Jordan, Saudi audit bodies discuss joint efforts to enhance public sector reform

AMMAN — President of the Audit Bureau Radhi Hamadeen on Thursday welcomed President of the Saudi General Court of Audit (GCA) Hussam Al Angari and the accompanying delegation for an official visit aimed at enhancing cooperation in financial oversight and strengthening the regulatory framework for supreme audit institutions in both countries.

During the meeting, Hamadeen provided a comprehensive overview of the Audit Bureau’s strategy for 2024-2027, which aligns with His Majesty King Abdullah’s vision for public sector reform. 

The strategy prioritises the modernisation of audit practices, the adoption of international best practices, improved reporting systems, and stronger coordination with the legislature to promote good governance, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

Hamadeen also revealed that the Audit Bureau will soon launch the Arab Institute for Auditing and Oversight, set to open later this year. The institute will serve as a training hub for auditors, offering cutting-edge tools and techniques in financial oversight. 

Hamadeen emphasised the importance of the initiative in advancing public sector reform by providing specialised training and certification for public sector auditors.

The meeting also focused on the implementation of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the two institutions, aimed at enhancing auditors’ professional skills through targeted training programmes and knowledge exchange in financial audit and management control. 

Both sides recognised the value of Saudi Arabia’s pioneering use of technology to improve audit efficiency, which serves as a model for transforming public sector management.

In terms of regional and international collaboration, the discussion also covered the upcoming Peer Review initiative that the Jordanian Audit Bureau plans to conduct with auditing bodies from the UK, Portugal and Poland.

The initiative, which will evaluate the bureau’s performance against international standards, will involve the Saudi and UAE audit bureaus as observers, enabling regional institutions to learn from the process and improve their auditing practices.

Al Angari praised the Jordanian Audit Bureau’s efforts in aligning with global oversight standards and underscored the importance of continued cooperation within international frameworks, particularly the Arab Organisation of Supreme Audit Institutions (ARABOSAI). 

He stressed that such partnerships are crucial for promoting transparency, accountability, and institutional reform across Arab audit bodies.