DEPARTMENT OF AUDIT
The Department few would like to be associated with, "there are on to you, there are
investigating that purchase that was hurriedly conduct because the Secretary or Minister had not given us sufficient time to get the necessary three (3) quotations." These are just a few of the undertones that you would here within the corridors when the auditors arrive to carry out there routine audits.
Who
Let us try to clarify a few misconceptions, we are here to serve, assist, give directions (suggestions), observe and of course report back. The nature of the job allows for the department to understand the goings on of other departments and question certain events so as to get a full understanding of what the departments are about. This ability also makes it possible for the Audit department then to be able to later give advice to other departments should they then veer from regular practice.
Why
The Permanent Secretary is the accounting officer of the ministry and hence responsible for the goings on of the ministry, because the Secretaries cannot do everything in their capacity they then rely on the Directors of various Departments to carryout the day-to-day functions of their Ministries. While this is a noble why of dividing the Secretaries chores it comes with its limitations, will the Directors of the various departments stick to there scripts or will they start cutting corners in there executions. The reports will come in saying this and that was accomplished as to your expectations but this the reality on the ground. This scenario brings in the question of stewardship hence the need for the Auditors; these are the Secretary's eyes and ears on the ground. Auditors then interact with the various departments and provide the Secretary with a second opinion on what the various departments will be alluding to have accomplished.
The purpose of the department is to inform the Secretary of the goings on but at the same time to advice the various department of ways to improve internal controls which in turn improves in the execution of there functions. Activities in business hinge on financial ability and hence the concentration of our efforts in that department it is definitely not our purpose for being but is mostly our biggest challenge.
The department serves all, so please if there are any areas that need clarity do not hesitate we will assist to ensure that we have nothing to report to the Secretary, Treasury or the Comptroller and Auditor-General. We are on a quest to have a report that says, "There are no areas to qualify"