Eidgenossische Finanzkontrolle

Summary

The Eidgenossische Finanzkontrolle (EFK, Swiss Federal Audit Office; French: Controle federal des finances, CDF) is the supreme financial supervisory body of the Swiss Confederation, established in 1877 and governed by the Finanzkontrollgesetz (FKG, SR 614.0) of 28 June 1967 (as revised). The Director of the EFK is elected by the Federal Council (executive) for a six-year term and confirmed by the Federal Assembly (legislature), giving the appointment a mixed character; the Director may be removed only for cause. The EFK operates with guaranteed independence from executive directives under the FKG, assists both the Federal Assembly in its financial oversight role and the Federal Council in its oversight of the administration, and audits all federal departments, offices, state-owned enterprises, and bodies receiving federal funds. Under the FKG, the EFK has a statutory right of access to all accounts, records, documents, and electronic data held by audited entities. Reports and audit findings are submitted to the Federal Council and the Finance Committees of the Federal Assembly and made public. Switzerland has no federal-level ombudsman; ombudsman functions are exercised at the cantonal level.