IMPLEMENTATION OF AUDIT ASSISTANCE TOOLS IN THE SAO OF LATVIA Dace Nulle Council Member, Director of Audit Department Latvijas Republikas Valsts kontrole Kr.Valdemāra ielā 26, Rīga, LV-1010 Tālrunis: +371 7017500 Fakss: +371 7017673 E-pasts: lrvk@lrvk.gov.lv Mājas lapa: http://www.lrvk.gov.lv September 2007

Strategic Objectives of use of Information Technology SAO is supplied with information systems and technologies: required for the audit work helping to increase the audit work efficiency All employees have good computer skills

Situation analysis before introduction of audit assistance tools SAO uses 3 systems to support audit process: Audit planning system – in MS Excel Time capture system – in MS Excel Monitoring of audit recommendations – in MS Excel Systems are not linked together Methodology is set up to perform financial, legality and performance audits

Main tools Audit Management system – TeamMate Data Analysis Software – IDEA (Interactive Data Extraction & Analysis)

Work organisation for implementation of audit assistance tools IT auditors of SAO responsible for implementation consultants and trainers Detailed plans elaborated Pilot audits are carried out Training programmes developed

Why are audit assistance tools being introduced? Enhance efficiency – find and store documents and information, quickly analyse large amount of data, update methodology Implementation of quality management and ISAs Increasing focus on electronic working and reduction of paper documents, e.g. e-signatures Support flow of information and best practice working Embed new methodology 6

Implementation process of audit assistance tools in SAO Detailed implementation plan developed Introduction seminars for all staff Support provided by experts from UK NAO

Schedule for TeamMate implementation

Planned activities

Schedule for IDEA implementation

Possible benefits More professional approach Efficiency gains Greater confidence Ease of finding support for conclusions Better quality – guidance built into every audit Better management of audits Team working

Thank you for attention! The State Audit Office of the Republic of Latvia Phone: +371 7017500 Fax: +371 7017673 E-mail: lrvk@lrvk.gov.lv