INTERNAL AUDIT UNIT

The Internal Audit Unit (IAU) is an independent operational unit, established by the provisions of Article 31 paragraph 3 of the founding Law 4602/2019 (A' 45) of the H.S.G.M.E, reporting directly to the Authority's Director General. The Unit has been operational since February 2020, following the additional provisions of Law 4795/2021 (A’ 62) for the Public Sector's Internal Audit Systems as well.

The responsibilities of the Internal Audit Unit are defined by the provisions of Article 38 paragraph 5 of the founding law, concisely including the following:

• The financial and administrative audit of the Authority's public accountants and public accounts, the audit of the proper execution of expenditures, the proper collection and presentation of revenues, along with the Authority's asset management, aiming to identify and prevent potential instances of administrative and financial mismanagement, misuse, waste, fraud, or corruption.

• The compliance audit to the application by the staff of legal provisions, regulations, circulars, guidelines and decisions of the Authority's Administration and Directorates, the audit of the administrative and financial operations information systems.

• The development and adequacy evaluation of the Authority’s Internal Control System applied to all technical, administrative and financial operations, along with the submission of related improvement proposals.

• The evaluation of the economy, efficiency, and effectiveness of the Authority's administrative and financial operations, based on the principle of sound financial management.

• The provision of reasonable assurance regarding the adequacy and effectiveness of the Authority’s operational risk management.

• The implementation of the Authority’s Quality Policy, as well as the development, updating, and overall supervision and supporting of the quality management systems.

In the context of exercising these responsibilities, the Internal Audit Unit:

• Ensures the development and implementation of the Authority’ s Internal Control System.

• Manages the installation, implementation, and certification of a quality management system in line with ISO 9001:2015, covering the provision of the Authority's products and services , as well as the relevant processes.

• Supports the administrative and finacial procedures for the accreditation under ISO 17025:2017 of the performance of specific measurements and tests, carried out in the laboratories of H.S.G.M.E. (Ornamental Stones “LITHOS”, Bottled Water Quality Control, Solid Industrial Waste & Sludge Hazard Assessment, and the Epirus Regional Branch).