Auditor-General's Department South Australia

What Auditor-General's Department South Australia does

The Audit Office of South Australia (formerly the Auditor-General's Department, renamed 1 July 2024) is a statutory parliamentary office established under the Public Finance and Audit Act 1987 to provide independent assurance on the South Australian public sector. It conducts three core service lines: financial audits of approximately 170 SA Government entities (departments, statutory authorities, public corporations, and universities), performance audits of state and local government programs for effectiveness, efficiency, and economy, and IT audits assessing IT general controls, specialised controls, ICT projects, and cybersecurity. Findings take the form of Independent Auditor's Reports, controls opinions, performance audit reports, ICT reviews, and investigation reports, with 195 reports published online spanning 1993–2026. The office is led by Auditor-General Andrew Blaskett and reports directly to Parliament rather than the Executive Government, with statutory independence protected from external direction.

The office is staffed by approximately 152 people organised across three functions: a financial audit team of about 100 staff (plus external contractors), a performance audit team of about 12 staff, and a business services branch of about 40 staff providing technical expertise, data analytics, and core business functions. Technology capability centres on risk-based audit methodologies aligned with Australian auditing standards, IT control testing, and data analytics used to support audit activities. The office is technology-enabled rather than technology-led, with no disclosed AI/ML systems, proprietary platforms, or APIs.

The business model is entirely non-commercial: the office is funded through parliamentary appropriation and provides audit services to Parliament and public sector entities at no direct charge. There is no pricing model, no commercial revenue stream, and no sales motion. Distribution is direct to Parliament via report tabling and to audited entities via engagement leaders and audit managers. Partnerships with CPA Australia, Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CAANZ), and the Australasian Council of Auditors-General (ACAG) primarily support professional development and cross-jurisdictional intelligence sharing rather than commercial activity.

Name

Auditor-General's Department South Australia

Legal name

Audit Office of South Australia

Website

https://audit.sa.gov.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

1987

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

The Audit Office of South Australia is a statutory parliamentary office that conducts independent financial, performance, and IT audits of approximately 170 South Australian Government entities and reports the findings to Parliament under the Public Finance and Audit Act 1987.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Sector Audit Services

NAICS

Public Finance Activities (921130), Executive, Legislative, and Other General Government Support (921)

akta.pro primary industry

Government Accounting & Financial Reporting (BPAIAEAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Financial Risk, Controls & Audit (Public Sector) (BPAIAEAH), Audit & Assurance Services (BPAHABAA)

Keywords

• Public sector audit
• Financial statement audit
• Performance audit services
• IT controls audit
• Government accountability reporting

Headquarters

HQ city

Adelaide

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Government Appropriation: The Audit Office operates as a statutory body funded through government appropriation. The Auditor-General is appointed by Parliament and the office's mandate and operations are funded through the public sector budget process. No commercial revenue generation.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Audit Office of South Australia performs statutory financial audits, performance audits, and IT audits for approximately 170 South Australian government entities — including departments, statutory authorities, public corporations, universities, and local government bodies — and reports the findings to Parliament under the Public Finance and Audit Act 1987. Its deliverables are Independent Auditor's Reports on financial statements, performance audit reports assessing program effectiveness/efficiency/economy, and IT/ICT audit reports evaluating controls, security, and governance. The office is funded through parliamentary appropriation and has no commercial pricing structure.

