Internal audit workshop for two ministries

A TOTAL of 80 participants from two government ministries attended the fifth Internal Audit Workshop and briefing sessions organised by the Auditing Department yesterday, in the hopes of improving its implementation in government agencies and standardising its process.

The Auditing Department under the Prime Minister's Office have been holding workshops on a consistent basis with this latest instalment at the Civil Service Institute.

According to Acting General Auditor Datin Hjh Norlina Dato Hj Abu Bakar, the department has been organising these workshops since April and this current one will last two days with the Ministry of Health and Education.

"The workshop and briefing continues tomorrow where it will be split into different sessions. We also accommodate those who failed to attend the previous four sessions due to personal reasons," the acting general auditor said during an interview.

Datin Hjh Norlina added that the services of the Auditing Department does not stop there as reports of their progress is sent every quarter year.

"If guidance is needed from our side, we will help them without hesitance. It's our responsibility to guide them as we can't just leave them before they even started 'walking' on their own," said the acting general auditor.

In her opening speech, Datin Hjh Norlina highlighted the department's initiative to provide guidance towards the implementation of an internal audit in relevant ministries and departments under it.

"This allows the Internal Auditing Unit to operate more efficiently. The unit will be able to widen their auditing scope to stabilise and increase the control internally," she said.

According to a press statement from the Auditing Department yesterday, the briefings are held to boost the effectiveness of internal auditing in government ministries and departments, which acts as a reference and guidance to others.

The briefing also explains why the formation of an Internal Auditing Unit in government agencies is necessary.

It is hoped that with the manual for the implementation of internal auditing along with the briefing and workshop, the officers and staff of the Internal Auditing Unit will acquire the basic skills needed in regard to the internal auditing work processes which they will be carrying out.

This allows the staff to focus on compliance audits towards accounts which constantly experience errors, such as cash and returns, salary and allowance as well as expenses and storage.

The fifth Internal Audit Workshop will be the last of the workshop to be held this year. (GDN1)

The Brunei Times