Index

Auditing Practices in Local Governments: An International Comparison

ISBN: 978-1-80117-086-4, eISBN: 978-1-80117-085-7

Publication date: 15 June 2022

This content is currently only available as a PDF

Citation

(2022), "Index", Ferry, L. and Ruggiero, P. (Ed.) Auditing Practices in Local Governments: An International Comparison (Emerald Studies in Public Service Accounting and Accountability), Emerald Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 161-171. https://doi.org/10.1108/978-1-80117-085-720221017

Publisher

:

Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2022 Laurence Ferry and Pasquale Ruggiero


INDEX

Note: Page numbers followed by “n” indicate notes.

Accountability
, 2, 4–5

New Zealand
, 104

in Sweden
, 135

Accounting

audit in Spain
, 127

in Portuguese local government
, 112

‘Accountingisation’
, 1

Accrual-based financial statements
, 113

Actors on Austrian LGA landscape
, 29–33

Administrative law
, 33

Administrative mechanisms
, 152

Administrative organization
, 111

Administrative reforms
, 140

Administrative Supervision
, 50n4

Adversarial procedure
, 69

Amendment Act (2014, 104, 109, 2002)

AmP software
, 20

Analyse financière (ANAFI)
, 71

Annual programming
, 69

Association of Netherlands Municipalities
, 96

Assurance
, 2

reviews
, 17

Auckland City Council
, 151

Audit
, 3, 14, 155

of accountability
, 53

activity regulation
, 98

approach in Australia
, 22–24

competition
, 151–154

coverage
, 154–156

crises in private sector
, 3

fees
, 107

firm
, 112, 134, 141

function
, 42

investigation
, 69

organisation
, 40

power
, 53–54

procedures
, 114

process
, 44

and project plans
, 134

of public funds
, 53

scope
, 149, 154–156

services
, 108

space
, 150–151

stakeholders role in Audit practices
, 17–18

of state-owned assets and state-owned resources
, 53

structure
, 150–151

supervision
, 50n4

types
, 53, 127, 154

Audit Act (1994)
, 16, 22

Audit Commission
, 62, 141, 145, 158

Audit Committee
, 61, 141, 146

‘Audit engagements’
, 17

‘Audit explosion’
, 1

Audit independence
, 151–154

different approaches to
, 153

protections of
, 152

types
, 152

Audit Law
, 52, 55

Audit Law of People’s Republic of China
, 49

‘Audit society’
, 1

Audit(or) independence
, 143

in Austria
, 33–34

in Brazil
, 42–43

in England
, 61

in Germany
, 78–80

in Italy
, 88–89

in Netherlands
, 98

in New Zealand
, 107

in People’s Republic of China
, 52–53

in Portugal
, 116–117

in Spain
, 125

in Sweden
, 133

in Switzerland
, 143–144

requirements
, 107

scope of audits 34–35

‘Auditability’
, 1

Auditdienst Rijk (ADR)
, 97

Auditees
, 143

Auditing
, 3, 4–5, 71, (see also Local government auditing (LGA))

classification and character of
, 53–54

and control framework in Italy
, 85–86

function
, 124

influence of auditing organizations
, 34–35

international role of Auditing community
, 157

local finances
, 73–74

processes
, 7–9

regulation and practice in Italy
, 90–91

of reports on service performance
, 108

services procurement
, 132

structure in Germany
, 75–77

system in Italian public administrations
, 83

tasks
, 50

technologies impact on auditing in Spain
, 128–129

Auditing practices
, 2

in Brazil
, 40–41

in England
, 59–60

in France
, 67

in Netherlands
, 96–97

in New Zealand
, 106

of Portugal
, 113–115

in Sweden
, 132

Auditing Standards Quality Control
, 20

Auditor-General
, 19, 50–51, 107–108

standards
, 106

Auditor-General Act (1997)
, 16

Auditor(s)
, 5–7, 43, 71, 107, 134–135

characteristics
, 9

of local government in New Zealand
, 107

practice
, 133

Auditor’s Statutory Board
, 117

Austerity
, 157

Australia, local government auditing in
, 13

government auditing practices development
, 16–17

history of local governments
, 15

inspection as financial and performance statements
, 19–22

public/private/hybrid audit regulatory setting, audit scope, and audit approach
, 22–24

