Issue - meetings

The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of the alternative options considered in commissioning an external assessor to undertake the pending independent assessment of the Southern Internal Audit Partnership against the Global Internal Audit Standards in the UK Public Sector.

The Committee received a paper providing an overview of the alternative options considered in commissioning an external assessor to undertake the pending independent assessment of the Southern Internal Audit Partnership against the Global Internal Audit Standards in the UK Public Sector.

The following matters were considered:

a)            Audit Manager. The Internal Auditor explained that there has been a change in audit manager for the Council and introduced the new audit manager. The Chair expressed their thanks to Jo Barrett for all their work as of audit manager for the Council.

b)            Artificial Intelligence (AI). A Member of the Committee asked what the internal auditors’ initial thought about opportunities to use AI, as mentioned in appendix one, and if it would save time and potentially reduce the costs of doing audits or allow for greater insights and depths for exploration. The Internal Auditor explained that AI is still in its infancy when it comes to audits and it must be approached with caution, as there are big issues and risks around the sharing and exposing of data. She explained that once there is confidence in it, it can be developed and embedded into processes correctly and should bring efficiency and greater depth within audits.

c)            Best practice. The Chair asked if there are any best practice guidelines on AI from the audit sector which could be shared with Members. The Internal Auditor agreed to look into AI best practice and provide a response to Members following the meeting.

Following consideration, the Committee unanimously resolved to:

(1)      Note the arrangements for the pending external assessment of the Southern Internal Audit Partnership against the Global Internal Audit Standards in the UK Public Sector.