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This highly practical course presents all aspects of each stage of the performance audit process. It includes the unique feature of providing an insight into how the European Court of Auditors plan, prepare and implement their audit assignments, covering real-life audit case studies and experiences of the Court’s teams.
Do you want to know what results are, and how to measure them?
Do you have a creative mind? Do you like thinking “out of the box”?
The European Court of Auditors (ECA) carries out three types of audit in the area of the EU Cohesion Policy: financial, compliance and performance audits. Each of them has different objectives, addresses different audit questions and applies different methodology.
This course is about the ambition of the EU to be more results oriented in a framework where performance and results are the key words in the current programming period 2021 – 2027 and performance is even more important than in the 2014-2020 financial perspective.
This highly practical course presents all aspects of each stage of the performance audit process. It includes the unique feature of providing an insight into how the European Court of Auditors plan, prepare and implement their audit assignments, covering real-life audit case studies and experiences of the Court’s teams.
It explains the rules for performance measurement for the 2021-2027 period, has some unique features and insights with regard to the analysis of costs and benefits, explains in detail the methodologies and tools used, as well as demonstrates the strength of key performance Indicators, and, how to use them. The new aspect is that, while applying for this course, you will be given the opportunity to choose your preferred case study to work upon in a range of different audits proposed by the Court’s team.
After the presentation of each stage of a performance audit, you will work on real-life case studies in small working groups with direct involvement and guidance of the key experts from the European Court of Auditors. This will enable you to learn how to carry out a performance audit yourself in your Institution.
What will you be able to do with what you learn?
You will improve your practical knowledge about each stage of the performance auditing carried out by the European Court of Auditors. You will also be able to apply this knowledge for developing a results based analysis system within your organisation, and about the rules to apply in the 2021-2027.
Audit, Managing and Certifying Authorities, Intermediate Bodies, beneficiaries of EU Funds, independent auditors dealing with or interested in EU funded projects and programmes; consulting companies specialised in auditing EU co-funded programmes and projects, and representatives of Ministries dealing with, and responsible for, spending public (national and EU) money.
This entire training programme will be implemented in a safe way, respecting the applicable COVID-19 restrictions and precautions. You will be requested to show your EU Digital COVID Certificate at the entrance of the room so that all participants can rely on the fact that you have been vaccinated, had a recent PCR test or sufficient antibodies. Moreover, the windows of the meeting room and of the breakout rooms will be regularly opened.
Venue
Hotel Melia Costa del Sol Torremolinos (tbc)
If the seminar cannot take place on location due to COVID-19, we will duly inform you of the seminar’s postponement and notify you regarding a new date. We advise you to book reimbursable air tickets when flying to avoid any losses due to this situation.
Programme Organiser
Ms Amber Kessels
Tel: + 31 43 3296320
a.kessels@eipa.eu
Fee
The fee includes documentation and refreshments, lunches, a dinner and a sightseeing tour. After the seminar, a certificate of participation will be handed out and participants will be given access to the digital version of the seminar documents. Accommodation and travel costs are at the expense of the participants or their administration.
Discounts
EIPA member fee
EIPA offers a discount to all civil servants working for one of EIPA’s supporting countries, and civil servants working for an EU institution, body or agency.
Who are the supporting countries?
Civil servants coming from the following EIPA supporting countries are entitled to get the reduced fee: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden.
For all other participants, the regular fee applies.
Early bird discount
The early bird discount is not cumulative with other discounts or promo codes, except for the EIPA member fee.
Hotel reservations
EIPA has special a price arrangement with the Melia hotel in Malaga, where the seminar will take place. The rate is including breakfast and tourist tax. Should you wish to make use of this possibility, please book directly via the link below. Please note that there is a limited number of rooms available with the special price.
https://events.melia.com/events/melia-costa-del-sol/EIPA.html
Meals
Lunch(es) will be served at the hotel restaurant and dinner will be held at a restaurant in town. Special dietary requirements (e.g. vegetarian, diabetic) can be indicated once you receive the confirmation of the seminar
Confirmation
Confirmation of registration will be forwarded to participants on receipt of the completed online registration form.
Payment
Prior payment is a condition for participation.
Cancellation policy
For administrative reasons you will be charged €150 for cancellations received within 15 days before the activity begins. There is no charge for qualified substitute participants.
