What’s new

European Supreme Audit Institutions (SAIs) have agreed to cooperate widely to generate information on the impacts of the coronavirus pandemic, governments’ responses to it and the recovery from it. The National Audit Office of Finland (NAOF) has taken an active role in setting up a special COVID-19 project, coordinated jointly by the NAOs of the UK and Finland. This is in line with the main target of the international cooperation of the NAOF: how to strengthen SAIs’ preparedness to emerging issues, as well as the timeliness of audit work.

The coronavirus pandemic and the ensuing economic crisis are having a major impact on central government finances. The economic measures have been exceptional in scale, and they are changing budgeting priorities.

Based on their financial audit, the final central government accounts for 2019 have been prepared in compliance with all relevant provisions.

What should you do if you know hardly anything about auditing or artificial intelligence (AI)? As new employees, we were driven by our ambition to succeed and develop audit work to meet future needs. The participants in the National Audit Office's programme for young professionals were assigned a development project that aimed at bringing AI to the agency. The project proved to be both inspiring and challenging. It was clear from the outset that, in order to succeed, we would need the help of experienced auditors.

The fourth supplementary budget approved by Parliament is what is called a stimulus package. The earlier supplementary budgets approved this spring due to the coronavirus pandemic focused on supporting companies and households during the restriction measures. The fourth supplementary budget, on the other hand, aims to stimulate the Finnish economy, i.e. to increase domestic demand – in both consumption and investments – once the restrictions are eased or lifted.

The COVID-19 crisis distances and separates, but at the same time brings people and states together. We are all experiencing the same concern and uncertainty. At times like these, national and international cooperation networks, and the work done over the decades to build and strengthen them, demonstrate their strength.