stakeholders role in audit practices
, 17–18

Australian Auditing Standards
, 16

Australian Capital Territory (ACT)
, 14n1

Australian Local Government Association
, 15

Australian National Audit Office (ANAO)
, 16

Austria, local government auditing in

audit(or) independence
, 33–34

control and audit of
, 31

historical development of public auditing
, 29

instruments and metrics
, 35

local government context against background of wider administrative reforms
, 28–29

scope of audits and influence of auditing organizations
, 34–35

structures and responsibilities
, 29–33

Austrian constitutional law
, 33

Autonomous communities
, 123–124

Balanced budget rule
, 75

Basic Law of the Hong Kong SAR
, 51

Basic Law of the Macau SAR
, 51

Beleids en Beheers Intrumentarium (BBI)
, 95

Besluit begroting en verantwoording provincies en gemeenten (BBV)
, 95

‘Big Four’ firms
, 70

Brazil, local government auditing in

audit(or) independence
, 42–43

auditing practices
, 40–41

City Council
, 39–40

inspection as performance management
, 43

public/private/hybrid audit regulatory setting
, 43–44

scope
, 44

structure
, 41–42

Brazilian Courts of Audit
, 42

Brazilian Institute of Chartered Accountants
, 44

‘Brunetta’ reform
, 89

Budgetary control
, 67

Budgetary information
, 114

Cantonal audit offices
, 143–145

Cantonal constitutions
, 143

Cantonal law
, 143–144

Cantonal municipal laws
, 141

Cantons
, 139

of Basel
, 143

cantonal stipulations for audit of local governments
, 142–143

cluster of
, 141

of Geneva
, 143

Capital Finance and Accounting Regulations
, 58

Care Quality Commission
, 62

Cash-based budgetary statements
, 113

Cash-based regime
, 113

Central Audit Commission (CAC)
, 50

Central commissioning agency
, 152

Central Government Audit Service
, 97

Central government public sector audit
, 158

Central National Audit Office
, 152

Centralisation tradition
, 112

Chambres Régionales des Comptes in French (CRC)
, 66

fragmented performance auditing in
, 68–69

Chart of Accounts for Local Government (POCAL)
, 112

Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA)
, 58

Chartered public accountants (CPAs)
, 134

Chinese audit system
, 47–48

contemporary history of Chinese auditing system and reforms
, 48–50

organisational structure and management of
, 50–51

Chinese auditing
, 158

Chinese local government
, 152

Chinese performance audit
, 155

City Council
, 39–40

Clinical Commissioning Groups
, 58

Code of Audit Practice
, 60

Code of Conduct for Victorian Public Sector Employees of Special Bodies
, 19

Code of financial jurisdictions
, 67, 68

Code of Professional Ethics
, 117

Collegial quest for transparency
, 68–69

Comissão do Mercado de Valores Mobiliários (CMVM)
, 117

Commonwealth (see Federal)