EIPA reserves the right to cancel the activity up to 2 weeks before the starting date. In that case, registration fees received will be fully reimbursed. EIPA accepts no responsibility for any costs incurred (travel, accommodation, etc.).
| 08.30 | Registration and handing out of seminar material |
| 09.00 | Opening of the seminar: introduction to the programme, objectives and methodology Iwona Karwot, Senior Lecturer and Project Leader, EIPA Barcelona Luc T’Joen, Senior Administrator, Performance Audit, European Court of Auditors. |
| 09.20 | Tour de table: presentation of participants to endorse networking |
| Part I – Setting the scene: what is a performance audit, and how do we plan one? | |
| 09.40 | Performance audit approach and objectives: overview of the performance audit cycle; the three “E”s (Economy, Efficiency, Effectiveness); the distinction with financial, compliance and internal auditing; the European Court of Auditors’ mandate Luc T’Joen |
| 10.40 | Questions & Answers |
| 11.00 | Coffee break |
| 11.30 | The preliminary study and risk assessment, with a focus on the use of Cost-Benefit Analysis (CBA) and Key Performance Indicators. Guido Fara, Auditor, European Court of Auditors |
| 12.30 | Outlining the performance audit plan with a focus on benchmarking as a tool for auditing and visualising performance Lorenzo Pirelli, Senior Auditor, European Court of Auditors |
| 13.30 | Joint lunch in the hotel restaurant |
| 15.00 | Workshop I: WHAT exactly should we audit and HOW should we plan it? Luc T’Joen, Guido Fara and Lorenzo Pirelli Several case studies are put forward (each participant to select at least two: as soon as 5 participants, the group will be formed):
Each participant will work in a team to practice on:
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| 17.00 | Plenary session with short group presentations and advice from the trainers |
| 17.45 | End of the first day and sightseeing tour of Malaga |
| 20.15 | Official dinner |
| Part II – Implementing a performance audit : real life findings of ECA audits | |
| 09.00 | Presentation of real life findings of a selection of transport audits (seaports, maritime transport and airports performance audits), and on “pure policy audits” (eg. air passenger rights) Luc T’Joen |
| 10.30 | Coffee break |
| 11.00 | Presentation of real life findings of the high speed rail and Mega Cross-border Transport Infrastructure performance audits Guido Fara |
| 12.30 | Joint lunch in the restaurant |
| 14.00 | Presentation of the real life findings of energy, environment and rural development performance audits (energy efficiency in buildings, air quality, rural infrastructure, start-up aid to young farmers) Lorenzo Pirelli |
| Part III – Reporting on a performance audit | |
| 15:30 | What kind of different products does the ECA have (annual report, special reports, reviews, opinions, …)? Drafting a performance audit report:
Luc T’Joen |
| 16.30 | Workshop II: Which report would you publish? Using the detailed feedback of the morning presentations on the real life findings on the performance audit developed, participants will continue working in teams, guided by the Court’s experts, on: 1. What would be the main parts and headings of your audit report? 2. Which conclusions would you draw, and in what order? 3. What recommendations would you make? |
| 17.30 | Plenary session with short group presentations and advice from the trainers |
| 18.00 | End of the second day |
| Part IV – Impact and follow-up of a performance audit | |
| 09.00 | Examples of impact of performance audits – Follow-up of recommendations Guido Fara |
| Part V – Implementing a performance audit in your organisation | |
| 09.30 | How to implement a performance audit in your organization: a discussion on possible practical cases in your organisation, and possible suggestions from the ECA specialists Luc T’Joen, Guido Fara and Lorenzo Pirelli |
| Part VI – Performance audit in the programming period 2021 – 2017 | |
| 10.00 | The use of performance audit in the programming period 2021 – 2027: what changed, how, what do you need to know, and what do you need to do? Luc T’Joen |
| 10.30 | Questions & Answers |
| 11.30 | Coffee break |
| Part VII – Creative thinking | |
| 11.45 | Workshop III: Creative thinking Each participant will work in a team to practice on a few specific exercises to test your ability to work as a group while thinking about solutions “out of the box”. |
| 12.45 | Plenary session with short group presentations and advice from the trainers |
| 13.00 | Closure of seminar and issuing of EIPA certificates to participants Iwona Karwot and Luc T’Joen |
