University partnership to build government financial audit capabilities in the Pacific

Auckland, New Zealand: The Pacific Association of Supreme Audit Institutions (PASAI) is collaborating with the University of the South Pacific (USP) to deliver a series of online workshops on accounting and reporting standards for government auditors, starting today.

Twenty participants (16 female, four male) from seven government audit offices (in the Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga and Tuvalu)  will participate in seven online workshops on the International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS) and the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS).

The training aims to bring staff at public audit offices up to date with IPSAS and their applications to the government financial reporting framework.

The sessions will include discussions on the standards as well as practical exercises and case studies to illustrate their application. Additionally, consultation sessions of up to two hours will be available to each participating audit office on a needs basis throughout the workshop series which runs until 7 December 2022.

The facilitation team includes PASAI’s Director (South Pacific), Meresimani Vosawale-Katuba, and from the USP’s School of Accounting, Finance and Economics, Dr Nacanieli Rika, Dr Folototo Seve, Dr Ilimotama Cawi and Professor Arvind Patel.

On an intended training outcome, Ms Vosawale-Katuba said, “When SAI staff conduct audits in accordance with international financial and auditing standards that helps to support the government in its decision-making through reliable and transparent financial reporting.”

Building the capacity of its member SAIs to effectively audit financial statements is fundamental to PASAI’s overarching goal of improving accountability and governance in the Pacific region.

PASAI acknowledges the support of the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) and the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).

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Contact information:

Meresimani Vosawale-Katuba, Director – South PASAI
E: Meresimani.VosawaleKatuba@pasai.org P: +64 9 304 1275

PDF version of this media release

SAI Chuuk releases follow up audit report on Debt Relief Fund

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This report covered the period beginning fiscal year 2019-2021.

It was submitted to the Legislature and Governor on 20 October 2022.

PDF of OCPA Press Release 2022-03

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PDF of ONPA Press Release #2023-01

SAI FSM National releases inspection report on two public road projects in Kitti

The Office of the National Public Auditor (ONPA) submitted its latest Inspection Report Stronger internal controls needed at Department of Transportation, Communication and Infrastructure to prevent loss of funds on delayed and incomplete public projects to the President and the Congress on 27 September 2022.

PDF of ONPA Press Release #2022-07

Course aims to enhance strategic audit coverage of government sectors in the Pacific

Auckland, New Zealand: The Pacific Association of Supreme Audit Institutions (PASAI) is aiming to improve the quality and effectiveness of audits Pacific Island SAIs conduct with government audit staff training that starts today.

The course on the strategic planning of compliance and performance audits will provide auditors with the tools and techniques to identify, prioritise and select audit topics with a strategic and systematic approach while considering all sectors, areas of risk in government and matters of public interest.

PASAI Chief Executive, Esther Lameko-Poutoa, opened the workshop reminding participants that, “The effectiveness of a SAI in holding government to account in its use of public finances depends on the quality of the audit.

“The SAI must work in partnership with Parliament and the executive government and make use of audit findings and recommendations to influence positive change.”

Thirty-four participants (18 female, 16 male) from 10 government audit offices (in the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) National, FSM Chuuk, FSM Kosrae, FSM Yap, Fiji, Kiribati, the Marshall Islands, Papua New Guinea, Samoa and Tuvalu) will participate in four, part-day online workshops held on 5, 6 and 12 October and 1 November 2022.

Independent assessments of 20 SAIs in the region revealed many of them have not considered a wide variety of issues or sectors when selecting audit topics for compliance and performance audits.

Sinaroseta Palamo-Iosefo (Director – Practice Development, PASAI) and Meresimani Vosawale-Katuba (Director – South, PASAI) will facilitate the workshops. Doris Flores Brooks (Director – North, PASAI), will moderate a panel discussion of experts sharing insights into selecting audit topics and planning work.

Ms Palamo-Iosefo explained, “A SAI should have a process for selecting audit topics in a meaningful manner, enabling it to focus audits on significant issues and cover the various sectors in government operations.

“In this way, a SAI can prioritise resources and report findings on areas that are relevant to the country and of interest to the public.”

This capacity development course is spread over a month so participants can practise, document and present their processes for feedback.

PASAI acknowledges the support of the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) and the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).

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Contact information:

Sinaroseta Palamo-Iosefo, Director Practice Development PASAI, Auckland, New Zealand
E: sina.iosefo@pasai.org P: +64 9 304 1275

PDF version of this media release