The “United Nations Audit Projects” series – Audit Commission staff completed United Nations audit assignment in the United States of America

During March to May this year, Tony Yeung, an Auditor of the Audit Commission (Audit), was blessed again with the opportunity to attend the training for United Nations (UN) auditors held in Beijing by the United Nations Audit Office under the National Audit Office of the People’s Republic of China (CNAO) and to take part in an audit assignment for the UN in the USA as part of the Chinese national audit team.

Held specifically as a preparation course for the mission, the week-long pre-assignment training familiarises the auditors with the rules and regulations, technical know-how, work procedures and quality control requirements, among others, in auditing for the UN.

Tony Yeung, an Auditor of the Commission, underwent training in Beijing to prepare himself for
his UN audit assignment.

With training completed, Tony headed to New York, USA alongside the national audit team to take on a 2025 financial year-end audit for the UN Secretariat, with a focus on auditing the Business Transformation and Accountability Division (BTAD) under the Department of Management Strategy, Policy and Compliance of the Secretariat. As one of the core units in charge of the reform of the UN’s management system, the BTAD is tasked with functions including continually monitoring the organisational performance of various UN bodies and the implementation of the risk management framework. The audit team to which Tony belonged was responsible for analysing and assessing the BTAD’s efficacy in monitoring processes such as data-driven transformation and implementation of accountability and compliance systems within the UN.

It was the third time Tony participated in an audit assignment for the UN. From his two previous assignments, which were conducted in Europe and Africa on subject matters such as regional development and environmental protection, he gained a clearer picture of procedures of audit work in different domains and, also, solid experience in auditing on an international scale, which he put into further practice in this assignment in the States. Tony was thoroughly impressed by his teammates, who handled each and every part of the workflow – from sample-checking and verifying details to conducting interviews with UN personnel – with meticulous care and a commitment to excellence. To him, it was an honorable and rewarding experience to be part of the team, whose performance showcased the expertise and professionalism of Chinese auditors to the world.

Back from his third stint on UN audit assignments, Tony expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the CNAO and Audit, whose trust and support afforded him the chance to be engaged in international audit work. He spoke of the tremendous honour of serving on the national audit team, witnessing firsthand and being involved in our Motherland’s vital role in shaping global governance. He is confident that the valuable experience and global perspective gained from all his previous UN assignments, as well as the rigorous work ethic learned from his teammates will serve him well as he continues to contribute his expertise in his regular role.

Tony expressed his gratitude to the CNAO and Audit, whose trust and support afforded him the chance to be engaged in international audit work.

Tony posed for a photo inside the UN Headquarters in New York, USA.

Tony gained valuable experience from taking on the UN audit assignments as a member of the
national audit team.

Tony took part in the audit of the BTAD under the UN.

Throughout his term of membership on the UN Board of Auditors, Mr Hou Kai, Auditor General of the CNAO, had consistently backed Auditors of the Commission in participating in UN audit work. Tony was privileged to have joined the national audit team thrice in contributing to the UN through audit work. It was especially meaningful to witness the national team shine on the international arena of auditing.