Proposed Process for Tracking Follow-up Audits

The New Auditor General Proposes a More Efficient Process for Tracking Follow-up Audits and the Status of Their Recommendations

Ottawa – Today, Auditor General Nathalie Gougeon tabled her report: Audit Recommendation Implementation Update Process – Proposed Modifications, which would direct her to provide a semi-annual report to Audit Committee and Council with the latest updates on the implementation of outstanding recommendation from previous audits.

“This new process will create efficiencies, eliminate duplication of efforts and free up resources to be used in a more effective fashion, for both my Office and the City Manager’s Office,” claimed Mme Gougeon. “We will still provide Audit Committee and Council with timely information so that they can perform their oversight responsibilities.”

Management has agreed with the proposed changes and will continue to be held accountable to address audit recommendations in a timely fashion.

Mme Gougeon also tabled her Report on Audit Follow-ups, that updated 8 audits, including:

• 2011 Audit of Human Resources Master Plan
• 2015 Audit of IT Risk Management
• 2015 Audit of Information Technology Security Incident Handling and Response
  (in-camera)
• 2015 Audit of IT Governance
• 2017 Audit of IT Remote Access
• 2017 Audit of Regulatory Framework for Light Rail Transit
• 2017 Audit of Social Housing Registry
• 2018 Review of the City’s Practices for the Procurement of Commercial Vehicles

The Auditor General found that of the 49 recommendations in these audits - 40 (82%) have been completed, 8 (16%) are partially complete and 1 (2%) has not been started. In four audits management have completed all their recommendations. This is a News Release significant improvement since the Auditor General’s last report on follow-up procedures in September 2020, with only a 58% completion rate by management.

“We consider these follow-up procedures complete,” reported Mme Gougeon. “Unless we find sufficient risk present, we will not be performing any further follow-up on these audits.”

A full copy of all these reports is available on the Ottawa Auditor General’s website under Audit Reports and Investigations and Reviews, respectively.

For further information, contact:
(613) 580-9602
OAG@ottawa.ca