Fighting corruption through audits: The Accounting Chamber participates in the 17th meeting of the INTOSAI WGFACML

The contribution of the Accounting Chamber to the fight against corruption in Ukraine through audits and the disclosure of circumstances indicating corruption offences, as well as the institution’s cooperation with law enforcement and anti-corruption agencies, were presented in the speech of Yelyzaveta Pushko-Tsybuliak, Member of the Accounting Chamber, at the 17th meeting of the INTOSAI Working Group on the Fight Against Corruption and Money Laundering (WGFACML)

Yelyzaveta Pushko-Tsybuliak is responsible for the audits of the Accounting Chamber conducted in the areas of Law Enforcement, Anti-Corruption and Public Order and Culture, Scientific Activity, Spiritual and Physical Development. Yelyzaveta Pushko-Tsybuliak focused on the tools used by the Accounting Chamber in the process of conducting audits during the presentation of the institution’s activities to the international community:

“When we examine anti-corruption programmes, we evaluate the actions and measures taken to identify risks, including corruption risks, that may arise during their activities.If we identify facts with signs of corruption offences, we immediately inform the law enforcement and anti-corruption agencies. In addition, we carry out control measures in special anti-corruption agencies, assess the effectiveness and compliance of their activities, and identify internal risks. We find out whether the anti-corruption agencies respond in a timely and complete manner to the signals and information provided to them by representatives of the public and other stakeholders,” she said.

The Member of the Accounting Chamber expressed her gratitude to His Excellency INTOSAI First Vice President, Chairman of the INTOSAI Working Group on Fight Against Corruption and Money Laundering (WGFACML), President of the Accountability State Authority of Egypt, Counsellor Mohamed El-Faisal Youssef, and His Excellency Humaid Obaid Abushibs, Chairman of the UEA Accountability Authority for the invitation and opportunity for Ukraine to participate in this event.

The meeting in Abu Dhabi (United Arab Emirates) took place from 3 to 5 September.  The Accounting Chamber was also represented by the Chief Specialist of the Department of Control (Audit) in the Sphere of Culture, Science, Spiritual and Physical Development Yurii Pohorelov.

During the meeting, the SAIs members of the Working Group exchanged their experience and views on cooperation with civil society and the use of social media in the activities of SAIs. They emphasized the importance of informing the public about strengthening anti-corruption measures, fighting money laundering and supporting the economic environment.

The event also included several bilateral meetings between the Accounting Chamber’s representatives and the participants from other countries. Representatives of the ACU discussed with the President of the Accountability State Authority of Egypt, Counsellor Mohamed El-Faisal Youssef, possible cooperation between the institutions on anti-corruption audits.  The President of the SAI of Egypt received a congratulatory letter from the Chairwoman of the ACU on the occasion of his appointment. Mr. Mohamed El-Faisal Youssef expressed his gratitude and hope to intensify cooperation with the SAI of Ukraine.

The Accounting Chamber’s representatives also exchanged experience in conducting a focus audit with representatives of the National Audit Department of Malaysia and discussed control measures in the field of public financing of the statutory activities of political parties with experts from the French Court of Audit.

Representatives of the SAI of Ukraine also met with colleagues from the US Government Accountability Office (GAO), the Austrian Chamber of Accounts, the Czech Supreme Audit Office, the National Audit Office of Tanzania, the Omani State Audit Institution, the Public Audit Office of the Kingdom of Thailand, and the Moroccan Chamber of Accounts. During the meetings, they discussed the possibility of establishing an exchange of experience in the conduct of financial audits and the practical application of Guideline (GUID) 9000 "Joint Audits".

During her visit to the UAE, Yelyzaveta Pushko-Tsybuliak also met with the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ukraine to the UAE, Dmytro Senik. The parties discussed plans to sign a Memorandum of Cooperation between the SAI of Ukraine and the SAI of the United Arab Emirates.