The Risk and Audit Committee is responsible for ensuring the maintenance of appropriate and adequate audit processes and the governance of the internal audit and external audit programme.
It is a sub-committee of the Ofcom Board and is chaired by a non-executive member of the Ofcom Board.
Further details of the Committee’s duties are explained within their terms of reference.
The Risk & Audit Committee considers a number of fixed agenda items during the year:
- March/April Internal Audit Programme update & approval of plan; progress on the interim audit of accounts; Insurance update; financial authorities framework (every other year);
- June Internal Audit Programme update, executive summaries for completed audits & annual summary of assurance; Annual Report & Accounts: Audit Completion Report, Ofcom Annual Report Sections A to D, Financial Statement and S400 Accounts for the year ending 31st March; NAO Management Letter; outcome of the annual Risk Review
- September/October Internal Audit Programme update & executive summaries for completed audits; Terms of Reference; Audit Committee annual performance self-assessment; Business Continuity update; external audit performance assessment; Treasury policy
- December Internal Audit Programme update, executive summaries for completed internal audits & proposed internal audit plan; Audit Strategy (for the following year); Ofcom Annual Report & Accounts proposed structure & timeline; Whistleblowing procedure (every other year)
In addition, the Risk & Audit Committee notes the following updates throughout the year: Security Committee, Finance, Litigation report, fraud & security.
The Committee members are appointed by the Ofcom Board from amongst its Non-Executive Members or from outside the Board and shall consist of not fewer than three Members. The Chair of the Committee is appointed by the Ofcom Board and shall be a Non-Executive Member of the Board but not the Board Chair to ensure the independence of the Risk & Audit Committee. The members of the Risk and Audit Committee are:
- Angela Dean (Chair)
- Karen Baxter
- Will Harding
The Chief Executive and Finance Director are invited to attend Committee meetings, as are the internal and external auditors.
Please see the register of disclosable interests.