2016-11-14 General Committee Agenda

SERVICES & ORGANISATION COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA   8 NOVEMBER 2016




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SERVICES & ORGANISATION COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                               8 NOVEMBER 2016

  COUNCIL POLICY - INTERNAL AUDIT

  The objective of Internal Audit is to provide Council with independent advice in relation to:
  e   Reviewing and appraising the adequacy and effectiveness of the system of internal controls;
  e   Appraising the relevance, reliability and integrity of management, financial and operating data
      and reports;
  e   Reviewing the systems established to ensure compliance with those policies, plans, procedures,
      statutory requirements and regulations which could have a significant impact on operations;
  e   Reviewing the means of safeguarding assets and, as appropriate, verifying the existence of such
      assets;
  e   Appraising the economy, efficiency and effectiveness with which resources are employed;
  e   Reviewing operations or programs to ascertain whether results are consistent with Council's
      established objectives and goals and whether the operations or programs are being carried out
      as planned;
  e   Assessing the adequacy of established systems and procedures;
  e   Conducting special assignments and investigations into any matter or activity affecting the
      probity, interests and operating efficiency of the organisation; and
  e   The improvement and effectiveness of risk management, legal compliance, internal control and
      governance systems to provide value and accountability to ratepayers.
  Audit Plan

  In accordance with Section 207 of the Local Government Regulation 2012 Council is required to
  prepare an internal audit plan for each financial year. The internal audit plan is to state:
  e   The way in which Council's operational risks have been evaluated;
  e   The most significant operational risks identified from the evaluation; and
  e   The control measures that Council has adopted, or is to adopt, to manage the most significant
      operational risks.
  The annual internal audit plan will be endorsed by the Audit and Risk Committee and reviewed
  annually in accordance with Section 1 of the Audit and Risk Committee Charter.

  Audit Methodology
  Internal audits will be conducted in accordance with the Standards for the Professional Practice of
  Internal Auditing. For all audits undertaken, the manager for the activity under review shall be
  advised and given the opportunity to discuss:
  e   The objectives, risks and scope of the audit to be conducted, prior to the commencement of such
      audit; and
  e   The findings and proposed recommendations on the completion of an audit, and, where
      appropriate, provide comments.

  Independence
  To be effective, the Internal Audit function must be able to operate without being influenced or
  restricted when undertaking its responsibilities. For this purpose the Internal Audit reports directly to
  the Audit and Risk Committee via the CEO with respect to all audit investigation findings.

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