Report on the Work and Activities of the National Audit Office – 2017

Charles Deguara, Auditor General, presented to the Hon. Dr. Anglu Farrugia, Speaker of the House of Representatives, the annual report on the Work and Activities of the National Audit Office (NAO) for the year ending 31 December 2017. This Report was compiled by an NAO editorial team headed by the Deputy Auditor General, Noel Camilleri.

In the introductory part of the Report, the Auditor General provides an overview of the tasks, activities, developments, and achievements by NAO for 2017. The Report then outlines the activities undertaken by NAO to celebrate the twentieth anniversary since its setting up as an independent state audit office, most notable of which were visits by local and foreign distinguished personalities to the Office, including first time ever visits to the Office by the Hon. Prime Minister and the former Hon. Leader of the Opposition. It also describes NAO’s interaction with Parliament, especially with the Hon. Speaker to whom all reports issued are presented, and ongoing participation in the meetings of the Public Accounts Committee and the National Audit Office Accounts Committee. Reference is also made to the excellent working relationship with the European Court of Audit, particularly with the Maltese Member, Mr Leo Brincat.

Other important events held by NAO during 2017 were:

• NAO Seminar on The Role and Contribution of NAO in the implementation of Accrual Accounting across Government(3 May 2017)
• NAO/ECA Joint Audit Seminar on Audit Follow-up in the Public Sector: Enhancing Accountability(12 September 2017)
• EU Contact Committee Joint Seminars on the Fiscal Policy Audit Network and Europe 2020 Strategy Audit Network (30 and 31 May 2017).

The Report highlights NAO’s commitment to retain and develop its human resource complement. This was attained through improved working conditions for all NAO staff in the Office’s new collective agreement for the period 2017-2024, signed in November 2017, as well as through the agreement reached between NAO and the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy for the provision by the latter of a comprehensive professional development programme related to auditing to NAO staff. As rightly stated by H.E. The President, Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca, during her official visit to the Office in December 2017, the professionalism, competency and integrity shown by NAO’s staff constitute the main reason for the Office’s credibility.

An overview of the major type of audits undertaken by NAO, including Financial and Compliance Audits, Performance Audits, Special Audits and Investigations and IT Audits was also provided. Moreover, a summary of two innovative reports, namely a report titled Follow-up Reports by the National Audit Office 2017 and a stand-alone report titled Ministry for Finance: An Analysis on Revenue Collection was also given.

The audited financial statements of the Office are presented in the final part of the Report.