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The influence of public sector audit digitalisation on local government budget planning: evidence from Brazil

The influence of public sector audit digitalisation on local government budget planning: evidence... This article analysed how data collection systems (DCS) developed by governmental audit organizations (Court of Accounts) affect budgetary planning within local governments.Design/methodology/approachEighteen semi-structured interviews complemented by six time-lagged interviews via WhatsApp were carried out with the actors involved in the preparation and auditing of the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) in Brazilian local governments. Documents such as the structured layouts of Courts' DCS and the publicised MTEF prepared by local governments were also analysed.FindingsThe findings indicate that Courts' DCS structured layouts reduce local governments' budgetary planning autonomy in elaborating their MTEF. It happens as the Courts' main driver is to make MTEF information auditable and not to improve the usefulness of information by governments. As a result, the planning choices of the local governments end up limited, not by the general legislation but by the rules established by the computerized systems of the Courts.Originality/valueThe paper's originality relies on demonstrating that the digitalisation of audit processes ultimately affects local governments' practices through structured layouts for the data collection on MTEF information - that impose rigidity on the budget planning process of local governments. The authors highlight the role of public sector auditing organisations as potential catalysts of reforms; however, this should be considered cautiously since the drivers and motivations of the organisation that sponsors public financial management reforms matter for overall reform effectiveness. http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Journal of Public Budgeting Accounting & Financial Management Emerald Publishing

The influence of public sector audit digitalisation on local government budget planning: evidence from Brazil

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References (86)

Publisher
Emerald Publishing
Copyright
© Emerald Publishing Limited
ISSN
1096-3367
DOI
10.1108/jpbafm-05-2022-0090
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

This article analysed how data collection systems (DCS) developed by governmental audit organizations (Court of Accounts) affect budgetary planning within local governments.Design/methodology/approachEighteen semi-structured interviews complemented by six time-lagged interviews via WhatsApp were carried out with the actors involved in the preparation and auditing of the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) in Brazilian local governments. Documents such as the structured layouts of Courts' DCS and the publicised MTEF prepared by local governments were also analysed.FindingsThe findings indicate that Courts' DCS structured layouts reduce local governments' budgetary planning autonomy in elaborating their MTEF. It happens as the Courts' main driver is to make MTEF information auditable and not to improve the usefulness of information by governments. As a result, the planning choices of the local governments end up limited, not by the general legislation but by the rules established by the computerized systems of the Courts.Originality/valueThe paper's originality relies on demonstrating that the digitalisation of audit processes ultimately affects local governments' practices through structured layouts for the data collection on MTEF information - that impose rigidity on the budget planning process of local governments. The authors highlight the role of public sector auditing organisations as potential catalysts of reforms; however, this should be considered cautiously since the drivers and motivations of the organisation that sponsors public financial management reforms matter for overall reform effectiveness.

Journal

Journal of Public Budgeting Accounting & Financial Management – Emerald Publishing

Published: Mar 23, 2023

Keywords: Courts of audit; Multi-year plan; Audit society; Organizational change; Public financial management reforms; Digital infrastructure

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