Figure 1: An EU example of audit authority structure

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Figure 1. The audit function for Portugal is illustrated as being located in the Ministry of Finance. External Control is shown as being overseen at the Political level via Parliament and at the Jurisdictional level by the Court of Auditors. The Interal Control System (Co-ordination Committee) for the audit function is depicted as having the following levels:

• Strategic level
  • IGF
    High level financial control on public expenditure and revenue
  • Budgets
    Horizontal control of budget execution
• Sectoral level
  • Network of line Ministries and Regions Inspectorates
  • Focus on the organization, readability and activity of first level control bodies
• First level
  • Internal audit units inside management bodies
  • Focus on the management internal controls and procedures

A double ended arrow is shown joining the MoF (where the audit function resides) with the Co-ordination Committee of the Internal Control System.

Source: Inspector General Office, Ministry of Finance, Republic of Portugal

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