Commonwealth of Australia
, 14, 15

Company Act (2005:551)
, 135

Competitive bidding
, 116

Compliance audits
, 44, 97, 154, 157

Comptabiliteitsvoorschriften (1995)
, 95

Contrats de Cahors (CC)
, 66–67

‘Control offices’ (Kontrollämter)
, 29

Cooperation of auditing
, 75

Corporatisation of public administration
, 89

Council of Australian Governments (COAG)
, 15

Council-controlled organisations (CCOs)
, 105

Cour de Comptes in France
, 123, 129

Court of Accounts
, 41–42, 83

Court of Audit
, 112–113, 115, 117

Court of Auditors, The
, 123

Courts of Accounts
, 40–41, 44

COVID-19 pandemic
, 117, 158

Cross-sectional audits
, 35

Data publication
, 158

Data technology
, 128

Decentralisation of local governments
, 30, 94

Decree-law
, 112–113

Democratic organisation
, 111

Democratic Supervision
, 50n4

Department for International Development (DFID)
, 43

Dual Municipal Administration
, 95

Dualistic control system
, 140

Dutch Authority for Financial Markets (AFM)
, 99

Dutch public sector
, 94

Dutch rotate auditors
, 152

Ecole Nationale d’Administration (ENA)
, 70

Economic management in Spanish
, 121

Economy, efficiency, effectiveness and ethics (four-Es model)
, 8

Economy, efficiency and effectiveness model (three-Es model)
, 8

Economy audit in Spain
, 127

Effectiveness audit in Spain
, 127

Efficiency audit in Spain
, 127

El Tribunal Vasco de Cuentas Públicas court
, 124

Electing auditors
, 133

Employment of private contractors
, 55

Empresa de Transformación Agraria, S. A. (TRAGSA)
, 126

England, local government auditing in
, 57

audit(or) independence
, 61

auditing practices
, 59–60

inspection as performance management
, 62

local government structures
, 57–58

public/private/hybrid audit regulatory setting
, 62

scope
, 62–63

structure
, 60–61

Entities
, 117

European Organization of Regional Audit Institutions
, 33

Ex ante auditing
, 7, 78, 115

Ex post auditing
, 78, 104, 115

Examen de la gestion
, 68

Executive Board
, 112, 115, 118–119

Executive Management Plan
, 90

‘Expert Suisse’
, 144

External auditing
, 30, 76–77, 135, (see also Internal auditing)

function
, 18

organisation
, 29

practices
, 32

public institutions for
, 127–128

External auditor
, 55, 97, 115

Federal
, 15

Federal audit oversight act
, 145n3

Federal Statistical Office (FSO)
, 139

Federal Supreme Audit Institution
, 41, 43

Federal tax system
, 84

Federal technical university
, 145

Federation
, 39

Financial accountability
, 150

Financial audit(ing)
, 30, 118–119, 141, 145, 154, 157

and development
, 54

in New Zealand
, 108

in Spain
, 127

in Sweden
, 135–136

Financial conformance in England
, 62–63

Financial function in Spain
, 127–128

Financial information
, 114

Financial Management principles
, 23

Financial performance indicators
, 21

Financial regime
, 112

Financial Reporting Council (FRC)
, 60

Financial statements, inspection as
, 19–22

Financial stewardship
, 9

Fire and Rescue Authorities
, 58

Fiscal Responsibility Law
, 40, 44

Focus audits
, 35

Follow-up audits
, 35, 106

Fragmented performance auditing in CRC
, 68–69

France, local government auditing in

auditing practices
, 67

auditing structures
, 70

characteristics of Napoleonic tradition
, 65–66

fragmented performance auditing in CRC
, 68–69

independent financial judge and toolbox
, 70–71

Freedom of Information Act
, 40

General Budgetary Law
, 121

General elections
, 132

General State Budget
, 116

Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP)
, 95

Genuine Court
, 123

Germany, local government auditing in

auditing local finances
, 73–74

auditor independence
, 78–80

local level framework conditions
, 74–75

performance management
, 80

regulatory setting
, 81

scope
, 77–78

structure of auditing
, 75–77

Good quality auditing
, 5

Government Accountability Office in United States
, 129

Government auditing practices development in Australia
, 16–17

Hofrechencammer
, 29

Hybrid control system
, 141

Hybrid organizations
, 135

IEGM project
, 43

Independence, types of
, 152

Independent financial judge and toolbox in France
, 70–71

Independent internal management system and organisation culture
, 52–53

Inner-party supervision
, 50n4

Inspection

as financial and performance statements in Australia
, 19–22

and performance reporting
, 156

in public sector auditing
, 156–157

Inspection as performance management
, 9

in Brazil
, 43

in England
, 62

in Netherlands
, 99

in New Zealand
, 108

in Spain
, 125–126

in Sweden
, 133–134

Inspectorate General of Finance
, 112, 115, 118

Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA)
, 144

Institutional accreditation
, 144

Institutional design
, 157

Integrated Public Sector Audit Methodology
, 19

Intergovernmental collaborative approach
, 141

Internal auditing
, 30, 115, 119, (see also External auditing)

institution
, 124

legal regime for
, 126–127

systems
, 84

tasks
, 140

Internal control system
, 116, 145

International audit explosion
, 158

International Financial Reporting Standards
, 44, 58

International Integrated Reporting Council (IIRC)
, 126

International Organization of Supreme Audit Institutions
, 33, 117

International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS)
, 40, 95–96, 108, 113

