The role of internal audit in public financial management: An ethiopian public sector case study

Government needs to be accountable in its use of public money and in providing effective, efficient, and economical service delivery. In such a desire of government in sectors financial management, internal audit plays a valuable role by providing both assurance and consulting service. Despite the fact, there are factors that affect the internal audits role in the public financial management. This study attempted to analyze internal audit function’s role in the public financial management by using a case study design. Data were collected from both primary and secondary sources. The primary data were collected by interview with the internal audit director, where as secondary data were collected from rules and procedural manuals and audit reports of the function. The collected data were analyzed following qualitative approach. The findings of the study revealed that the internal audit function has limited quality. Furthermore, there is no audit committee and reporting is to the president. This might arguably affect its independence and objectivity and make the function’s contribution for public financial management limited.