An empirical analysis of audit delay in the public sector of Maldives / Maqbool Khalid

Abstract:

This paper is intended to analyze the cause of audit delay in the context of Maldives Public Sector. According to previous studies, inadequacy of established general and financial control systems, inefficiency in the function of the audit reviewing process and shortening of the audit reporting filing date are some of the factors that cause audit delays. To understand the cause of the audit delay in the environment of the Maldives public sector, this paper aims to assess the efficiency and the effectiveness of the audit management function of the Auditor General's Office of the Maldives (AGO) and the adequacy of the established general and financial control environment of the State Agencies of the Maldives. Data for the assessments were being obtained by circulating questionnaires within the selected State Agencies.
This study employed quantitative research method which involved collection of data by issuing "Likert" scale questionnaire survey forms and analyzing the data to perceive the perception of the different respondent groups.
The study has revealed that the cause of delaying in issuing audit reports in the context of Maldives Public Sector is due to weakness of the established general and financial control systems of the State Agencies and the inefficiency and the ineffectiveness of the audit management function of the AGO.

Keywords: audit delay, audit management function, general and financial control environment.