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Course

Course objective: 

This course will explore recent discussion in public sector accounting

specifically in European Union and its member states. After having completed the course the students have understanding about the accountability and auditing matters at EU and its member state level. Specifically, the course aims at providing students with understanding how performance/financial/compliance auditing are conducted at these levels.

Course description: 

Lectures include following the Summer School programme of European Court of Auditors (ECA) during three days. In addition, the students will write a term paper combining the topics presented and discussed during the Summer School and articles in readings. It is advisable to read the readings before the Summer School.

ECA helps the other EU institutions and the Member States to better manage and supervise the use of EU funds. ECA’s work is particularly important to the European Parliament when deciding whether the EU’s accounts for the previous year are accurate and the funds are properly spent, a process known as “granting discharge”. ECA works closely with national audit institutions (e.g., Valtion tarkastusvirasto in Finland and Riksrevisionen in Sweden) to make sure that EU spending is scrutinised equally robustly across the EU.

The summer school in 2025 will include review of the current state and future of EU’s competitiveness vis-a-vis Draghi’s report, discussion about EU finances & budget, EU’s geopolitical challenges and security, accountability, auditing, among other things. The summerschool provides a bigger picture of the environment where public sector accounting operates within EU.

Maximum number of participants is 15. There will be no course fees.

The detailed programme will be delivered in April 2025.

Examination

Term paper. The term paper will address the topics discussed during the summer school and the articles in “Readings” (see below). In order to pass the course, a student needs at least 50% of the points (passed/not passed). The participants have to attend at least 75% of the ECA Summer School programme. The exact instructions for the term paper will be given by May 15.

Term paper deadline: Thursday, June 19, 2025

Registration

Who?

• Doctoral students of Accounting.
• Doctoral students in related fields and doctoral students at foreign universities.

How?

• Application form (found below).
• A brief report on the status of your doctoral studies
• A brief CV. 

All the required documents should be sent by e-mail to jari.huikku@aalto.fi. All applicants will be informed of their acceptance soon after the registration deadline.

Pre-Readings

Below are the required readings for the course. If you experience any issues accessing the articles, please contact us for assistance.

• Cipriani, G. (2021) Improving the Accountability of the EU Budget’s Multi-Level Implementation: Strengthening the Contribution of the European Court of Auditors. German Law Journal. 22(3),466-489.
• Cordery, C. J. & Hay, D. C. (2022). Public sector audit in uncertain times. Financial Accountability & Management, 38, 426–446.
• Grossi, G. & Argento, D. (2022). The fate of accounting for public governance development. Accounting, Auditing & Accountability Journal, 35(9), 272-303.
• Grossi, G., Hancu-Budui, A. & Zorio-Grima, A. (2023) New development: The shift of public sector auditing under the influence of institutional logics—the case of European Court of Auditors. Public Money & Management, 43(4), 378-381.
• Mattei, G., Grossi, G. & Guthrie A.M., J. (2021). Exploring past, present and future trends in public sector auditing research: a literature review. Meditari Accountancy Research, 29(7), 94-134.
• Oulasvirta, L. & Rönkkö, J. (2023). Public Financial Management: Budgeting, Accountability and Auditing. In: Pekkola, E., Johanson, JE., Mykkänen, M. (eds) Finnish Public Administration. Governance and Public Management. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham.
• Rana, T., Steccolini, I., Bracci, E. & Mihret, D. (2022). Performance auditing in the public sector: A systematic literature review and future research avenues. Financial Accountability & Management, 38, 337–359.