Maura Hayes-Chaffe is the Deputy Comptroller for Audit in New York City.

Maura joined us to discuss the Bureau of Audit, including:

• the challenges with recruiting and attracting performance auditors
• new approaches to conducting PAs
• the changing environment (e.g., economics)
• equity in PA, citizen powered audits, and a recent housing related audit
• the use of data, including open data, by the audit team.

Links

• NYC Office of the Comptroller
• This episode's web page

About this podcast 

The podcast for performance auditors.
Hosted by Conor McGarrity and Yusuf Moolla.
Produced by PA Reports - Performance Audit Research.  

Get updates
New episodes, and a fortnightly newsletter with a selection of PA reports and practices from audit offices.
https://pareports.com/#cta-subscribe

Our guest is Cathy O'Neil, author of Weapons of Math Destruction: how big data increases inequality and threatens democracy.

Cathy joined us to discuss critical aspects for auditors to consider, including:

• The human element: why understanding 'for whom an algorithm might fail' is more important than the detailed technical design of an algorithm.
• Algorithm testing: the importance of post-deployment testing to ensure there are no unintended adverse outcomes. 
• Setting standards: the need for industry-wide standards so that regulators can ensure there is no bias or discrimination in how algorithms operate. 
• Laggers and leaders: the four big industries/domains using algorithms that need to step up audit in their space and how law-makers and regulators are catching up.
• Emerging AI, e.g. language models/chatbots - why trust by users is key, and the pros and cons of using these models.

Links

• Cathy's company, ORCAA 
• Weapons of Math Destruction (book)  
• This episode's web page: https://pareports.com/podcast/24 

About this podcast 

The podcast for performance auditors.
Hosted by Conor McGarrity and Yusuf Moolla.
Produced by PA Reports - Performance Audit Research. 

Get updates
New episodes, and a fortnightly newsletter with a selection of PA reports and practices from audit offices.
https://pareports.com/#cta-subscribe

This episode featured guests from the North Dakota State Audit Office:
Allison Bader, Performance Audit Manager and Claudia Kuball, Performance Auditor.

In this episode we discuss:

• Team diversity – the value of recruiting performance auditors from different backgrounds, incl. how specialist expertise can help focus on major risks
• Impact – their communications team is instrumental in engaging citizens and maximising audit impact
• Significant audit – their audit of Storage and Handling of COVID Vaccines including its design, execution and findings
• Citizen engagement – how North Dakotans can get involved, and even speak to the State Auditor directly on radio every Wed morning

Links:

• Office of the State Auditor, North Dakota: https://www.nd.gov/auditor 
• Submit ideas for audit topics here 
• What’s On Your Mind – the radio program that Josh Gallion (State Auditor) guest appears on from 10-11 CST every Wednesday: https://kfyr.iheart.com/ 
• Sign up for the office's quarterly e-newsletter here 
• The office on Facebook, LinkedIn and YouTube 
• This episode's webpage: https://pareports.com/podcast/23

About this podcast 

The podcast for performance auditors.
Hosted by Conor McGarrity and Yusuf Moolla.
Produced by PA Reports - Performance Audit Research.

Get updates
New episodes, and a fortnightly newsletter with a selection of PA reports and practices from audit offices.
https://pareports.com/#cta-subscribe