as a performance audit in the public sector of the Russian Federation. In the course of the study, empirical research, comparative and statistical research, synthesis of theoretical and practical material were used. Methods of grouping and classification were used in the processing and systematisation of information. The problem of efficient use of public resources is one of the most pressing issues of the budget process in the Russian Federation. In these conditions, the role of state financial bodies is more important than ever, the purpose of which is to ensure the expediency, legality, and efficiency of the generation, distribution, and use of budget resources.

Assessing the development of performance audit methodology in the supreme audit institution: The case of Indonesia

Badan Pemeriksa Keuangan (BPK), or The Audit Board of the Republic of Indonesia, has introduced performance audits intensively since public sector audit reforms were initiated in 2001. However, the implementation of performance audits still faces several obstacles. This study examines the development of the performance audit methodology in BPK, which can be divided into three stages: before the revitalization of BPK in 2006, the initial development of performance audits during 2006-2010, and the maturity of the implementation of performance audits since 2011. This study concludes that several key factors have affected the implementation of performance audits at BPK, including the development of audit guidelines, the dynamics of medium-term government planning, the focus of the BPK’s Management, and assistance provided by other supreme audit institutions (SAI). To address new realities and challenges in the future, more sophisticated performance audit methods need to be adopted by BPK, such as big data analytics, the adoption of governance audits, and employing public policy analysis. Without adopting such methods, the institutionalization of ​​effective performance audits might not be achieved in the future.