A look inside the Austrian Court of Audit
Margit Kraker has served as President of the Austrian Court of Audit (ACA) since 1 July 2016. To mark the tenth anniversary of her appointment, the ACA is releasing a special edition of Trust: The ACA Podcast as part of the "ACA x 10" anniversary series.
Addressing current issues
“In these ten episodes, the ACA shows how it has evolved over the past ten years. For the ACA, it is important to address the issues that matter most to society today,” says ACA President Margit Kraker.
How does the ACA select its audits? How does it work with Parliament, the provincial diets and the municipal councils? What happens if an audited entity is reluctant to be audited? What skills should an auditor have? How does the ACA recruit new staff? Which innovative audit methods does it use? How can the ACA make an impact? What tangible benefits does it deliver for citizens?
These and many other questions offer listeners an inside look at how the ACA works. Staff members from across the institution share their perspectives, while auditors reflect on a selection of audits and the insights they gained from them.
Chapter 1 – The President
"It takes perseverance!" In "Chapter 1 – The President", the opening episode of the series, ACA President Margit Kraker offers a personal insight into her day-to-day work. She talks about the qualities needed to lead the ACA, her longstanding connection to Parliament, and the political challenges of the role. Furthermore, she reveals which aspects of her work as President she enjoys most.
Reflecting on her first ten years in office, she says: “What has mattered most to me from the very beginning – and continues to matter – is ensuring that the ACA remains a modern institution.”
Margit Kraker has shaped the Austrian Court of Audit not only as the head of an institution with around 300 staff members. She has also played a leading role in advancing public sector auditing and strengthening cooperation among Supreme Audit Institutions around the world. Asked what has been most important to her during her first ten years in office, she says: "What has mattered most to me from the very beginning – and continues to matter – is ensuring that the Austrian Court of Audit remains a modern institution." Margit Kraker has shaped the ACA not only as the head of an institution with around 300 employees. She has also been instrumental in advancing public sector auditing and fostering international cooperation among Supreme Audit Institutions.
Listen to the episode here:
ACA x 10: Chapter 1 – The President (in German)
Chapter 2 – The Secretary General of INTOSAI
In her capacity as Secretary General of the International Organization of Supreme Audit Institutions (INTOSAI), Margit Kraker is also committed to strengthening Supreme Audit Institutions (SAIs) worldwide and to safeguarding their independence. This is the focus of "Chapter 2 – The Secretary General".
"The remarkable thing about INTOSAI is that it truly brings together Supreme Audit Institutions from around the world," says Margit Kraker. She observes furthermore: “Reports that remain for internal use only do not meet the standards of independence.” In this episode, listeners will also discover what sets the ACA apart from audit institutions in other countries, what it has uncovered through its international audits, and how cooperation among the more than 200 members of this international organization – including 195 SAIs –works in practice. “As Secretary General, it is very important to me that INTOSAI remains a vibrant organization,” says Margit Kraker.
ACA x 10: Chapter 2 – The Secretary General of INTOSAI (in German)
The remaining eight episodes will be released over the coming weeks on the podcast channel "Trust – The ACA Podcast."
Trust: The ACA Podcast is currently available on:
Transcripts (in German):
Trust: The ACA Podcast: accessible transcripts