International Standard of the International Organisation of Supreme Audit Institutions (INTOSAI)
, 6, 8, 144

International Standards for Supreme Audit Institutions (ISSAI)
, 114, 127–128, 144

International Standards on Auditing (ISA)
, 106, 114, 118, 127, 134

Intervención General de la Administración del Estado (IGAE)
, 123, 126

Italy, local government auditing in

auditing and control framework
, 85–86

auditing regulation and practice
, 90–91

auditing system in Italian public administrations
, 83–84

auditor independence
, 88–89

context to local government system
, 84–85

performance management
, 89–90

scope
, 86–87

Judgement process
, 44

Judgmental function
, 42

Judicial Supervision
, 50n4

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
, 9, 21, 23

in Brazil
, 42–43

in England
, 62

in Netherlands
, 99

in New Zealand
, 108

in Portugal
, 117–118

in Spain
, 125–126

in Sweden
, 133–134

in Switzerland
, 144

Law on Common Arrangements
, 93

Lawyers of Court of Auditors
, 125

Lay auditors
, 135

Legal control of accounts
, 67

Legality compliance audit in Spain
, 127

Legislative Assembly
, 124

Legislative function
, 141n2

Lima Declaration (1998)
, 6, 33

Local accounting firms
, 70

Local Audit and Accountability Act (2014)
, 59

Local audit systems
, 150

Local Authorities Act (1968)
, 107

Local finance commission
, 141

Local Finance Law (LFL)
, 112

Local Government Act
, 14, 16, 23, 58, 104, 108–109

of canton of Basel
, 143

of canton of Geneva
, 143

Local Government Amendment Act (1996)
, 105

Local government audit
, 3, 149

commissions
, 144

committees
, 143

regulatory space
, 149

in UK
, 3

Local government auditing (LGA)
, 27–28, 135

in Australia
, 13–24

in Austria
, 27–36

in Brazil
, 39–44

in England
, 57–63

in France
, 65–71

in Germany
, 73–81

in Italy
, 83–91

in Netherlands
, 93–100

in New Zealand
, 103–106

in New Zealand
, 103–109

in People’s Republic of China
, 47–55

in Portugal
, 111–119

purpose of
, 158

in Spain
, 121–129

in Sweden
, 131–136

in Switzerland
, 139–146

Local government sector in Sweden
, 131–132

Local governments
, 14, 141

accounts
, 119

in France and China
, 150

history in Australia
, 15

Local politicians
, 112

Local public administrations
, 83

Local public audit
, 158

Local-level audit
, 132

‘Long-Term Plans’
, 105–106

Macro-economic policies
, 50

Mexico Declaration
, 33

Ministry of Economics and Finance
, 86

Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG)
, 59, 60

Ministry of Interior
, 86–87

Multi-unit audit approach
, 145

Municipal Act
, 132–134, 135

Municipal audit committees (MACs)
, 30, 144

Municipal audit offices (MAOs)
, 30

Municipal Council
, 112, 115

Municipal Executive and Council
, 112

Municipal management effectiveness index
, 43

Municipal/Parish Council
, 112, 116, 118–119

Municipalities
, 28, 94, 111–112, 131–132

in Sweden
, 134

Napoleonian conformity tradition
, 68

Napoleonic institutionalization
, 140

National approach
, 150

National Audit Office (NAO)
, 58, 60, 155

National Audit Office of People’s Republic of China (CNAO)
, 47, 48

National auditor
, 150

National community
, 150

National Internal Audit Office
, 124, 127

National Securities Market Commission
, 126

Neo-liberalism
, 4

Netherlands, local government auditing in

audit(or) independence
, 98

auditing practices
, 96–97

inspection as performance management
, 99

NPM
, 94–95

public/private/hybrid audit regulatory setting
, 99

scope
, 99–100

structure
, 97

WGR
, 93

Netherlands Court of Audit
, 97

New Public Management (NPM)
, 4, 8, 28–29, 94–95, 140

‘New Steering Model’
, 80

New Zealand, local government auditing in
, 103–106

audit (or) independence
, 107

auditing practices
, 106

innovation
, 105

local councils in
