Sarajevo, 18^th September 2025

In 2025, the Audit Office of the Institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina marks 25 years of dedicated work in improving the responsible management of public funds, strengthening accountability, transparency, and building trust in the public sector.

From its modest beginnings and the first audits conducted in 2000, with a team of only 10 auditors, we have grown into a strong and independent institution that today employs around 70 highly educated and dedicated professionals. Their professionalism, expertise, commitment, and continuous focus on aligning our work with the best international auditing practices have been key to the development of our SAI and the advancement of public sector auditing in BiH.

Over the past 25 years, our staff has carried out thousands of financial audits and dozens of performance audits, thereby contributing to:

• greater transparency in the work of the Institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina,
• strengthening internal controls and financial management,
• building a legislative framework and improving services for citizens,
• enhancing the culture of accountability in public administration.

Through its work, the SAI has contributed to improving the functioning of the Institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina – many institutions, based on audit findings and recommendations, have modernized their processes, established better control mechanisms, and redirected public resources toward more efficient and economical use. At the same time, audit reports serve as a key tool for the Parliamentary Assembly of BiH, civil society, and the media in monitoring the work of the Institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina and demanding accountability from public officials.

The strength of our SAI has always been in its staff, who carry out their work professionally and responsibly in the service of the public interest. Through continuous improvement of knowledge and skills, international cooperation, and the exchange of experiences, the staff has become part of the wider professional auditing community. Thus, the SAI has gradually developed from an institution that relied on the support of others into an organization that, through its own experience and good practices, can contribute to the development of other audit institutions.

At the same time, we recognize that the public sector faces challenges such as digitalization, economic changes, and growing expectations regarding transparency and integrity. It is also evident that the acceptance and implementation of the SAI’s recommendations do not always progress at the same pace, which can slow down certain processes and affect the achievement of expected results. That is why it is important to continue adapting working methods, introducing gradual improvements, and developing the SAI’s capacities, to ensure our work remains effective and relevant to the public sector.

Today, after 25 years, the Audit Office of the Institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina remains focused on strengthening its capacities and reinforcing its role in safeguarding public funds, with the goal of contributing to a more transparent, accountable, and efficient public sector in Bosnia and Herzegovina, capable of meeting the needs of modern times.