Auditor General's Office of Maldives has appointed three firms to audit 196 councils for a cost of USD 192,000. F.J.S. Associates, MHPA and Crowe Horwarth Maldives, have been signed to audit the island councils.
Noting that it is the first time locals firms will be auditing the local councils, Auditor General Hassan Ziyath stated that the decision will be financially beneficial for the government. The appointment of the 3 local firms shall eliminate the challenges faced in acquiring financial reports from the island councils, Auditor General Ziyath added. It will also increase the number of reports published each year, he noted.
F.J.S. Associates, MHPA and Crowe Horwarth Maldives will each audit 43 councils. The firms assured the confidentiality and commitment to achieve the goals. According to the signed agreements, the audits must be completed before February 28, 2018. The firms will carry out the audits in a format provided by the Auditor General's Office. The Office revealed that reports will be published 2 months after work is completed.
Auditor General's Office is mandated to publish an annual audit report on the 209 councils in the Maldives.