NIAO Provision of External Audit Services

Tender description

DFP – Provision of External Audit Services for NIAO The Northern Ireland Audit Office (NIAO) seeks to hold public bodies to account for the way they use public money. It aims to provide objective information, advice and assurance on the use of public funds, promote good practice and help public bodies to improve. Its main activities comprise: • Financial audit - forming an opinion on published accounts; assessing whether expenditure is regular and in accordance with the intentions of the Assembly when it granted the money; and providing assurance on the Accounting Officer’s Governance Statement; • Value for money audit – independently examining and reporting to the Northern Ireland Assembly on whether public bodies spend taxpayers’ money economically, efficiently and effectively; • Governance and Fraud prevention - providing audited bodies with constructive advice to help them improve their corporate governance, financial control and risk management arrangements; and assisting in the prevention and detection of fraud by conducting and reporting on data matching exercises; • Support to the Northern Ireland Assembly and the public – working closely with the Public Accounts Committee on evidence sessions based on the C&AG’s reports; providing support to Departmental committees; and responding to enquiries from elected representatives and disclosures from members of the public; and • Comptroller Function - authorising the issue of public funds from the Consolidated Fund for Northern Ireland.