In April, Prague hosted an expert conference focused on the use of accounting information in central government. The event was organised by the Supreme Audit Office of the Czech Republic (SAO/NKÚ) in cooperation with the Faculty of Finance and Accounting at the Prague University of Economics and Business. Dr. Veronika Vorobljevová from our department was also invited to attend the conference.
The Supreme Audit Office is an independent institution responsible for overseeing the management of state property and public funds. Dr. Vorobljevová previously worked at the SAO’s Financial Audit Department, which focuses on auditing financial information recorded in public administration systems and used for monitoring and managing public finances. Thanks to this professional background, she is able to bring practical insights into the teaching of accounting and other courses focused on public administration.
The conference focused on the use of accounting data in the public sector, the needs of its users, and possibilities for simplifying financial reporting and reducing administrative burden. According to the presented findings, central government accounting is systematically used only by a limited number of institutions, mainly for macroeconomic and statistical purposes, while in many other areas its potential remains underutilised.
Luboš Rokos, Director of the SAO Financial Audit Department, also addressed the underuse of accounting information during the conference, remarking: “Central government accounting forms a solid and robust information highway. So why stick to back roads?”
Representatives of the Czech Statistical Office also highlighted the importance of the SAO’s work for improving the quality and reliability of government statistics. One of the key conclusions of the discussion was that education plays a crucial role in improving the use of central government accounting, both for those who prepare financial statements and for those who work with them.
These conclusions also confirm the importance of bringing similar topics into university teaching and helping students understand accounting information in the broader context of public administration and decision-making processes.
We would like to thank Dr. Vorobljevová for representing our department!