The Government Audit Office, the largest auditing organisation in N.Z. offers you an interesting and challenging career in the following areas:-

Appraisal of Administration

In the public sector profit cannot be relied upon as a measure of efficiency. Government auditors must not only see that accounts give a true and fair view but that the organisation under audit has received value for the funds spent.

Government auditors cover Departments of State (both administrative and developmental) public corporation (N.A.C, Tourist Hotel Corporation etc), marketing boards (Dairy Board, Meat Board etc) and local authorities (City Councils, Harbour Boards, Electric Power boards, Hospital boards, Education boards etc.)

Government auditors on behalf of Parliament and the citizens of New Zealand ensure that the stated social and political purposes of these agencies are carried out with the most effective and economical use of funds allocated to them.

Systems Evaluation

Like all modern auditors, Government auditors evaluate the accounting and other administrative systems in operation but not only to assess the accuracy of the accounts. Systems are evaluated with a means of assessing their adequacy in assisting towards the effective use of resources contributed by the taxpayer and ratepayer for particular stated purposes.

Computer-Based Audits

Government is the biggest business in N.Z. As such it has been at the forefront in the use of computers for accounting and management information. The Audit Office is heavily involved in this area and has a special computer audit group of auditors trained in E.D.P., Promising officers after initial experience in the field are eligible for training and attachment to this section for varying periods.

New Management Techniques

The N Z. Government in common with overseas trends is introducing new techniques of public sector financial management such as programme budgeting, integrated management accounting, cost effectiveness studies and cost/benefit analysis. Increasingly Government auditors are going to be involved in appraising the effectiveness of these techniques.

Location and Overseas Assignments

Branches are situated at: Whangarei, Auckland, Hamilton, Rotorua, Tauranga, Gisborne, Napier, New Plymouth, Palmerston North, Wanganui, Masterton, Wellington, Nelson Greymouth, Christchurch, Timaru, Dunedin and Invercargill. Staff are also located at London who periodically visit posts in Europe, and North America Staff from New Zealand carry out audits in Australia, S. E. Asia. Western Samoa, Niue and Cook Islands.

Career Developments

All top positions in the Audit Office are open to qualified personnel and promotion is rapid.

Some very senior policy-making and management positions are held by officers still in their thirties and forties.

Middle management positions are held by officers in their twenties and thirties.

Supervisory positions in full charge of audits are held by officers as young as 24.

Your career is developed from first appointment by on-the-job training and off-the-job courses suited to the various levels. All qualified officers are treated as professionals and as a consequence have a greater degree of autonomy and freedom than would be expected in a normal organisation of this size.

Experience in the Audit Office qualified for admission to the N.Z. Society of Accountants.

Salaries, Superannuation and Leave

These are on standard Public Service conditions. Starting salaries are competitive with those of other professional organisations offering a future of challenging professional-level work with a social purpose and increasing financial rewards.

Interviews can be arranged through the Careers Advisory Board for 21 July when Audit office representatives visit the University. Alternatively, contact the Administration Officer, phone 724-979 for further information.