Feature: AGSA creating a network for the audit profession

The Auditor-General South Africa (AGSA) is the country’s supreme audit institution and the only audit institution mandated by the constitution to audit government’s spend of the national fiscus. AGSA has a workforce of more than 3 600, many of whom are chartered accountants (CAs(SA)), and is one of the country’s leading training institutions for auditors. The organisation was established in 1911 and over the years has developed into one of the most transformed institutions in the country, with a workforce that is representative of the country’s populace.

AGSA’s trainee auditor scheme has assisted many CAs(SA) who have gone on to build successful careers in the public and private sectors both locally and abroad. The organisation has established a pipeline which extends into its socio-economic development arm, where learner support is provided to learners who study maths and accounting at selected high schools, as well as a bursary scheme and trainee auditor programme accredited by SAICA.

AGSA’s audit trainees gets exposure to a diverse field of audits, including the banking, education, health, aviation, infrastructure and energy sectors. The organisation has an integrated audit methodology, with investigation, fraud and risk as well as performance audit built into its regularity audits. This is a strategy to deliver on the organisation’s mandate, which is to audit financial information as well as compliance with key legislation and performance information, thus ensuring that its auditors possess an integration of skills to become well-rounded auditors.

AGSA has offices in all nine provinces, ensuring that its nationwide training programme offers great career opportunities for young trainees who are looking to experience all that the different provinces have on offer. Its unique, purposeful mandate gives employees the opportunity to strengthen the country’s democracy, while competitive remuneration and a host of other benefits are offered.

AGSA is aware of − and concerned about − the industry-wide failure rate of African candidates in SAICA’s qualifier exams and has put in place a series of interventions to assist candidates to succeed. These interventions include rigorous engagements with all stakeholders (including SAICA) to gain an understanding of the issues affecting candidates, tailor-made trainee exam support, and employee wellness support focusing on holistic health as well as mentoring. As an organisation, AGSA remains steadfast in its efforts to ensure that candidates succeed and to create a professional lifestyle that contributes towards better pass rates and, ultimately, a progressive profession.

AGSA’s ultimate goal is to contribute towards the audit profession via its trainee auditor programme. Once accredited, trainees move on to explore various career paths in the public and private sectors, although a number of newly accredited auditors are retained. As an organisation, AGSA’s goal is to continue creating quality learning opportunities that make an impact. This includes the recent addition of a niche forensic learnership programme.

AGSA is internationally recognised and forms part of the international organisation for supreme audits institutions, where it currently chairs the capacity-building committee. International involvement creates incredible opportunities for knowledge-sharing, learning and exposure for AGSA and its employees. AGSA ensures that it stays relevant and that its work has an impact – the change in its audit mandate through the amended Public Audit Act and the real-time audits of government’s expenditure of the R500 billion COVID-19 relief funds are examples of this.

All these offerings and its commitment to excellence make AGSA a good choice for trainee auditors who want to develop their careers while serving their country. This is where purpose and effort are aligned, making for an ideal organisation with a bigger purpose.

Author
Ben-Johan Weideman, Business Unit Leader: People and Organisation Effectiveness