Forensic audit key to curb corruption: NAO

TDT | Manama                                                                              

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

Forensic audit is an effective and reliable tool in detecting cases of corruption and fraud of a financial and administrative nature.

This was emphasised by National Audit Office (NAO) Auditor General Shaikh Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Khalifa in his address in the Journal on Financial Control issued by the Arab Organization of Supreme Audit Institutions (ARABOSAI).

He indicated that forensic audit proved to be effective in enhancing audit methods and achieving more specialised and technical results. Investigative or forensic auditing included submitting reports on the results to the judicial, state, and competent authorities with recommendations on how to avoid abuses.

Shaikh Ahmed bin Mohammed stressed the importance of development, modernisation, and keeping pace with the latest advancements to raise the level of results achieved and services provided He pointed out that NAO enhanced the skills and capabilities of its employees in the field of investigative auditing, in cooperation with reputable international institutions and supported its staff to obtain professional forensic auditing qualifications to provide recommendations to the entities covered by the NAO’s audit mandate.

NAO’s aspiration is to expand its investigative auditing work which required enhancing its forensic audit capabilities through reviewing related policies and updating relevant audit tools to keep up with the developments in that field.

“Keeping pace with the latest developments in any profession and work remains the most important way to ensure success, continuity, and improvement of results and services, while maintaining rules and regulations in line with the laws, and determining requirements which certainly apply to the various types of audit work,” NAO auditor general said.

Shaikh Ahmed bin Mohammed stressed that the work of audit institutions is governed by the principle of protecting public funds and verifying their proper management. ARABOSAI’s coordination is important in developing training programs aimed at building capacity and exchanging experiences in various areas, he noted.