20 | Work plan balance

Maura Hayes-Chaffe is the Deputy Comptroller for Audit in New York City.Maura joined us to discuss the Bureau of Audit, including:the challenges with recruiting and attracting performance auditorsnew approaches to conducting PAsthe changing environment (e.g., economics)equity in PA, citizen powered audits, and a recent housing related auditthe use of data, including open data, by the audit team.LinksNYC Office of the ComptrollerThis episode's web pageAbout this podcast The podcast for performance auditors. Hosted by Conor McGarrity and Yusuf Moolla. Produced by PA Reports - Performance Audit Research.  Get updates New episodes, and a fortnightly newsletter with a selection of PA reports and practices from audit offices. https://pareports.com/#cta-subscribe This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit performanceaudit.substack.com

Our guest is Cathy O'Neil, author of Weapons of Math Destruction: how big data increases inequality and threatens democracy.Cathy joined us to discuss critical aspects for auditors to consider, including:The human element: why understanding 'for whom an algorithm might fail' is more important than the detailed technical design of an algorithm.Algorithm testing: the importance of post-deployment testing to ensure there are no unintended adverse outcomes. Setting standards: the need for industry-wide standards so that regulators can ensure there is no bias or discrimination in how algorithms operate. Laggers and leaders: the four big industries/domains using algorithms that need to step up audit in their space and how law-makers and regulators are catching up.Emerging AI, e.g. language models/chatbots - why trust by users is key, and the pros and cons of using these models.LinksCathy's company, ORCAA Weapons of Math Destruction (book)  This episode's web page: https://pareports.com/podcast/24 About this podcast The podcast for performance auditors.Hosted by Conor McGarrity and Yusuf Moolla.Produced by PA Reports - Performance Audit Research. Get updates New episodes, and a fortnightly newsletter with a selection of PA reports and practices from audit offices. https://pareports.com/#cta-subscribe This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit performanceaudit.substack.com

This episode featured guests from the North Dakota State Audit Office:Allison Bader, Performance Audit Manager and Claudia Kuball, Performance Auditor.In this episode we discuss:Team diversity – the value of recruiting performance auditors from different backgrounds, incl. how specialist expertise can help focus on major risksImpact – their communications team is instrumental in engaging citizens and maximising audit impactSignificant audit – their audit of Storage and Handling of COVID Vaccines including its design, execution and findingsCitizen engagement – how North Dakotans can get involved, and even speak to the State Auditor directly on radio every Wed morningLinks:Office of the State Auditor, North Dakota: https://www.nd.gov/auditor Submit ideas for audit topics here What’s On Your Mind – the radio program that Josh Gallion (State Auditor) guest appears on from 10-11 CST every Wednesday: https://kfyr.iheart.com/ Sign up for the office's quarterly e-newsletter here The office on Facebook, LinkedIn and YouTube This episode's webpage: https://pareports.com/podcast/23About this podcast The podcast for performance auditors.Hosted by Conor McGarrity and Yusuf Moolla.Produced by PA Reports - Performance Audit Research.Get updates New episodes, and a fortnightly newsletter with a selection of PA reports and practices from audit offices. https://pareports.com/#cta-subscribe This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit performanceaudit.substack.com

In this episode, we discuss how audit offices are engaging citizens in performance audits. The show notes here and the full article here contain further details and examples.We delve into how audit offices are engaging citizens:Forward work plans – consulting broadly for focus areasRefining the broad focus areas for specific citizen concerns Audit planning – citizen input on audit scope Audit execution – seeking agency staff views during fieldwork Reporting – tailoring reports for citizens and civil society organisations Links: This episode's web page with further details and examples - https://pareports.com/podcast/22 The full accompanying article - https://riskinsights.com.au/engaging-citizens-in-pa/About this podcast The podcast for performance auditors. Hosted by Conor McGarrity and Yusuf Moolla. Produced by PA Reports - Performance Audit Research.Get updates New episodes, and a fortnightly newsletter with a selection of PA reports and practices from audit offices. https://pareports.com/#cta-subscribe This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit performanceaudit.substack.com

This originally aired as episode 50 of The Assurance Show.In this episode, we discuss the benefits of adopting a data focused approach during audit planning.Link: This episode's web page - https://pareports.com/podcast/21About this podcast The podcast for performance auditors.Hosted by Conor McGarrity and Yusuf Moolla.Produced by PA Reports - Performance Audit Research.Get updates New episodes, and a fortnightly newsletter with a selection of PA reports and practices from audit offices. https://pareports.com/#cta-subscribe This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit performanceaudit.substack.com

This originally aired as episode 49 of The Assurance Show.In this episode, we discuss the importance of balance in your work program - covering each of the four objectives:EffectivenessEfficiencyEconomyComplianceLink: This episode's web page - https://pareports.com/podcast/20About this podcast The podcast for performance auditors.Hosted by Conor McGarrity and Yusuf Moolla.Produced by PA Reports - Performance Audit Research.Get updates New episodes, and a fortnightly newsletter with a selection of PA reports and practices from audit offices. https://pareports.com/#cta-subscribe This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit performanceaudit.substack.com

This originally aired as episode 48 of The Assurance Show.In this episode, we discuss strategic audit planning (a.k.a. forward work planning).Understanding your community / public expectationsUnderstanding your elected body / parliamentariansUnderstanding the entities within your audit office's jurisdictionLink: This episode's web page - https://pareports.com/podcast/19About this podcast The podcast for performance auditors.Hosted by Conor McGarrity and Yusuf Moolla.Produced by PA Reports - Performance Audit Research.Get updates New episodes, and a fortnightly newsletter with a selection of PA reports and practices from audit offices. https://pareports.com/#cta-subscribe This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit performanceaudit.substack.com

Michael Pickup is the Auditor General of British Columbia in Canada.In this episode we discuss:the changing role of performance auditrecruitment and retentionworkplace flexibilitypeople and product focused innovationthe use of video and other media to increase reachLinks:Michael Pickup on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-pickup-fcpa-fca-a1ab91168/ Auditor General of British Columbia - https://www.bcauditor.com/ This episode's web page - https://pareports.com/podcast/18  About this podcast The podcast for performance auditors.Hosted by Conor McGarrity and Yusuf Moolla.Produced by PA Reports - Performance Audit Research.Get updates New episodes, and a fortnightly newsletter with a selection of PA reports and practices from audit offices. https://pareports.com/#cta-subscribe This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit performanceaudit.substack.com

This originally aired as episode 39 of The Assurance Show.In using data for audits, quality assurance of our work is important.In this episode, we discuss: 1.  The four main QA stepsTechnical QA Functional QA Business QA (validation) Audit QA 2. Why we need a QA PlanLink: This episode's web page - https://pareports.com/podcast/17About this podcast The podcast for performance auditors.Hosted by Conor McGarrity and Yusuf Moolla.Produced by PA Reports - Performance Audit Research.Get updates New episodes, and a fortnightly newsletter with a selection of PA reports and practices from audit offices. https://pareports.com/#cta-subscribe This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit performanceaudit.substack.com

This is an edited version of episode 13 of The Assurance Show.In this episode we discuss the use of Open Data.Links The Open Data Handbook - https://opendatahandbook.org/ Google dataset search - https://datasetsearch.research.google.com/ This episode's web page - https://pareports.com/podcast/16About this podcast The podcast for performance auditors.Hosted by Conor McGarrity and Yusuf Moolla.Produced by PA Reports - Performance Audit Research.Get updates New episodes, and a fortnightly newsletter with a selection of PA reports and practices from audit offices. https://pareports.com/#cta-subscribe This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit performanceaudit.substack.com