PERFORMANCE AUDIT
APSC Prelims and Mains Notes, APSC Test Series
Meaning
An independent examination of the efficiency and effectiveness of government undertakings, programs or organisations, with due regard to economy, and the aim of leading to improvements”.
Performance audit is simply an audit of sound financial management, namely of the economy, efficiency and effectiveness with which audited entities have carried out their responsibilities.
Performance Audit invariably is referred to as Value-for-money audit or Operational audit.
Performance Audits= Value for Money Audit = Operational Audits.
Objectives of Performance Auditing
More specifically, in the public sector, benefits of performance audit may include the following:-
EFFICIENCY AUDIT
Modern managements now-а-days undertake efficiency audit with а variety of objectives in mind. The principal objectives are:
1. То diagnoses the operational weaknesses by а review of the organization’s environment.
2. То sees whether the resources of the business flow into constructive and profitable channels.
3. То assesses how far the measures and techniques adopted are effective in attaining the goals and objectives of the firm.
4. То highlights the important fact in each of the functions or operations that are employed.
5. То evaluates and compares the optimum return on capital invested in the business operations.
б. То suggest and recommend feasible alternative treatments for improvements in а manner that the heads of the functional or operational management themselves would do if they have time for self — introspection (Examination of their own thoughts and feelings).