Services

Financial Audit

Financial Audit is our largest line of business and, as such, has two portfolios. This audit area has primary responsibility for delivering on one of our four strategic goals: promoting sound financial administration and reporting. Work includes auditing the Province's Summary Financial Statements and examining issues related to financial management and information technology.

The annual audit of government's Summary Financial Statements is the largest audit the Office performs. The Summary Financial Statements encompass all government operations, including ministries, Crown corporations, trusts, colleges, school districts, universities, health authorities and other public entities.

The Auditor General is not required to audit each of these organizations individually. However, under Canadian generally accepted auditing standards, the Auditor General must have sufficient knowledge and understanding of the organizations making up the Summary Financial Statements. This knowledge can be obtained by auditing directly some of the organizations and trust funds that make up the Government Reporting Entity. It can also be obtained by relying on the work of other auditors who have been appointed by individual organizations and trust funds.

For more information on our Financial Audit process, please click here.

Performance Audit

The line of business has primary responsibility for delivering our second strategic goal: well-managed provincial programs, services and resources. Performance audits review the wider management issues of an organization or program and whether it is achieving its objectives effectively, economically and efficiently. They are sometimes called "value for money" audits because they can advise whether there is value received for the money being spent. Our performance audits are conducted in accordance with the assurance standards of the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants.

Good governance in public sector organizations provides clear and ethical direction, anticipates danger, communicates effectively, and gives and receives information on performance. Accountability is a key component of good governance, and for over a decade the Office has promoted better public accountability reporting by government.

There are three areas of focus in our governance and accountability audit work: public sector governance, performance reporting, and assurance on performance reporting. Given these areas of focus, this line of business has primary responsibility for delivering on our strategic goals of promoting comprehensive public sector accountability reporting and effective public sector governance.

For more information on our Performance Audit process, please click here.