Senior secondary students got a taste of work at Audit’s career orientation event

On 3 July 2024, the Audit Commission (Audit) hosted 15 senior secondary students for an office tour and a full day of work experience, offering them a glimpse into the day-to-day operation and the structure of the Department and giving them an idea on the entry requirements for a career at Audit.

The students were treated to a packed and diverse programme designed for them to gain an all-round understanding on the operation of Audit.  The day started with a tour around the office and a brief introduction on the Department, including its history, responsibilities and staff development, by Audit staff.  The students were then guided to read through Director of Audit’s Reports and Reports on the Accounts of the HKSAR Government, based on which they were given a quiz – a fun and light way to deepen their understanding on value for money (VFM) audit and regularity audit, as well as the Department’s reports on these audits.

Another highlight of the programme was the presentation session.  Under the guidance of our Auditors, the students took on mock VFM audit projects in the form of case studies. In teams, the “apprentice auditors” were led through the workflow of an actual VFM audit project – selecting subjects, collecting information, analysing the situations and issues involved, making recommendations and summarising the cases.  At the end, the students presented and reported their findings to the mentors and fellow participants, as a showcase of what they had learnt from the programme.

The students found the programme fruitful and opined that the experience enhanced their understanding of Audit’s duties and, at the same time, raised their awareness and interest in public sector auditing.  They were especially impressed by the mock VFM projects. Having spared no effort in promoting youth development, Audit took part in the Business-School Partnership Programme (BSPP) under the Education Bureau (EDB) again this year and planned a series of activities for students.  Audit was glad to join hands with the EDB and schools to orient young people towards their career aspirations.  Prof. Nelson Lam, Director of Audit, wished the students success on their quest for knowledge and encouraged them to put their strengths to good use in different aspects of life.  He also called for the students to join the Department in the future and serve the society and the public.

Audit staff briefed the students on the background of the Department, which,
with a history of 180 years, stood as one of the oldest departments in the Government.

The students showed enthusiasm in the quiz, which covered a wide range of topics
surrounding Audit, including its functions, issuance of reports and
relationship with the Public Accounts Committee.

The students studied in detail a Report on the Accounts of the HKSAR Government
to learn more about the Government’s financial statements and the workflow involved
in the preparation of an independent auditor’s report by the Director of Audit.

Stepping into the roles of mentors for the programme, our Auditors assisted the students
in completing various tasks and answered their questions in detail.

Under the guidance of our Auditors, the students conducted mock VFM audit projects.

A team presented their mock audit project on a topic of their own choice.

In their first ever visit to the Audit Headquarters, the students seized the opportunity
to take a photo in front of the Department’s logo wall.

The photo shows the students being greeted by one of our Senior Auditors,
who shared with them introductory knowledge on auditing.

In the debriefing session, Prof. Nelson Lam, Director of Audit, said he was heartened by
spirited participation of the students in the programme.
He also encouraged them to pursue diverse interests and keep equipping themselves.

Prof. Nelson Lam, Director of Audit (fifth left), Ken Liang, Deputy Director of Audit (third left),
Betty Lee, Project Officer (Life Planning Education) of EDB (fourth left), took a photo with
Audit staff and the students to capture the moment as the BSPP activity came to a happy end.