Prime Minister Sobotka does not underestimate the SAO’s reports about problematic financial management of the State
Prime Minister Sobotka at the SAO – September 8, 2015
On September 8, 2015, Prime Minister of the Czech Government Mr. Bohuslav Sobotka arrived at the Supreme Audit Office (SAO) headquarters and met President of the SAO Mr. Miloslav Kala, Members of the SAO’s Board and some of the SAO’s top managers. During the meeting, both Prime Minister Sobotka and President of the SAO Kala addressed the issues related to the SAO’s future audit activities and the required increase in the SAO’s competences in the field of the budgetary performance of regional and local governments as well as in enterprises partially owned by the State.
President of the SAO introduced new trends in auditing performed by the SAO and highlighted the fact that the SAO intends to exploit the available electronic databases when performing auditing operations so that the SAO auditors do not have to carry out many controls “in-situ” and audited bodies are not overburdened with audits. President Kala also informed Prime Minister Sobotka about the fact that thanks to fully and permanently accessible informational systems of the State administration, the developing central data repository, and the SAO’s new analytic department the auditors will be able to perform substantial parts of their auditing operations without leaving their office desks.
“The central data repository stores huge pieces of information, which are sorted out, adjusted, and analysed. It enables us to gain the necessary information directly from the databases without putting in formal requests at audited bodies and to take better aim of the audit. In other words, auditors will aim at the very risk areas they will have identified during the analysing phases of the auditing operations”, said President of the SAO Kala.
Prime Minister Sobotka pointed out that he had always supported the requirements to increase in the SAO’s competences in the field of the budgetary performance of regional and local governments as well as in enterprises partially owned by the State. The draft law on the SAO’s increased competences has already passed through in the Government Legislative Council. Prime Minister Sobotka said that the draft law would also pass through without complications in the Cabinet and would be on the agenda during the nearest weeks. “It is essential that we all understand how the SAO increased competencies will be implemented. I personally insist that the SAO’s audit reports are not to be submitted to the Government only formally. The SAO’s reports about problematic financial management of the State are not to be underestimated”, said Prime Minister Sobotka.
Communication Department
Supreme Audit Office