New regional reps on the Governing Board: SAIs of Cameroon & Senegal (AFROSAI); Pakistan & UAE (ASOSAI); Czech Republic & UK (EUROSAI). Pictured clockwise from top left are SAI Norway, SAI Czech Republic, SAI Indonesia, SAI Senegal, and SAI United Kingdom.

Although #SAISaudiArabia does not have the mandate to audit its central bank, she reflected that resilient & transparent financial systems are important. During the COVID-19 crisis, #SAISaudiArabia conducted financial, compliance & performance audits of governmental response initiatives.

For example, most SAIs reported having some authority to audit their central banks, but the scope of authority varied. Challenges in limited expertise, limited audit authority, and concerns about maintaining central bank independence affect SAIs’ oversight of their central banks during crises.

For ex., the audit office utilized #AI to assist w/ analysis for forest qualities in an #environmentalaudit when the site was unable to be accessed. #Machinelearning models allowed the office to estimate the height of trees, species determination, pattern analysis, and canopy density measurement.

UK NAO harnessed products such as data snipper to automate routine audit testing tasks. Early benefits include efficiency & more time for auditors to focus on high-risk, judgment-intensive work. It also noted the need for auditors to scrutinise govt use of AI and adapt workforce skills.