Our audits provide independent assurance that public sector entities are reporting their financial performance accurately and managing public resources appropriately.
The Queensland Audit Office (QAO) delivers more than 400 audit opinions across Queensland. To support this significant body of work, we engage contracted audit service providers, who are an important and integrated part of our audit workforce.
We assess how best to deliver our financial audit program, including determining the optimal mix for audits to be delivered internally, and those that can be audited on our behalf using private sector firms.
When selecting our providers, we consider factors such as emerging industry risks, client complexity, regional presence, sector expertise, the length of time an audit has been conducted by either QAO or a provider, and our workforce planning.
Regardless of who delivers the audit, the Auditor-General remains responsible for the audit opinion.
While an external audit for public sector entities is required by legislation, it provides benefits beyond compliance. Our auditors identify opportunities for entities to improve financial reporting processes, governance arrangements, and internal controls.
We share the insights on emerging risks and good practice that we glean from our broad body of work.
Through our public reporting to parliament, we maintain independent assurance and uphold the high standards of audit quality expected by, and providing value for, parliament and the Queensland community.
While an external audit for public sector entities is required by legislation, it provides benefits beyond compliance. Our auditors identify sector-wide opportunities for entities to improve financial reporting processes, governance arrangements, and internal controls. We share the insights on emerging risks and good practice that we glean from our broad body of work.
Registering with QAO as an audit service provider
QAO invites professional services firms to express their interest in partnering with QAO by contacting us at procurement@qao.qld.gov.au. To be suitable to deliver audits on behalf of the Auditor-General, providers need to meet several criteria, including having a minimum of 2 partners who are registered company auditors with ASIC.
We appoint audit service providers through a competitive procurement process, inviting pre-qualified audit firms to submit proposals and assessing them against a range of criteria. The criteria consider client complexity and skills required, regional presence, sector expertise, and cost.
Our fact sheet shares further information on how we select and manage audit service providers and outlines our criteria.
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Our contract auditing supply conditions provides the conditions and responsibilities that all audit service providers must agree to when engaged by QAO.
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All providers must formally acknowledge and adhere to confidentiality requirements under Section 53 of the Auditor-General Act 2009 before undertaking work on behalf of QAO and they must confirm their compliance annually.
An example copy of the declaration that partners and firm personnel must sign are provided below.
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Our procurement approach ensures we select the right providers to deliver our audits consistently, to a high standard, and in a way that maintains public confidence in the audit process and its outcomes.
Audit service providers are an important part of our workforce. We see them as delivery partners and value the expertise and capacity they provide to our service delivery.