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Book part
Publication date: 15 June 2022

Pasquale Ruggiero, Andrea Mazzillo and Patrizio Monfardini

This chapter describes the audit of local government in Italy. In Italy, as elsewhere, local audit has been affected by the implementation of new public management based reforms…

Abstract

This chapter describes the audit of local government in Italy. In Italy, as elsewhere, local audit has been affected by the implementation of new public management based reforms. There is an increasing trend towards collaboration and cooperation between the audited authority and the auditor. Audit has begun, as in other jurisdictions to widen its remit, so that it focusses on performance as much as financial and compliance issues. This change in role brings with it opportunities for the auditor to help public sector improvement but also challenges – as new skills are required for the new roles that the auditor takes on and audit independence is complicated by the cooperative nature of modern local government audit.

Details

Auditing Practices in Local Governments: An International Comparison
Type: Book
ISBN: 978-1-80117-085-7

Keywords

Book part
Publication date: 15 June 2022

Laurence Ferry, Henry Midgley and Aileen Murphie

English local government audit has gone through fundamental change in the last decade and this period of instability looks certain to continue. Since 2014, councils have been…

Abstract

English local government audit has gone through fundamental change in the last decade and this period of instability looks certain to continue. Since 2014, councils have been audited by private sector auditors appointed theoretically by the councils themselves (though an overwhelming majority of councils have delegated this responsibility). The scope of audit after 2014 reduced to focus mainly on top-down financial management, rather than value for money or inspection. After growing concerns about the scope and quality of audit however, in 2020, the government commissioned Sir Tony Redmond to review local audit arrangements in England. The Redmond review identified several problems with the reformed structure and made recommendations for change. Currently, the sector is uncertain about what changes will be adopted to solve the issues discovered by Redmond.

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Auditing Practices in Local Governments: An International Comparison
Type: Book
ISBN: 978-1-80117-085-7

Keywords

Book part
Publication date: 15 June 2022

Carolyn Cordery, David Hay and Robert Cox

This chapter provides an overview of local government auditing in New Zealand by outlining the nature of local government, particularly the legislative requirements in respect to…

Abstract

This chapter provides an overview of local government auditing in New Zealand by outlining the nature of local government, particularly the legislative requirements in respect to financial and service performance reporting and those for external audit. It also summarises the role and powers of the Controller and Auditor-General and their office in respect to local government audit in New Zealand.

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Auditing Practices in Local Governments: An International Comparison
Type: Book
ISBN: 978-1-80117-085-7

Keywords

Book part
Publication date: 15 June 2022

Zahirul Hoque and Thiru Thiagarajah

Accountability in the public sector has generally been discussed in light of public sector auditing and performance measurement. Performance audit or ‘value for money’ audit

Abstract

Accountability in the public sector has generally been discussed in light of public sector auditing and performance measurement. Performance audit or ‘value for money’ audit practice has been implemented at various government levels for assessing three key areas of performance – economy, efficiency and effectiveness. This practice has been significantly influenced by recent reforms in the public sector globally. Local governments or city councils play a significant role in providing community services at grass-root levels. How different actors are involved in auditing practices at the local level has attracted recent research interest world-wide. This chapter contributes to the global public sector accounting literature by presenting a critical overview of the development of local government auditing in Australia. It focusses on the role of the local government regulations and various stakeholders in audit scope, methodologies and practices with an illustration from the state of Victoria in Australia. The evidence presented will contribute to understanding international audit practices in local governments across the globe.

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Auditing Practices in Local Governments: An International Comparison
Type: Book
ISBN: 978-1-80117-085-7

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 8 March 2023

André Feliciano Lino, Ricardo Rocha de Azevedo and Guilherme Simões Belote

This article analysed how data collection systems (DCS) developed by governmental audit organizations (Court of Accounts) affect budgetary planning within local governments.

Abstract

Purpose

This article analysed how data collection systems (DCS) developed by governmental audit organizations (Court of Accounts) affect budgetary planning within local governments.

Design/methodology/approach

Eighteen semi-structured interviews complemented by six time-lagged interviews via WhatsApp were carried out with the actors involved in the preparation and auditing of the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) in Brazilian local governments. Documents such as the structured layouts of Courts' DCS and the publicised MTEF prepared by local governments were also analysed.

Findings

The findings indicate that Courts' DCS structured layouts reduce local governments' budgetary planning autonomy in elaborating their MTEF. It happens as the Courts' main driver is to make MTEF information auditable and not to improve the usefulness of information by governments. As a result, the planning choices of the local governments end up limited, not by the general legislation but by the rules established by the computerized systems of the Courts.

Originality/value

The paper's originality relies on demonstrating that the digitalisation of audit processes ultimately affects local governments' practices through structured layouts for the data collection on MTEF information - that impose rigidity on the budget planning process of local governments. The authors highlight the role of public sector auditing organisations as potential catalysts of reforms; however, this should be considered cautiously since the drivers and motivations of the organisation that sponsors public financial management reforms matter for overall reform effectiveness.

