2019: Customer Survey of the Court of Audit Styria

The Court of Audit Styria is assigned by law a testing expertise for financial control, which encompasses more than 20 billion Euros (Activity report of the Court of Audit Styria). This figure underlines its high economic and social responsibility. The Court of Audit Styria proves the financial management of bodies of general administration, outsourced legal entities and projects funded by the state, to name but a few. It considers auditees as its clients. In addition to this, there is a second group of clients, namely members of the state parliament, for whom the audit reports serve as the basis for their political work.

A survey (online and anonymous) was conducted in both groups in February and March 2019. Central to the survey was for both of them the perception of the activities and of the public presence of the Court of Audit Styria as well as its accuracy, competence, transparency and objectivity. Additionally, auditees were asked questions about the concrete preparation and implementation of the audits. Furthermore, they had to evaluate the audits’ benefit for their institutions and the feasibility of recommendations. The survey was intended to show the Court of Audit Styria opportunities for improvement as well as possibilities for further increase in efficiency and effectiveness.

For the members of the state parliament the focus was on the benefits of the audit reports for their political work and comprised questions about the quality of the reports and the impact in regard to prevention and sustainability. Here, too, the main focus was on room for improvement.

The high response rate of both clients, which illustrates the importance of the activity of the Court of Audit Styria, is impressive: about 53 percent in the auditees and almost 44 percent in the members of the state parliament.

The respondents of both groups declared themselves predominantly (very) satisfied with the work of the Court of Audit Styria. The respondents among the audit clients certified – to highlight only two aspects – a high degree of objectivity and transparency in the auditing as well as the practicability of the recommendations. Almost all members of the state parliament recognised lasting improvement for Styria through the work of the Court of Audit Styria. The tracking of the overall costs for the state projects was assessed very positively as well: It would contribute to the best possible use of the state’s financial resources.