How audits are performed

Every audit starts with the audit planning. During the selection of audit topics we pay special attention to:

• risk potentials
• levels of expenditure
• changes of key parameters
• current events
• special public interest as well as
• preventive effects.

Since 2017, the Austrian Court of Audit has called upon citizens to submit their suggestions for audits in the framework of its audit planning process. Furthermore, the members of the National Council and the provincial parliaments may address an audit request to the Austrian Court of Audit. If at least 20 members of the National Council or one third of the members of the provincial parliaments vote for an audit, the Austrian Court of Audit will take action.

First the auditors prepare themselves carefully for the audit. Then the so-called in situ inspection takes place and the auditors collect and analyse documents and have conversations with representatives of the audited entity. Based on the findings they compile the audit results, which contain an evaluation of the status quo as well as recommendations for improvements. The Austrian Court of Audit then submits the audit results – the so-called “draft report” – to the audited entity for a statement. Once the Austrian Court of Audit receives a statement, it compiles – if necessary – a reply, which could be called a “statement of reply”. All of these statements are included in the final report.

Once the final report is completed, it is submitted to the National Council or the provincial parliaments and, if necessary, presented to the municipal councils. After that, it is published on the website of the Austrian Court of Audit.

All of these reports are available to you and you can search for them <here>{Link