Details

Journal of Public Budgeting, Accounting & Financial Management, vol. 35 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1096-3367

Keywords

Open Access
Article
Publication date: 31 May 2022

Anthony Egyir Aikins, John Victor Mensah and Akwasi Kumi-Kyereme

Internal audit is an essential component of the accountability structure in Ghana's local government system. Favourable conditions are required for its operation to assist…

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Abstract

Purpose

Internal audit is an essential component of the accountability structure in Ghana's local government system. Favourable conditions are required for its operation to assist management bodies to fulfil their responsibilities efficiently and effectively. Using Internal Control-Integrated Framework, this paper investigates the conditions under which internal auditing is carried out in four selected local governments in the Central Region of Ghana.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on interpretivism and qualitative approach, purposive sampling technique was used to select 14 key informants at various levels of governance for primary data by the use of key informant interview guide. The data were analysed using pattern matching and content analysis based on themes.

Findings

The findings of the study indicate that internal auditors faced unfavourable conditions including intimidation, threats and administrative interference in the course of performing their duties.

Research limitations/implications

This paper is based on qualitative data from four selected local governments in the Central Region of Ghana. Hence these findings are specific to the local governments, internal auditors and management bodies in the country to benefit from them. The implication of the findings is closely related to the efforts to realise the ultimate goal of the recent government reforms and the need for further reforms to enhance independence, objectivity, effectiveness and efficiency.

Practical implications

This study helps management of local governments in finding out conditions under which internal auditing operates. This helps to enhance favourable conditions and minimise the unfavourable conditions for the purpose of efficient and effective utilisation of resources towards improvement of service delivery of local government system to meet the needs of the people.

Social implications

The study contributes to the understanding and application of Internal Control-Integrated Framework to local government system in the Central Region. It also uses the agency theory to explain the conditions under which internal auditing is carried out in the selected local government institutions.

Originality/value

This study provides new insight into the conditions of carrying out internal auditing in local governments and raises awareness of stakeholders on the need to enhance service delivery to the people. It also introduces a novel idea of placing all internal auditors under a newly established Internal Audit Class to advance independence and objectivity.

Details

Asian Journal of Accounting Research, vol. 7 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2443-4175

Keywords

Book part
Publication date: 15 June 2022

Laurence Ferry, Pasquale Ruggiero and Henry Midgley

This chapter summarises the analysis of the preceding chapters. Whilst different countries use different models for their audit, some continuities do emerge. The audit explosion…

Abstract

This chapter summarises the analysis of the preceding chapters. Whilst different countries use different models for their audit, some continuities do emerge. The audit explosion has led to the advance of both financial and performance audits. Inspection however remains an infrequent feature of the audit landscape. Many countries have a localised system of local audit in which the role and influence of audit is variable. Furthermore, the audit of local government lacks a clear democratic role at the moment.

Details

Auditing Practices in Local Governments: An International Comparison
Type: Book
ISBN: 978-1-80117-085-7

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 1 March 2010

David S. T. Matkin

Recent financial scandals in the private sector have led to widespread speculation that public organizations may be susceptible to similar events of financial misconduct and…

Abstract

Recent financial scandals in the private sector have led to widespread speculation that public organizations may be susceptible to similar events of financial misconduct and should, therefore, be required to adopt similar strategies to those that are mandated of private-sector corporations under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. This paper looks at one of those strategies by examining the use of audit committees in U.S. local governments. Specifically, this paper explores (1) why local governments have heretofore voluntarily created audit committees, (2) the perceived benefits and problems of audit committees, and (3) whether the use of audit committees is compatible with the principal-agent logic that underlies their promotion.

Details

Journal of Public Budgeting, Accounting & Financial Management, vol. 22 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1096-3367

Article
Publication date: 1 March 2002

Gary Giroux, Rowan Jones and Maurice Pendlebury

This paper offers a comparison of local government accounting and auditing in the U.S. and the U.K., including descriptions of the wider environment of the two governmental…

Abstract

This paper offers a comparison of local government accounting and auditing in the U.S. and the U.K., including descriptions of the wider environment of the two governmental systems. The paper identifies two major differences in accounting. The first is that, in the U.S., the standard-setter makes requirements, whereas the U.K. policy-maker issues recommendations, which are sometimes not followed. The second is that, in the context of public reports outside the audited financial statements, the U.K. government has mandated the preparation and publication of performance measures by local governments.

Details

Journal of Public Budgeting, Accounting & Financial Management, vol. 14 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1096-3367

Open Access
Article
Publication date: 4 September 2019

Wahyudin Nor, Muhammad Hudaya and Rifqi Novriyandana

The purpose of this paper is to examine the extent to which audit opinion, audit findings, follow-up audit recommendations, level of education, level of welfare and heads of local

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Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the extent to which audit opinion, audit findings, follow-up audit recommendations, level of education, level of welfare and heads of local governments’ commitment influence the disclosure of financial statements on the official website of local government.

Design/methodology/approach

The data of this research comprise 68 financial statements during the period 2015–2016 collected from 34 local governments across Indonesia by employing the census method. The data then are analyzed using logistic regression.

Findings

The results of this study show that audit opinion has a positive significant influence on the disclosure of financial statements on local government websites in Indonesia, while the audit findings, follow-up audit recommendations, level of education, level of welfare and heads of local governments’ commitment have no significant influences on the disclosure of financial statements local governments’ websites across Indonesia.

Originality/value

The study contributes to the public sector accounting research by enhancing our understanding to the disclosure of financial statements on local government websites.

Details

Asian Journal of Accounting Research, vol. 4 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2443-4175

Keywords

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