Audit quality management
The NAOF’s status and work as an independent external auditor require that audits be of high quality. Quality management ensures that audits meet the quality criteria set for them.
The aim of audit quality management is that all audits are conducted in compliance with the NAOF’s audit manual and that auditing implements the NAOF’s strategic goals.
Quality management refers to arrangements by which the NAOF seeks to ascertain the quality of its work. They include
- an organisational structure that supports the work
- steering of the audit process
- auditors’ competence requirements and competence development
- guidelines issued for auditing
- each auditor’s responsibility for performing their duties well and improving the quality of their work.
Quality control and quality reviews
Quality control and quality reviews are essential elements of quality management. Quality control refers to monitoring the quality of the audit while it is being conducted, whereas a quality review means assessing the quality of audits afterwards.
Quality management is an essential part of the audit process. Quality control covers all stages of the audit from the selection of audit topics to follow-up. Its purpose is to not only verify but also improve quality while audits are being conducted.
The aim of quality control is to ensure that:
- audit reports fulfil the NAOF’s mission
- audits are conducted in compliance with the audit guidelines
- audit questions have been answered reliably
- audit conclusions and recommendations are well-founded.
Some audit projects and follow-ups are evaluated retrospectively in quality reviews. A quality review evaluates the effectiveness of the quality management system and seeks to draw lessons from the work performed. Observations that come up in quality reviews are reported to the Auditor General and the Directors of the Audit Unit and the Monitoring and Oversight Unit. The Auditor General and unit directors process the feedback received and decide on the necessary actions.
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All NAOF audits are carried out following its audit manual, which defines the good audit practice to be followed in audits. The manual ensures that audits are conducted to a high standard and efficiently.
Audit manual