Internal audit in the public sector in Republic of Macedonia

Abstract

In the last years of the 20th century and the first decade of the concepts of the 21st century, the procedures and form of internal audit in the public sector are increasingly present theory and practice of modern scientific research. The public is one of the main target groups, with auditors having to satisfy their needs. In essence, the role of the audit is to gain quality and reliable financial information on world capital markets. Public enterprises have special significance, primarily representing one specific form of enterprises that in the performance of their affairs have a responsibility, both for the public and for the founder. Acting like capital companies owned by the state and units of local self-government, public enterprises have a great responsibility to inform the public about the work of companies that are of general interest to citizens and if they are inadequate, working with them causes dissatisfaction with the citizens.

The Internal audit is an internal supervisory activity which is established within an enterprise or an institution and it serves to the needs of the same. This audit is conducted by the employees of the institution on which it is carried out. The Internal audit in the public sector in Macedonia is implemented in accordance with: The Law of Internal Audit in the Public Sector; The Regulation on the basic elements of the operational guidelines, charter, annual plan and program for internal audit and The Rules on how to perform the International Standards for the professional practice of internal auditing issued by the Institute of Internal Auditors of the United States. The following public sector entities have an obligation to organize internal audit units: Beneficiaries of the Macedonian Budget, the Pension and Disability Insurance Fund, the Health Insurance Fund of Macedonia, the National and Regional Roads Fund, the Employment Agency of Macedonia, all the municipalities and the City of Skopje, the agencies and other institutions established by law, public enterprises, as well as the legal entities in which the state is the dominant shareholder. The Internal audit in the public sector is conducted by internal auditors. The Internal auditors operate in accordance with the accepted professional standards based on international standards for internal audit. The Minister of Finance prescribes the standards for the professional execution of internal auditing.