Abstract: There are disclosed a surface coated sintered alloy member having a hard film coated on a base material of a sintered alloy of a cemented carbide or cermet, wherein the hard film comprises at least one Ti-containing layer which comprises at least one material selected from the group consisting of TiC, TiN, TiCN, TiCO, TiNO, TiCNO, a composite nitride, carbonitride, nitroxide, carboxide or carbonitroxide each containing Ti and Al, and the uppermost Ti-containing layer has a maximum surface roughness Rmax of 0.6 &mgr;m or less and an average surface roughness Ra of 0.2 &mgr;m or less in the reference length of 5 &mgr;m under conditions without being subjected to machining; and a surface coated sintered alloy member further comprising an aluminum oxide layer formed on the surface of the Ti-containing layer.