, 105

public/private/hybrid audit regulatory setting
, 108

scope
, 108–109

service and organisation levels
, 108

structure
, 106–107

Non-audit services
, 107

North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW)
, 76

‘Nucleo di valutazione’
, 89

Office of Auditor-General (OAG)
, 106–107, 109

Organic Law 2/1982
, 122–123

Organic Law of Spanish Court of Auditors
, 125

Organisational structure and management of Chinese audit system
, 50–51

‘Organismo indipendente di valutazione’
, 89

Órganos de Control Externo (OCEx)
, 123–124

OROC
, 114–115

auditors’ activity regulated by
, 117

Code of Professional Ethics of
, 116

Parishes
, 112–113

People’s Congress Supervision
, 50n4

People’s Republic of China, local government auditing in

auditor independence
, 52–53

Chinese audit system
, 47–48

classification and character of auditing
, 53–54

contemporary history of Chinese auditing system and reforms
, 48–50

employment of private contractors
, 55

organisational structure and management of Chinese audit system
, 50–51

Performance
, 4–5

assurance
, 17

data
, 157

indicators
, 89

statements in Australia
, 19–22

Performance audit(ing)
, 43, 67, 98, 108, 154, 157–158

in Spain
, 127

Performance management

in Brazil
, 43

in England
, 62

in Germany
, 80

inspection as
, 9

in Italy
, 89–90

in Netherlands
, 99

in New Zealand
, 108

in Portugal
, 117–118

in Spain
, 125–126

in Sweden
, 133–134

in Switzerland
, 144

POCAL
, 112–113, 116

Police and Crime Commissioners
, 58

Policy and Management Instruments project
, 95

Policymakers
, 87

Political system
, 149

Politically appointed auditors
, 132–135

Portugal, local government auditing in

audit(or) independence
, 116–117

auditing practices
, 113–115

public/private/hybrid audit regulatory setting
, 118

scope
, 118–119

service and organisation levels
, 117–118

structure
, 115–116

Portuguese Constitution
, 111

Portuguese Institute of Certified Auditors (OROC)
, 114, 116

Portuguese local government
, 112

accounts of
, 113

Portuguese public database
, 118

Portuguese Securities Market Commission
, 117

Post Audit and Assurance Quality Review policy
, 20

Post-NPM
, 28

Private auditors
, 70

Private contractors, employment of
, 55

Procurement process
, 112, 117

Professional auditors
, 133

Professional ethics
, 145

Professionalism
, 6–7

Prosecution function
, 42, 124

Public Accounts and Estimate Committee (PAEC)
, 22

Public Administration and Social Security Agencies
, 125

Public administrations
, 1, 2, 28, 113

in federal country
, 73–74

Public Audit Act (2001)
, 106

Public audit(ing)
, 3

historical development in Austria
, 29

organisations in Brazil
, 41

in Spain
, 128

structure in Spain
, 123

system in Brazil
, 43–44

Public Finance Act (1989)
, 107

Public institutions for external auditing
, 127–128

Public management reforms
, 28

Public Opinion Supervision
, 50n4

Public procurement process
, 116

Public sector
, 108, 112

accounts
, 121–122

audit
, 144, 150

auditors
, 107

entities
, 109

in Netherlands
, 93

profession
, 157

reform agenda
, 16

in Spanish
, 126

in Sweden
, 131

Public Sector Audit Appointments (PSAA)
, 59

Public sector auditing
, 2

independence and competition
, 151–154

inspection
, 156–157

scope and coverage
, 154–156

space and structure
, 150–151

Public sector auditing practice in Switzerland
, 139

Public/private/hybrid audit regulatory setting
, 9

in Australia
, 22–24

in Brazil
, 43–44

in England
, 62

in Netherlands
, 99

in New Zealand
, 108

in Portugal
, 118

in Spain
, 126–127

in Sweden
, 134–135

in Switzerland
, 144–145

Quality control process
, 117

Quality of audit
, 78

Rapport d’instruction à fin d’observations provisoires (RIOP)
, 69

Real-time audit of policy implementation