Product overview

The Audit Office of South Australia (formerly Auditor-General's Department) operates as a government audit office providing independent audit services to the Parliament and people of South Australia. The organization offers three core audit service lines: Financial Audits (examining financial statements of ~170 SA Government entities annually), Performance Audits (assessing effectiveness, efficiency and economy of public sector programs), and IT Audits (evaluating IT controls, security and governance in public agencies). The office produces various report types including agency audit outcomes, ICT reviews, investigation reports, and performance audit reports. The work is conducted under the Public Finance and Audit Act 1987 and reported to Parliament, with findings helping ensure government accountability and better public sector performance outcomes.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Financial Audits Annual audits of financial statements for approximately 170 SA Government entities including departments, statutory authorities, public corporations and universities, providing Independent Auditor's Reports on whether financial statements give a true and fair view.
• Performance Audits In-depth assessments of whether SA Government entities (state and local governments) are effective, efficient and economical in delivering programs and services in line with the law. Coverage may include whole operations, one activity, or activities across several entities.
• IT Audits Independent assessment of how public sector agencies manage and protect their IT systems and data. Examines controls, processes and systems supporting secure and reliable use of technology, including IT general controls, specialised controls, ICT project reviews, and cybersecurity assessments.
• Financial Audit Reports Audited financial statements for public sector agencies published under section 36(4) of the Public Finance and Audit Act 1987, including agency audit outcomes, annual reports, and updates to annual reports.
• ICT Reviews Reports examining information technology issues of importance and interest in the public sector, including reviews of legacy ICT systems, system authentication, cloud computing, and ICT asset management.
• Investigation Reports Reports on examinations requested by Parliament, Treasurer, Minister, or Independent Commissioner Against Corruption, including issues referred by whistleblowers and other community members.
• Performance Audit Reports Reports on the efficiency, economy and effectiveness with which state or local public authorities manage and deliver activities, with recommendations for improvement.
• Other Reports Reports on significant financial management, accounting and control matters, including state finances insights, procurement reporting, and summaries of confidential government contracts.

Quantifiable outcome

• Approximately 170 SA Government entities audited annually
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• CPA AustraliacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCPA Australia is one of two professional accounting associations with which the Audit Office has a close relationship. Many employees are members and participate in CPA Australia's study programs to gain professional qualifications. The office was the first organisation in Australia to receive Recognised Employer Partnership status, which highlights their professional development processes.
• Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CAANZ)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCAANZ is one of two professional accounting associations with which the Audit Office has a close relationship. Many employees are members and participate in CAANZ's study programs to gain professional qualifications.
• Australasian Council of Auditors-General (ACAG)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Audit Office is an active member of ACAG, a body formed for the sharing of information and intelligence between Auditors-General in Australia and the Pacific region. This supports collaboration in a time of increasing complexity and rapid change.
• Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand - Achiever ProgramminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe work experience program is offered through the CAANZ Achiever Program. Placement occurs during university vacation periods with intakes in February and July each year.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Office of the Auditor-General of New Zealand: Closest international peer: independent New Zealand parliamentary audit office performing audits of central and local government entities, with shared ACAG membership and Australasian audit methodology alignment.
• Australian National Audit Office (ANAO): The Commonwealth-level Auditor-General performing financial and performance audits of Australian federal entities, structurally and functionally equivalent to the Audit Office of South Australia at the national level.
• Tasmanian Audit Office: Tasmania's statutory audit office performing financial and performance audits of state entities and local government. A smaller-jurisdiction peer with a similar mandate to the Audit Office of South Australia.
• ACT Audit Office: Australian Capital Territory audit office conducting financial and performance audits of ACT government entities, operating under analogous statutory independence provisions.
• Victorian Auditor-General's Office (VAGO): Statutory Victorian state audit office conducting financial and performance audits of Victorian government entities, operating under parallel legislation to the SA Public Finance and Audit Act 1987.
• Northern Territory Auditor-General's Office: NT statutory audit office providing independent assurance on NT public sector financial statements and performance, with reporting to the NT Legislative Assembly.
• Queensland Audit Office (QAO): Queensland's statutory audit office delivering financial audits and performance audits to the Queensland Parliament, with a similar mandate structure and reporting lines to SA.
• Office of the Auditor General for Western Australia: WA's independent audit office conducting annual financial audits and performance audits of state and local government entities, with reports tabled in the WA Parliament.
• Audit Office of New South Wales: NSW state audit office providing financial and performance audits of NSW public sector entities, with the Auditor-General reporting to the NSW Parliament. Closest direct analogue among the larger state audit offices.

Broad incumbents

• National Audit Office of the United Kingdom (NAO): UK parliamentary audit office with broader scope and international influence, providing a model for financial audit, value-for-money reviews, and reporting to Parliament that parallels SA's statutory model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/Audit_SA
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/auditor-general-s-department-of-south-australia

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Auditor-General's Department South Australia