The Auditor General’s Office has raised several significant concerns regarding the financial management of the iTaukei Affairs Board during its recent review of financial reports. Key issues identified include unreconciled accounts, delays in filing systems, and insufficient documentation to support financial statements. Auditor General Finau Nagera highlighted that some of these challenges have persisted for as long as 16 years, with incomplete or missing documents severely affecting the accuracy of the Board’s financial records.
Nagera stressed the importance of having adequate documentation to support the balances reflected in financial statements, emphasizing that issues concerning records management must be addressed to enhance accountability. Esrom Immanuel, the Chair of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts, echoed these sentiments, urging that the identified shortcomings denote a significant lack of accountability and transparency in the Board’s operations.
The Deputy Chief Executive of the Corporate Division at the iTaukei Affairs Board, Sereana Matakibau, acknowledged the ongoing challenges, which have affected the Board’s ability to effectively deliver services. To address these issues, the Board has taken steps to improve their document management by establishing additional storage facilities for documents pending audit. They are committed to clearing the backlog of financial reports dating back 16 years before the year ends.
This situation reflects broader concerns previously raised about the qualifications of financial personnel across the provincial councils associated with the Board. Previous discussions have highlighted the lack of training among finance staff and ongoing calls for reform to ensure that qualified personnel are in place to uphold transparency and accountability in financial reporting.
Despite these challenges, there is a positive outlook as the iTaukei Affairs Board has shown commitment to improving financial management practices. Efforts are in place to enhance training programs for finance officers and to ensure better documentation and filing processes. By focusing on rectifying the longstanding audit backlog, the iTaukei Affairs Board aims to restore public trust and ensure efficient management of community resources.
Overall, there is hope that through these initiatives, the iTaukei Affairs Board can strengthen its financial operations, leading to better governance and enhanced accountability within Fiji’s public institutions.
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