MoF launches the capacity building programme for its internal auditing team on quality management systems

Reaffirming its commitment to developing the skills of its employees, the Ministry of Finance (MoF) recently launched a training programme for its internal auditors on three quality management systems: environmental, occupational safety and health management. 

The training programme is provided by one of the world’s leading authorities in the field of quality management systems and consists of two phases. The first phase was organised for team members who obtained the ‘Certified Internal Auditor’ title and covers coping mechanisms, and methods of handling environmental, occupational safety and health management systems. It also presents an introduction of the systems and how to carry out their respective internal auditing processes. The second phase of the training programme aimed to graduate a total target of 10 auditors to achieve the ‘team leader reviewers’ certification that is approved by the international reviewers for each system. 

Commenting on the training programme, HE Muasbah Al Suwaidi, Assistant Undersecretary for Support Services Sector at MoF, said: “This training programme falls in line within the Ministry’s plan to enhance employee skills and further develop their ability to assess the departments’ commitment in enforcing the rules of international quality management systems. Also, it will enable them to develop more effective internal audit programmes and to build corrective actions to yield better results.” 

HE added: “The Ministry continuously seeks to adopt the latest management practices for government financial institutions on par with global standards; which reflects its strong commitment towards achieving administrative leadership in various sectors and departments. The Ministry also draws attention to its strategic plan which aims to develop employee capabilities and enable them to apply these international practices, in addition to evaluating the strengths and weaknesses in the application of these systems.” 

The internal audit team is linked to six different departments at the Ministry. In fact, it has allocated team members with a set of core functions which will include a plan for the internal audit system, preparation of an internal audit programme as well as the implementation of internal audit of quality management system after follow-ups on corrective action and coordination with the concerned departments. 

The Ministry has obtained a total number of 7 ‘ISO’ certificates which cover a range of different operational areas and has recently achieved the Information Technology Service Management System Certificate (ISO:20000-1).