The National Audit Office has audited the final central government accounts and the Government’s annual report for 2021. The aim of the audit was to examine whether the final central government accounts have been prepared in compliance with the regulations and whether the budget and budget provisions have been followed. In addition, the National Audit Office also examined whether the Government reports on the state of central and general government finances and on the operational performance in its annual report as required by law.
The financial audit conducted shows that the final central government accounts for 2021 have been prepared in compliance with all relevant provisions.
Based on the financial audits, the National Audit Office draws attention to procedures that are in violation of the state budget and the key budget provisions and that are also in contravention of the provisions on central government finances laid down in the Constitution of Finland. A total of 9 accounting offices were issued with qualified opinions on regularity on account of such violations. The National Audit Office submitted a total of 61 financial audit reports on the financial audits of ministries and other accounting offices for the 2021 budget year.
The Government’s annual report provides information on the relevant issues required by law. The societal impact targets included in the budget proposal are reported on adequately, but there are shortcomings in the reporting on operational performance and cost-effectiveness. The annual report provides fairly comprehensive information on the implementation of the key objectives set out in the Government Programme. The state of sustainable development is reported on in a concise manner. The ministries’ reports on sustainable development measures in their own administrative sectors do not provide a clear picture of the efficiency, economy, and effectiveness of these measures.
As a rule, the Government’s annual report deals with general government finances comprehensively. The interest rate risk on central government debt and its significance should be illustrated in a clearer and more diverse manner. The reporting on the financial position of the central government should be strengthened overall.
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