National Audit Office of Finland

The National Audit Office has audited the final central government accounts and the Government’s annual report for 2020. The aim of the audit was to examine whether the final central government accounts have been prepared in compliance with the regulations and whether the budget and budget provisions have been followed. In addition, the National Audit Office also examined whether the Government reports on the state of central and general government finances and on the operational performance in its annual report as required by law.

The norm-based steering of basic education aims at promoting the teaching of skills needed in future working life. However, the adequacy of information-based steering to support education should be ensured even after the local curricula have been completed, so that the future skills can be taught as effectively as possible.

General government must now keep separate accounts for their economic activities in a competitive market environment. The accounting offices should identify activities conducted in a competitive market environment in a consistent manner, but this is challenging.

The activities of the National Audit Office of Finland (NAOF) are currently being investigated both internally and externally.

Intense work has continued at the NAOF after the Christmas break – in both audit and monitoring. In addition to auditing, the end of 2020 at the NAOF was marked by numerous hearings by parliamentary committees: the topics varied from fiscal policy and management of employment to incorporation of central government operations and risk management. Hearings play an important role, as Parliament is one our key stakeholders even in the use of impartial information. We have also continued to have a close dialogue with the management of ministries over remote connections, which has also been useful for the planning of our operations.

Information is required for understanding the world around us, for decision making, and for preparing for the future. We need to know the big picture, but as well – to a certain degree – the bits and pieces it’s made of. In addition, the connections and interactions of these pieces are of most importance. Quite often it is like we are building a jigsaw puzzle whose pieces are scattered all around, not knowing whether they will ever be found. Some of the pieces are still to be created – and simultaneously the world around us is changing, thus modifying the picture we are building.