International Organization of Supreme Audit Institutions


The International Organization of Supreme Audit Institutions is an intergovernmental organization whose members are supreme audit institutions. Nearly every supreme audit institution in the world is a member of INTOSAI. Depending on the type of system used in their home country, the members of INTOSAI may be variously titled the Chief Financial Controller, the Office of the Comptroller General, the Office of the Auditor General, the Court of Accounts, or the Board of Audit.
INTOSAI holds a triennial conference entitled the International Congress of Supreme Audit Institutions.
It publishes the quarterly International Journal of Government Auditing and publishes guidelines and international standards on auditing.

History

INTOSAI was founded in 1953 in Havana, Cuba. Thirty-four audit organizations formed the group originally and as of 2010 the current membership includes 193 institutions.
The members of INTOSAI are the primary external auditors of the United Nations. The UN's General Assembly appoints the UN Board of Auditors among the INTOSAI member representatives.

International Standards of Supreme Audit Institutions

The International Standards of Supreme Audit Institutions are a benchmark for auditing public entities.
The "INTOSAI Auditing Standards" had been approved by the INCOSAI in 1998 and updated in 2001. In its strategic plan 2005–2010, the INTOSAI decided to "provide an up-to-date framework of professional standards", so the INTOSAI Professional Standards Committee decided to merge the existing and new INTOSAI standards and guidelines into a framework.
The framework comprises all documents endorsed by INCOSAI with the purpose of guiding the professional standards used by SAIs
The list of ISSAIs is in the table below:
  • Auditing Standards stipulate general principles and postulates for carrying out the audit work;
  • Implementation Guidelines give more detailed guidance, practical assistance to SAIs in implementing the Standards in their individual constituents.
Hierarchical level of the textISSAI seriesNameNotes and Links and )
Level 1: Founding PrinciplesISSAI 1The Lima Declaration
Level 2: PrerequisitesISSAI 10-40Prerequisites for the Functioning of Supreme Audit Institutions
Level 3: Fundamental Auditing PrinciplesISSAI 100-400Basic Principles, General Standards, Field Standards, and Reporting Standards
Level 4: Auditing GuidelinesISSAI 1000-1810Financial Audit Guidelines
ISSAI 3000-3100Performance Audit Guidelines
ISSAI 4000-4200Compliance Audit Guidelines
ISSAI 5000-5010Guidelines on auditing International Institutions
ISSAI 5100-5140Guidelines on Environmental Audit
ISSAI 5200-5240Guidelines on Privatisation
ISSAI 5300-5399guidelines on IT-audit
ISSAI 5400-5499Guidelines on Audit of Public Debt
ISSAI 5500-5599Guidelines on Audit of Disaster-related Aid
ISSAI 5600-5699Guidelines on Peer Reviews
Guidance for Good governanceINTOSAI GOVs 9100 - 9230Internal Control and Accounting Standards

Public-sector audit types

Financial Audit

focuses on determining whether an entity’s financial information is presented in accordance with the applicable financial reporting and regulatory framework. This is accomplished by obtaining sufficient and appropriate audit evidence to enable the auditor to express an opinion as to whether the financial information is free from material misstatement due to fraud or error.

Performance Audit

focuses on whether interventions, programmes and institutions are performing in accordance with the principles of economy, efficiency and effectiveness and whether there is room for improvement. Performance is examined against suitable criteria, and the causes of deviations from those criteria or other problems are analysed. The aim is to answer key audit questions and to provide recommendations for improvement.

Compliance Audit

focuses on whether a particular subject matter is in compliance with authorities identified as criteria. Compliance auditing is performed by assessing whether activities, financial transactions and information are, in all material respects, in compliance with the authorities which govern the audited entity. These authorities may include rules, laws and regulations, budgetary resolutions, policy, established codes, agreed terms or the general principles governing sound public sector financial management and the conduct of public officials.

Publications

In addition to the INTOSAI members, the following intergovernmental organizations have adopted INTOSAI AS:
  • Council of Europe
  • European Communities
  • *The European Court of Auditors performs its audits in accordance with the IFAC and INTOSAI Auditing Standards and Codes of ethics, in so far as these are applicable in the European Community context.
  • European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts
  • *Audit by two appointed Supreme Audit Institutions.
  • European Space Agency
  • *Audit by an Audit Board composed of Supreme Audit Institutions auditors.
  • EUMETSAT
  • *Audit by an appointed Supreme Audit Institution.
  • International Criminal Police Organization
  • North Atlantic Treaty Organization
  • Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
  • *Audit by a Supreme Audit Institution.
  • The United Nations
  • *The United Nations' Board of Auditors has adopted the ISAs. The Board is composed of three Supreme Audit Institutions chairmen, familiar with and usually using the INTOSAI Auditing Standards.

    INTOSAI and Internal Audit

The Institute of Internal Auditors is among the five associated members of the INTOSAI. The INTOSAI is a strong advocate for the establishment of Independent Internal audit in public entities.
  • ISSAI 1610 – Using the Work of Internal Auditors
  • INTOSAI Guidance for Good governance: INTOSAI GOVs 9100–9230
The guidance "INTOSAI GOV 9100" states:
  • "The Supreme Audit Institution also has a vested interest in ensuring that strong internal audit units exist where needed. Those audit units constitute an important element of internal control by providing a continuous means for improving an organisation's operations. In some countries, however, the internal audit units may lack independence, be weak, or be non-existent. In those cases, the SAI should, whenever possible, offer assistance and guidance to establish and develop those capacities and to ensure the independence of the internal auditor's activities."
  • "The creation of an internal audit unit as part of the internal control system is a strong signal by management that internal control is important.... For an internal audit function to be effective, it is essential that the internal audit staff be independent from management, work in an unbiased, correct and honest way and that they report directly to the highest level of authority within the organisation.... "For professional guidance, internal auditors should use the Professional Practices Framework of the Institute of Internal Auditors Additionally, internal auditors should follow the INTOSAI Code of Ethics".

    Regional working groups

  • AFROSAI: African Organization of Supreme Audit Institutions
  • ARABOSAI: Arab Organization of Supreme Audit Institutions
  • ASOSAI: Asian Organization of Supreme Audit Institutions
  • CAROSAI: Caribbean Organization of Supreme Audit Institutions
  • EUROSAI: European Organization of Supreme Audit Institutions
  • OLACEFS: Organization of Latin American and Caribbean Supreme Audit Institutions
  • PASAI: Pacific Association of Supreme Audit Institutions

    List of INTOSAI Conferences

Memberships

The following supreme audit institution are members of INTOSAI:

Full Members