Committee Secretariat 

Committee Secretary: Interim Director of Governance and Assurance, Rob Bloomer email r.bloomer@uea.ac.uk

Governance Office: Governance Administrator, Rebecca Phillips, email rebecca.phillips@uea.ac.uk 

 

2023/2024 Membership

No fewer than three members appointed by the Council, from amongst its own membership and who must be members with no executive responsibility for the management of the University and who should not include the Chair of Council.  No member may also be a member of Finance Committee.

  • Chair to be confirmed 

  • Gillian Maclean (2025) 

  • Jonathan Paine (2024)  

  • Independent external - Stephen Blease (2024) 

  • Independent external - to be confirmed 

In attendance when and on invitation by the Chair only ;

  • The Chair of Council

  • The Provost

  • the PVC or other member of ET with responsibility in the topic being discussed.  If more than one individual is relevant to the topic, a single ET member should attend on behalf of the whole of ET.

Secretary - Rob Bloomer

 

Terms of Reference

It is the role of the Audit Committee to advise and assist the governing body in respect of the entire assurance and control environment of the University.    

The duties of the committee shall be:

1)    To advise the Council on the appointment of the external auditors, the audit fee, the provision of any non-audit services by the external auditors and any questions of resignation or dismissal of the external auditors.

2)    To discuss if necessary with the external auditors, before the audit begins, the nature and scope of the audit.

3)    To discuss with the external auditors problems and reservations arising from the interim and final audits, including a review of the management letter incorporating management responses, and any other matters the external auditors may wish to discuss (in the absence of management where necessary).

4)    To consider and advise the Council on the appointment and terms of engagement of the internal audit service (and the head of internal audit, if applicable), the audit fee, the provision of any non-audit services by the internal auditors and any questions  of resignation or dismissal of the internal auditors.

5)    To review the internal auditors’ audit risk assessment and strategy; to consider major findings of internal audit investigations and management's     response; and to promote co-ordination between the internal and external auditors. The committee will ensure that the resources made available for internal audit are sufficient to meet the institution’s needs (or make a recommendation to the Council as appropriate).

6)    To keep under review the effectiveness of the risk management, control and governance arrangements, and in particular to review the external auditors’ management letter, the internal auditors' annual report, and management responses.

7)    To monitor the implementation of agreed audit-based recommendations, from whatever source.

8)    To ensure that all significant losses have been properly investigated and that the internal and external auditors, and where appropriate the HEFCE accounting     officer, have been informed. 

9)    To oversee the institution’s policy on fraud and irregularity, including being notified of any action taken under that policy. 

10)    To satisfy itself that satisfactory arrangements are in place to promote economy, efficiency  and effectiveness.

11)    To receive any relevant reports from the National Audit Office, HEFCE and other  organisations.

12)    To monitor annually the performance and effectiveness of external and internal auditors, including any matters affecting their objectivity, and to make recommendations to the Council concerning their reappointment, where appropriate.

13)    To consider elements of the annual financial statements in the presence of the  external auditors, including the auditors’ formal opinion, the statement of members’   responsibilities and the statement of internal control, in accordance with HEFCE’s Accounts Directions. 

14)    In the event of the merger or dissolution of the institution, to ensure that the necessary actions are completed, including arranging for a final set of financial statements to be   completed and signed.

15)    To periodically review the quality, clarity and fitness for purpose of Council papers.

16)    To oversee the University’s requirement to publish clear information about its arrangements for securing value for money including, in a value for money statement, data about the sources of its income and the way that its income is used.

17)    To consider any other matters that Council may ask the Committee to address and periodically review its own effectiveness and report the results of that review to Council.

18)    The Committee may, if it considers it necessary or desirable, recommend to Governance Committee that Council appoint co-opted members with particular expertise.