, 53

Reform process
, 1, 4

Regional Audit
, 66

Regional audit departments (RADs)
, 30

Regional audit institutions (RAIs)
, 27–28, 30, 32, 123, 125, 128

audits by
, 35

regarding LGA
, 32

strengthening independence and
, 34

Regularity audits
, 143

Regulatory setting in Germany
, 81

Regulatory space
, 3

Relative measurement methods
, 89

Revisor Oficial de Contas (ROC)
, 112

Royal Decree
, 126–127

Royal Legislative Decree
, 121

SAI audit local government
, 150

Sample audits
, 35

School communities
, 141n1

Separate auditors
, 150

Service performance

indicators
, 20–21

principles
, 23

SNC-AP
, 113, 115–116, 118

Social assistance
, 94

Social media networks by Spanish public audit institutions
, 129

Social Supervision
, 50n4

Sociedade de Revisores Oficiais de Contas (SROC)
, 112

Spain, local government auditing in

audit(or) independence
, 125

contemporary history
, 121–123

new technologies impact on auditing in Spain
, 128–129

public/private/hybrid audit regulatory setting
, 126–127

scope
, 127–128

service and organisation levels
, 125–126

structure
, 123–124

Spanish Association of Accounting and Business Administration
, 126

Spanish Constitution of Spanish Court of Auditors
, 125

Spanish Court of Auditors
, 122–124

Spanish Court of Auditors
, 124

Spanish public sector
, 122

Special Administrative Region (SAR)
, 51

Sports, municipal activities
, 132

SSAI-ES
, 127–128

Stakeholders role in audit practices
, 17–18

State and Territory Audit Offices
, 16

State Budget Framework Law
, 119

State public sector
, 123

State-owned enterprises (SOEs)
, 29

Statutory auditor
, 118

Statutory external auditor
, 112

Strengthening independence
, 34

Subsidiarity principle
, 139

Supervision
, 75

Supervision systems
, 50n4

‘Supervisory powers’
, 152

Supreme Audit Institution (SAI)
, 2–3, 29, 32, 58, 83, 97, 114, 121, 150

audits by
, 35

Sustainable capacity indicators
, 20

Svenska kommunala yrkesrevisorer (SKYREV)
, 134

Sweden, local government auditing in

audit(or) independence
, 133

auditing practices
, 132

public sector in
, 131

public/private/hybrid audit regulatory settings
, 134–135

scope
, 135–136

service and organisation levels
, 133–134

structure
, 132

Swedish Association of Local Authorities and Regions (SALAR)
, 133

Swedish Inspectorate of Auditors (SIA)
, 134

Swedish Municipal Professional Auditors
, 134

Swiss cantons
, 140

Swiss Confederation
, 139

Swiss constitution
, 150

Swiss federal audit office (SFAO)
, 140, 144–145

Swiss financial reporting law
, 144

Swiss public sector audit landscape
, 140

Switzerland, local government auditing in
, 140

audit(or) independence
, 143–144

inspection as performance management (KPIs)
, 144

public/private/hybrid audit regulatory setting
, 144–145

scope
, 145–146

structure
, 140–143

System of Accounting Standards for Public Administrations (SNC-AP)
, 113, 116

Teams software
, 20

Technical Standards Commission of RAI
, 128

Territorial communities
, 141n1

Third-party auditor
, 141

Trading coalition goods
, 40

Transparency, collegial quest for
, 68–69

Two-level system of auditing
, 75–76

Value for Money auditing (VfM auditing)
, 9, 14, 118–119

in England
, 62–63

in Netherlands
, 99–100

in New Zealand
, 108

sin Sweden
, 135–136

in Spain
, 127–128

Vereniging van Nederlandse Gemeenten (VNG)
, 96–97

Verificatiebureau (VB)
, 96

Verordening inzake de onafhankelijkheid van accountants bij assurance-opdrachten (ViO)
, 98

Victorian Auditor-General
, 16, 22

Victorian Auditor-General’s Office (VAGO)
, 16–17, 19, 22

COVID-19 pandemic and
, 21–22

Victorian Local Government Performance Reporting Framework
, 16

Waikato District Health Board
, 109

Westminster democracies
, 152

Wet Gemeenschappelijke Regelingen (WGR)
, 93