The European Union (EU) funded Technical Assistance (TA) to support the Implementation of the PFM Reform Strategic Plan in Bangladesh implemented by DT Global, is supporting the Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General (OCAG) of Bangladesh towards modernizing its operations.
The purpose of assisting is to strengthen the institutional capacity of OCAG and improve the systems and procedures in use; so that external audits are gradually carried out as per international standards and auditors are better trained and prepared to carry out their tasks resulting in improved quality and timeliness of external audits, reads a press release.
As part of the ongoing capacity-building initiatives, the EU-funded TA is assisting OCAG to professionalize its auditors by acquiring the Certified Information System Auditor (CISA) qualification.
A number of 48 selected officials of OCAG are being trained in phases to prepare them for appearing in the CISA certification exam.
The Comptroller and Auditor General of Bangladesh, Mohammad Muslim Chowdhury, inaugurated the CISA course as the chief guest on July 13 at the Financial Management Academy (FIMA), Dhaka.
Jurate Smalskyte Merville, counsellor, Team Leader – Education, Human Development and Public Finance Management, Delegation of the European Union to Bangladesh, attended the event as a special guest.
Abul Kalam Azad, director general of the Financial Management Academy (FIMA) was the Session Chair of the event.
The training of the first batch of selected OCAG officials also started on the same day.
Mohammad Muslim Chowdhury, during his remarks as the chief guest, highlighted the global recognition of the CISA qualification for professionals.
He emphasized the pivotal role that CISA can play in auditing, controlling, monitoring, and assessing an organization's information technology and business systems.
Addressing the audience, Chowdhury expressed his expectation that CISA certification would equip OCAG to effectively conduct audits in the ever-advancing Information Systems/Information Technology (IS/IT) environment, with iBAS++ at the forefront in the public sector in Bangladesh.
With the growing importance of technology in today's business landscape, Chowdhury's remarks shed light on the necessity for professionals to obtain the CISA certification.
Jurate Smalskyte Merville, during her remarks as the special guest, emphasized how this world-recognized CISA certification can unlock numerous doors as opportunities for the participants.
Merville stressed the importance of acquiring the prestigious CISA certification as a means to gain expertise in five technical domains, including Information Systems Auditing Process; Governance and Management of IT; Information Systems Acquisition, Development, and Implementation; Information Systems Operations and Business Resilience; and Protection of Information Assets; which are all integral to the field of information systems auditing in the ever-evolving digital landscape.
Merville also pointed out that the EU is not only supporting the Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General (OCAG) but also the National Board of Revenue (NBR) and Parliamentary Financial Oversight Committees (FOCs) to strengthen their institutional capacities in implementing strategic reform priorities of Bangladesh.
The CISA certification, regulated by Information Systems Audit and Control Association (ISACA), is anticipated to enhance the Information Systems and Information Technology capacity within the OCAG and the Audit Directorates.
It is expected to play a vital role in improving public financial management, increasing Supreme Audit Institution (SAI) credibility, and enabling better support to policymakers in resource allocation.
The certification is further projected to result in the production of high-quality financial, compliance and performance audit reports, and thereby institutionalize improved execution of audits in the long run.
The introduction of the CISA certification for the OCAG officials is being recognized as a fundamental step towards enhancing its audit capabilities and promoting transparency and accountability in the management of the public finances of Bangladesh.
The inauguration of the CISA course concluded with the enrolled participants all set to embrace the challenges and rewards that lie ahead in their pursuit of excellence in the dynamic world of information systems auditing.
