‘Good Governance and the Role of the Audit Committee’

This half-day seminar held over a morning at Malone House in Belfast was for members of public sector Audit Committees and those who service or support them. It examined and reviewed their role in providing assurance independent of the executive on risk management, governance and internal control.

Brian Whalley, an independent consultant and acknowledged expert in this area, presented the seminar, which included contributions from the Northern Ireland Audit Office and the Department of Finance and Personnel (DFP).

The programme covered among other things:

• The Audit Committee, its constitutional role within Government departments and wider public bodies
• The relationship between and the respective roles of the Audit Committee, the accounting officer and the board or other governing authority
• Financial reporting and Statement of Internal Control
• Internal and external audit: their roles and relationship
• The Audit Committee and its constructive challenge function
• The response of management to audit findings
• The management of risk and dealing with fraud
• The HM Treasury Audit Committee Handbook
• Current accounting issues
• A case study

Links...

• House of Commons Public Accounts Committee
• Northern Ireland Assembly Public Accounts Committee
  Department of Finance and Personnel
• DFP Accountability and Accountancy Services Division
  Northern Ireland Audit Office
• HM Treasury: Governance and Risk Management
• HM Treasury: Audit Committee Handbook
• HM Treasury Fraud Reports and Guidance