The National Audit Office of Finland (NAOF) performs international duties as the Supreme Audit Institution (SAI) and the Independent Fiscal Institution (IFI) in Finland. The NAOF also participates in international cooperation by maintaining good relations and engaging in an active exchange of information and dialogue with international actors, especially other SAIs.
Key focus areas and objectives of international activities
The NAOF pursues international cooperation in the umbrella organizations of SAIs and their regional organizations, networks and working groups. The focus areas in the international cooperation are the sustainable development goals (SDGs) set out in the UN’s 2030 Agenda, international strategy work, the societal impact of audit work, quality control, digitalization and data analytics. The NAOF is also actively engaged in an international dialogue to develop the audit sector and the standards supporting it. The NAOF also monitors developments in the global operating environment and the strategic challenges arising from them. In 2019, the NAOF took over the presidency of the INTOSAI Working Group on Environmental Auditing (WGEA).
The aim of international activities is to perform the international duties of professional external audit and fiscal policy monitoring efficiently and effectively and to participate actively in other international activities by sharing its own expertise and by utilizing others’ expertise and method development. The NAOF has performed its duties successfully and is therefore acknowledged as a strong international expert and a reliable partner. The results of international cooperation also support the development of the NAOF’s own operations.
You can read more about the NAOF’s international activities in the section of the Audit Plan 2020–2024 dealing with international operations.