Audit objective
The overall audit objective was to determine whether each of the Districts had managed its DSIP
funds effectively and efficiently and in compliance with the requirements of the Finance Instruction,
the Public Finances (Management) Act and other applicable laws and regulations.
The specific objectives of the DSIP audits were to:
- Ascertain total amount of DSIP funds received by the District and the total amount of these funds spent by the District during the period under review;
- Ascertain whether expenditure incurred was on items permitted by the Finance Instruction;
- Ascertain whether funds allocated to projects under each designated program have been in accordance with the Finance Instruction; and
- Ascertain whether administrative requirements of the Finance Instruction, the Public Finances (Management) Act and other authoritative instruction/ guidelines have been complied with.
Approach and methodology
Approach
The audit approach was to perform tests to ascertain whether the management of the funds as well as the expenditure were in compliance with the relevant authoritative rules and regulations in place and that goods and services have been received in accordance with the intent of the Finance Instruction. A concurrent purpose is to provide recommendations, where necessary, for improvements.
Methodology
The audit methodology included:
- The establishment of audit criteria for the assessment of the use of DSIP funds;
- Interviews with the District Administrator and District Treasurer;
- Examination of the District documentation for the management of the DSIP; and
- Inspections of the facilities procured as part of the DSIP.
The audits also considered and commented on framework issues detailed in the Finance Instruction to confirm whether there were weaknesses in the Instruction that should be corrected.
Scope
The 2012/ 2013 audit scope covered 22 Districts (refer Appendix 1 for details of individual Districts) and covered the period from February 2008 to October 2012.