The National Audit Office (NAO) has today published a guide to help audit and risk committees of government departments and arms-length bodies advise their organisations on financial management and reporting during, and in the period immediately after, the COVID-19 outbreak.
Audit and risk committees are integral to the financial scrutiny and challenge process. They support boards and the accounting officers of government departments and arms-length bodies on matters of financial accountability, assurance and governance. In addition, they advise organisations, provide expert challenge, and make recommendations on managing risk.
The NAO’s guide provides questions audit and risk committee members can ask to understand and challenge the activities that organisations have undertaken during the COVID-19 outbreak.
The guide can be used by audit and risk committee members working in:
- Annual Reports;
- Financial Reporting;
- Control Environment; and
- Regularity of expenditure.
Today’s guide is part of a programme of work being undertaken by the NAO to support Parliament in its scrutiny of the UK government’s response to COVID-19.