This workshop was organised with the Supreme AuditInstitution of Albania to help them develop the audit of the Albanian FinalState Budget Execution Account.

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Workshop on the
Audit of the Final State Budget Accounts
- Agenda -
4-5 April 2019
Tirana, Albania

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Background
The SAI of Albania (ALSAI) is currently developing its methodology for auditing the final budget accounts
of Albania. The objective of the planned guideline on the audit of final budget accounts of Albania is to
help auditors understand the requirements and the specific procedures required to enable ALSAI to
effectively audit and report on the final state budget accounts. The guideline will compliment revised
financial and compliance audit manuals, and provide specific methodological guidance on specific issues
that need to be considered in auditing group financial statements such as the final state budget accounts.
The practical implementation of the guideline should ensure that an appropriate audit approach is adopted
in planning, conducting and reporting the audit of the final state budget accounts. When preparing the
Guideline, ALSAI will take into account the requirements of the International standards of supreme audit
institutions (ISSAI)1
as well as national laws and regulations.
During the initial discussions on ALSAI’s audit of the final state budget accounts, it is clear that there are a
number of challenges. These include
 inconsistent approaches and practices for audits across the ALSAI and their contribution to the
audit of the final state budget execution accounts
 the financial and compliance audit manuals are not being applied consistently across the
institution
 no appropriate financial reporting framework. The final state budget account is basically a
summary account reporting the expenditures of auditees against the approved budget (in other
words not a consolidated financial statement under accounting standards)
 there has been no clear direction for the audit of the final state budget account and the
contribution that the audit of individual auditees makes to it
 the 2017 final state budget accounts were the first that ALSAI have given an opinion on. The audit
was compliance focused and the opinion reflects this.
During the summer of 2018 ALSAI requested SIGMA to support their development of their approach to the
audit of the final state budget accounts, including the development of the proposed guideline. As a first
step in this process SIGMA have agreed to organise a workshop which will
 share experiences from EU member state SAI on the audit of final state budget accounts
 discuss the applicability of ISSAI 1600 on the audit of group financial statements
 discuss the challenges in developing and implementing ALSAI’s approach to the audit of the final
state budget account
 identify the way forward
Approach
On the first day 1 of the workshop, SIGMA will provide practical examples about the audit of final state
budget accounts and group financial statements through two concrete country examples: the UK (on the
example of Scotland) and Lithuania. Theoretical information about the application of ISSAI 1600 on the
audit of group financial statements will also be provided.
Day 2 will be reserved to clarify more in depth questions that may have arisen during day 1, discuss the
challenges and issues that ALSAI need to address, the applicability of ISSAI 1600 and ALSAIs role in
promoting a strengthened financial reporting framework to support the effective management of public
finances in Albania
Participants are encouraged to engage actively in questions and discussions with the experts.
Simultaneous Interpretations will facilitate the exchange between participants and SIGMA experts.
1www.issai.org

3. 3
4 April 2019
9.00 Registration and coffee
9.30 Opening of the Workshop, Welcome
Mr Alastair Swarbrick, Senior Adviser, SIGMA
Mrs Manjolo Naço, General Director ALSAI
9.45 The final state budget account of Albania and how they are audited
Azmi Stringa, Director of Department of State Revenue Audit, ALSAI
This session aims to provide background on the final state budget accounts and how they are currently
audited. It will highlight what makes up the accounts, the auditees that are included, how they are
audited and the challenges/issues in carrying out the audit.
Questions and answers
10.45 Coffee
11.15 Auditing the National Financial Statements by the National Audit Office of Lithuania
Vita Andrulytė– Principal Auditor in the Financial Audit Department
This presentation explains how the NAO of Lithuania plans, conducts and reports on the audit of the
consolidated National Financial Statements of Lithuania, including how it engages and obtains
assurance for component entities included in the Financial Statements.
Questions and Answers, discussion
13.15 Lunch
14.15 Auditing the Scottish Government Consolidated Accounts and the application of ISSAI 1600
Alastair Swarbrick – SIGMA expert
This presentation will give an overview of the audit of the Scottish Government Consolidated Accounts
and the application of ISSAI 1600.
Questions and Answers – discussion
16.00 Coffee
16.15 Wrap-up of day 1
Joop Vrolijk – SIGMA expert
In this session the key themes arising from the day will be summarised and the issues to be discussed
on day 2 highlighted.
16.45 Close of day 1

4. 4
5 April 2019
09.00 Welcome coffee
09.30 Facilitated Discussion on Key Issues for ALSAI and the next steps
Joop Vrolijk and Nuriona Sokoli – SIGMA experts
Based on the discussions and presentations of the first workshop day, participants and experts will
discuss the key issues to be addressed by ALSAI in developing the audit of the final state budget
accounts and the next steps. This will include discussion on how to develop the guidelines and revise
the financial audit manual.
11.00 Coffee break
11.30 Next steps for ALSAI – continued
12.30 Closing of the Workshop