Plans to bring the public up to date on the work of the Office of the Auditor-General are under way, according to a statement.

Heather Thomas, who was named Auditor-General last year, said the office was working on producing a series of audit reports, with at least one expected to be published in the next few months.

“I had two priorities when I started my term: to bring the work of the office up to date and to ensure the best infrastructure for our work was in place,” she said. “We have made good progress on both.”

Ms Thomas said the office had been faced with significant challenges in recent years, noting that financial statements and audits for some agencies, government organisations and quangos were not up to date, with some dating back to 2003.

“My staff and I have been working closely with the entities in question and I am pleased to report that many of the outstanding financial statements are now up to date and audited, or a plan of action agreed,” she said.

“Given the very significant challenges that my predecessor faced in her tenure, the Office of the Auditor-General had been unable to produce an annual report on the work of the Office since 2010. I am currently developing a report that will cover the annual work and administration of the office for the period between April 1, 2010 and March 31, 2017.

“Of necessity, the report will focus primarily on the 2016/17 year but will also bring in highlights from the previous years. I believe that this approach is the most expedient to bring the office’s reporting up to date.”

The Auditor-General also said the audited financial statements of the Consolidated Fund for the year ending March 31, 2016 were issued in February, adding that work is done to ensure timelier reporting going forward.

“The annual audit of the Consolidated Fund financial statements is the largest and the most important piece of work that the Auditor-General is required to do,” she said.

“In recent weeks, we have been working on a combined report covering our audits of the Consolidated Fund financial statements for the years ended March 31, 2013 to 2016. The report is another significant step in our commitment in bringing our work up to date.”

Ms Thomas also noted the office’s support of the Commission of Inquiry, adding: “I sincerely hope that I will not encounter problems having the depth and seriousness on which my predecessor reported and which led to the establishment of the Commission. Be assured, I will report on any problems that I do encounter during my audits.

“However, despite what a few people may think, it is not my role to discredit or shame Government. Rather, it is to provide transparent, credible, independent information about the quality of government management and accountability that will lead to improvements where they may be required.”

She added that the office was working to update the Audit Act 1990 to reflect best practice by establishing a fixed term for the post of Auditor-General and allowing those in the post to “follow the money” by empowering it to audit individuals and non-government bodies in certain situations.