Implementation of updated legislation and information exchange within audits: what will further cooperation with SIGMA be based on
Cooperation within the framework of the audit regarding the reform of the civil servant remuneration system and further expert support were discussed on February 12 during a meeting between representatives of the Accounting Chamber and the Regional Manager for Ukraine, Senior Advisor on Strategy and Reforms of the Support Program for Improving Governance and Management (SIGMA) Martins Krievins.
The Accounting Chamber already has agreements on cooperation with the SIGMA Program regarding consultations of its experts in the study of international experience in reforming the public administration system. These data will be used by auditors within the framework of the launched audit in accordance with the topic "Reform of the remuneration system in the public administration sector" (covering the period 2023 - 1st half of 2025). As the member of the Accounting Chamber responsible for the audit, Kyrylo Klymenko, noted, the team of auditors, among other things, plans to assess whether these measures have achieved equality in remuneration for employees of different state authorities performing the same tasks.
«We will find out, in particular, whether the principle of «equal pay for equal work» is observed, whether the salary scale for civil service positions has been formed in a reasonable and transparent manner and funds have been allocated for the remuneration of labor for all state administration bodies. Also, whether the rules that ensure fairness in determining salaries have been observed and whether the implemented system does not lead to «overflow» of personnel from institutions where salaries are lower to – where they are higher»,– noted Kyrylo Klymenko.
The Head of the Accounting Chamber Olga Pishchanska thanked the partners for the systematic expert support and outlined possible areas for expanding cooperation.
«In particular, this may be an exchange of information regarding the audit, which will concern the issue of public debt management. Expert interaction with the Program in terms of implementing the updated norms of our profile legislation, in particular, regarding the audit of local budgets and consolidated financial reporting, is also important for us,» said the Head of the Accounting Chamber. Also Olga Pishchanska noted the importance of studying the experience of countries in which consolidated financial reporting is formed at the Government level and the SAIs of these states, respectively, conduct its audits.
Martins Krievins confirmed the Program's readiness to provide the Accounting Chamber with analytical data necessary within the scope of audits, and supported initiatives on opportunities for expanding cooperation.
For reference. The Program Support for Improvement in Governance and Management (SIGMA) was launched and implemented by the OECD and the European Union to provide new EU member states and countries covered by the European Neighborhood Policy with assistance in planning and implementing reforms, in particular in the areas of public administration, financial management, external audit and public procurement.
