Vice President Bounthong Chitmany. (File photo)

Vice President gives advice to state audit officials

Members of the State Audit Organisation have been instructed to be more diligent in their work and pay more attention to detail when collecting and analysing facts and figures.
Addressing the organisation’s annual meeting on Friday to review work carried out in 2023 and set plans for 2024, Vice President Bounthong Chitmany called on auditing officials countrywide to strictly follow the guidelines of their profession so that the results of audits were clearer and more detailed.
Last year, he said, the results of audits were not sufficiently detailed and auditors failed to comply with the rules when investigating the work of state agencies and seeking clarification on various forms of misconduct.
The Vice President said enhanced coordination and monitoring was required so that targets were met and unsatisfactory audit outcomes were addressed and corrected.
It was necessary to identify what issues needed to be resolved, what could not be resolved, and how much debt had been incurred. This information should then be presented to the government and the Standing Committee of the National Assembly for consideration.
The Vice President’s advice comes amid a heightened focus on analysis during the audit process. He stressed the need to formulate annual audit plans, a general audit plan, and a detailed audit plan so that audits are successful and achieve the intended results. 
“We must pay more attention to educating Party members about political ideology and ensure that civil servants are imbued with strong political qualities and adhere to the ideals of the Party,” he added.
Members of the State Audit Organisation should respect the organisation, respect and comply with the law, and carry out their duties responsibly, conscientiously and with devotion, the Vice President said.
He instructed auditors to be ethical and not abuse their position by accepting bribes or entering into negotiations that benefitted them, saying they must act with integrity, set a good example, and build public trust in the auditing system.
He acknowledged that challenges remain, including the need for better coordination in the auditing process, and redressing the results of unsatisfactory audits in a systemised and just manner.
Closer coordination is also needed between regional audit agencies and local government agencies, and between specialised departments and ministries, other entities, state enterprises, banks, and loan and grant programmes.
The linkages between the Audit Quality Assessment Department, specialised departments and regional audit agencies should be clearly defined and realistic, the Vice President said.
The President of the State Audit Organisation, Mr Viengthavisone Thepphachanh, told the meeting that the auditing of state agencies was extremely important and involved specialised skills in auditing, accounting, and knowledge of the law.
Party members and employees who work in the field of auditing share their experiences and draw lessons from them so they can learn and improve, he said.

By Phetphoxay Sengpaseuth
 (Latest Update March 18, 2024)