The Audit Committee plays a pivotal role in the corporate governance framework of the University. Its remit is not confined to the monitoring or testing the effectiveness of financial systems and controls, but includes independent oversight of risk management, control and governance arrangements, and any aspect of the internal control environment. In addition to its broad role in monitoring the adequacy of the University’s internal control environment, the specific functions of the Committee include:
- monitoring the performance of the University’s internal and external auditors, central to which is reviewing the auditing of the University’s financial statements and scrutinising the Statement on Internal Control;
- testing implementation of the recommendations and observations of the internal and external auditors and the Employment and Finance Committee related to the audited Financial Statements, as the basis for their recommendation for Board approval;
- as part of the ‘opinion’ in its Annual Report to the Board and Vice-Chancellor, the Committee is required to comment on the adequacy of corporate governance, risk management controls, data quality and accuracy, arrangements for economy, efficiency and effectiveness (value for money), and financial risks and irregularities, including incidents of fraud or corruption.
Terms of Reference 2021/22
Membership 2021/22
James Bromiley (Chair)
Peter Judge (Independent Governor)
Amy Rice-Thomson (Independent Governor)
Alasdair Corfield (Co-opted)
Sally Pelham (Observer)
Officers
Secretary: Georgina Bailes georgina.bailes@northumbria.ac.uk
Assistant Secretary: Richard Elliott richard.g.elliott@northumbria.ac.uk
Officers in Regular Attendance
Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive: Professor Andrew Wathey
Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Professor Tom Lawson
Finance Director: Simon Newitt
Director of Strategic Planning: Daniel Monnery
Date and Time of Audit Committee Meetings in 2021/22
| Date | Time | Location |
| Monday 13 September 2021 | 14.00 | Microsoft Teams |
| Monday 08 November 2021 | 14.00 | Sutherland Building |
| Friday 07 February 2022 | 14.00 | Microsoft Teams |
| Monday 23 May 2022 | 14.00 | Microsoft Teams |
