Audit Committee

The Audit Committee of Northumbria University

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

Membership

Helen Thorne (Chair)

Alison Fellows (Independent Governor)

Sophie Haagensen (Independent Governor)

Peter Judge (Independent Governor)

Ian Wilkin (Independent Governor)

John Hudson (External Co-opted Committee Member)

Officers

Secretary: Georgina Bailes

Assistant Secretary: Beth Lenney

Officers in Regular Attendance