Amman, Feb 17 (Petra)- The Audit Bureau on Tuesday released the results of an institutional assessment conducted under the Supreme Audit Institutions Performance Measurement Framework (SAI PMF), a move that paves the way for the first peer review in the Bureau's history to be conducted by the United Kingdom’s National Audit Office (UKNAO).

The assessment aligns with the Bureau's 2024–2027 strategic plan and reflects a commitment to international standards and institutional development. Radhi Al-Hamadeen, President of the Audit Bureau, said during the launch event that the report and the upcoming peer review represent a turning point for the institution, embodying its dedication to transparency, accountability, and professional excellence in safeguarding public funds and supporting fiscal management.

Al-Hamadeen noted that adopting this voluntary international framework allows the Bureau to measure its performance against global benchmarks and establish a culture of continuous self-evaluation. He added that the report highlighted the Bureau’s comprehensive oversight mandate, which covers 361 government and public entities, utilizing financial, performance, and compliance audits based on risk-oriented methodologies compliant with International Organization of Supreme Audit Institutions (INTOSAI) standards.

The report also showed progress in strategic planning linked to measurable performance indicators, the strengthening of quality assurance systems, and investment in professional competencies to enhance the impact of oversight findings. Al-Hamadeen described the assessment as an objective tool for identifying areas for institutional improvement, confirming the Bureau's readiness for more advanced external evaluations.

The SAI PMF is an evidence-based tool approved by INTOSAI to measure the performance of audit institutions by assessing compliance with professional standards and best practices. The evaluation covered various aspects, including independence, legal frameworks, internal governance, professional ethics, audit quality, reporting, resource management, and stakeholder communication. The assessment was carried out by the Bureau's Institutional Performance Development and Quality Assurance Directorate under senior management supervision.

The upcoming peer review will involve an independent external evaluation by the UKNAO to review systems and procedures, ensure alignment with international standards, and provide recommendations for enhancing audit quality. A specialized team from the UK’s National Audit Office is scheduled to begin an official mission at the Jordan Audit Bureau next week to discuss the scope, methodology, and timeline of the review.

The partnership between the two institutions will focus primarily on developing performance auditing, which is considered a vital tool for improving the efficiency of public spending and ensuring value for money. This cooperation will include evaluating planning mechanisms for performance audits, modernizing methodologies to meet INTOSAI standards, and reviewing internal quality control procedures to ensure that audit recommendations lead to tangible improvements in the performance of monitored entities.

//Petra// AF