Government & Public Sector

Infrastructure development

Infrastructure development is high on government's agenda in South Africa and across the rest of Africa. Government's are steadily spearheading unprecedented levels of investment in infrastructure. This has given way to substantial opportunity to provide services required to successfully lead and conclude vast capital programmes such as: strategic portfolio and programme management, infrastructure monitoring and reporting and other related advisory services.

Financial transformation

Transformation within the public sector has never been more relevant as public institutions are being increasingly scrutinised in terms of their effectiveness in discharging government services and managing public funds. This has led to a steady stream of clients wanting to achieve clean audits. Our audit remediation and financial transformation offering provides a sector specific approach to driving increased governance and implementation of world class controls at various government and public sector entities.

Effective Internal Audit

Achieving effectiveness and greater return from internal audit remains a relevant topic on government's radar. Increasingly government is searching for ways to incorporate internal audit and risk management as part of their strategic conversations which will ultimatley help them achieve their core mandate which is service delivery to its citizens.

Effective Implementation of legislation and regulations

Our government sector has sound legislation and regulations that is comparable to the best globally, such as the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA) and Municipal Finance Management Act (MFMA). To obtain maximum benefit from our sound legislation and regulations, this has to be supported by the effective implementation of appropriate systems and resources. Effective implementation is the current challenge facing the sector and two areas can be highlighted:

• Skills shortage: There is a significant shortage of appropriately skilled professionals in the public finance management area which is impacting financial reporting and good governance. This is an ongoing challenge which needs to be addressed with urgency. The government sector needs to be more innovative in attracting and retaining the best talent, ensure resources are equipped to execute their mandates and should enforce a stronger ethical compass in order to better serve the citizens of this country. More collaboration between the government and private sectors will address some of the current challenges.
• Systems:  Government departments need to ensure they partner with the right advisors to ensure the successful implementation of IT systems. Too often the wrong systems are in place to meet the sectors requirements or vice-versa, the right systems are in place but not implemented effectively. IT systems should be selected by demand side of the government department/entity i.e. based on their needs and not by the supply side where systems are available and implemented without consideration of the needs.

Accounting systems

Government departments are currently on modified cash basis - which is the first step towards to accrual accounting which should be the long term objective. The accrual basis of accounting will provide users with more reliable and relevant information regarding governments’ assets, liabilities and any obligations. It also provides users with information regarding managements’ performances with resources to achieve its service mandate.

Our credentials

• We have played an instrumental role in fulfilling an infrastructure delivery monitoring and reporting function for one of the largest investments in infrastructure in South Africa. The client, as a development funding agency, is responsible for implementing a significant portion of government’s investment in infrastructure for education, health and social services. We play a strategic role as a trusted advisor and are proud role-players in shaping South Africa’s future infrastructure.
• As part of improving government’s approach to management of assets, we have assisted a large public entity with programme managing enhancements to their asset registers. The client is the largest custodian of public assets within South Africa and have we have provided specialised solutions based on our in-depth knowledge of asset management and the relevant legislation governing asset management with the public sector. Our role will enable our client to make strategic decisions with regards to state assets serving our communities.
• We are currently fulfilling an internal audit function at a key government entity with specific focus on providing assurance on a Government-wide IT implementation which involves replacement of many legacy systems. We are thus proudly participating towards a key IT transformation within the South African government.
• We have audited numerous government departments, municipalities and public entities, as appointed auditors of the organisation or on behalf of the Auditor-General of South Africa. We recently assisted a large public entity with a financial turnaround and audit readiness project. We spent approximately four months with the entity and subsequently converted a disclaimer of opinion in the prior period to an unqualified opinion in the current period.
• We have a strong public finance management technical team that provides accounting opinions and provides training to numerous government departments and entities.
• We have also assisted government entities in addressing some of the audit outcomes as published in the General Report of the Auditor-General of South Africa, including the audit of pre-determined objectives.