Audit and Advisory Committee

The Audit and Advisory Committee (A&AC) of the SPSO oversees the management of risk and audit issues, reporting to the Ombudsman.

Financial Reporting   The Committee shall monitor the integrity of the SPSO’s financial statements, including its annual and interim reports and any other formal announcement relating to its financial performance, reviewing significant financial reporting issues and judgements which they contain. The Committee shall also review summary financial statements and any financial information contained in certain other documents, such as budget submissions.

Internal Controls, Performance Management, and Risk Management Systems   The Committee shall keep under review the effectiveness of the SPSO’s internal financial controls, other internal controls, performance management, and risk management systems.

Whistleblowing   The Committee shall review the SPSO's arrangements for its employees to raise concerns, in confidence, about possible wrongdoing in financial reporting or other matters. The Committee shall ensure that these arrangements allow proportionate and independent investigation of such matters and appropriate follow up action.

Internal and External Audit

• John Vine is the Independent Chief Inspector of the UK Border Agency and was previously Chief Constable of Tayside Police in Scotland.
• Tom Frawley is Northern Ireland Ombudsman
• Anne Seex is Local Government Ombudsman