The Pacific Association of Supreme Audit Institutions (PASAI) is hosting auditors from across the Pacific in Auckland this week to share information about TeamMate®, a new auditing software used by audit offices across the Pacific, including the New Zealand Audit Office. 

TeamMate® is an online auditing program that allows audit offices to spend less time documenting and reviewing information, giving auditors more time to add value in others ways to their audit services and improve the quality of their audits. 

PASAI’s Chief Executive, Mr Tiofilusi Tiueti, said the audit offices using TeamMate® will learn from each other and discuss any challenges they have faced in using TeamMate, “Implementing any new system can be difficult; implementing a new system in isolation can be almost impossible. Our job is to make sure that none of our members feel they are alone in implementing this new system. Audit NZ will be on hand to share their knowledge as a longstanding user of TeamMate®, and a longstanding member and supporter of PASAI”, he said. “TeamMate® will also be on hand with advice.” 

Twenty-three participants from audit offices in Cook Islands, Fiji, Guam, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga and Vanuatu are attending, including two Heads of Supreme Audit Institutions from Samoa and the Solomon Islands. 

PASAI’s Director Technical Support, Ms Agnes Tuiai-Aruwafu said, “TeamMate® is a tool that will help our Pacific SAIs enhance the quality of their audits to ensure their mandate is carried out according to International Standards of Supreme Audit Institutions (ISSAIs). Eight of our members have chosen to use this tool. PASAI is taking this opportunity to collaborate, coordinate and synergize efforts across the Pacific region to achieve high quality audits. “ 

PASAI’s Teammate forum will allow opportunities for peer reviews and other capacity building between the offices that use this audit tool. 

As well as sharing knowledge and ideas, the PASAI TeamMate® forum will develop a Terms of Reference, including how to achieve some key outputs such as developing a public good and arranging secondments through peer reviews between these Pacific audit offices. 

The workshop was possible through funding from Australia DFAT and New Zealand MFAT.