Background

Inner West Council is among Sydney’s larger local government agencies looking after a vibrant community of 201,000 people living in some of the inner city’s most vibrant, creative, liveable and diverse suburbs.

Inner West Council is committed to ensuring its community is engaged and informed in its future and can have trust and confidence in the management of Council. Good governance supports Council’s vision of delivering the highest quality service valued and trusted by the community, in an effective and efficient manner.

The Inner West Council Audit, Risk and Improvement Committee (ARIC) is a key element of good corporate governance. Its establishment in September 2017 reflects the commitment of Inner West Council to industry better practice and high standards of accountability to the community it serves.

Through this Expression of Interest (EOI) process, Council is seeking to appoint suitable candidates with appropriate skills and experience for the role of an independent external member. We are seeking to appoint two independent members. One who meets the ordinary eligibility requirements of an independent member of ARICs as defined by the Office of Local Government (OLG) Guidelines for Risk Management and Internal Audit for Local Government in NSW. The other, an independent member capable of meeting the requirements for Committee Chairpersons, in the event the appointed Chair of the ARIC is indisposed.

Candidates with financial statement audits (external audit) and government or local government experience and/or with the risks associated with the delivery of large scale capital works are desirable. 

Audit, Risk and Improvement Committee (ARIC)

The objective of Council’s ARIC is to provide independent assurance to Council by monitoring, reviewing and providing advice about the Council’s governance processes, compliance, risk management and control frameworks, external accountability obligations and overall performance.

ARIC’s role is to review aspects of Council’s operations and provide advice and guidance to Council to improve the performance of its functions. As required under section 428A of the Local Government Act 1993 (the Act), the role of the committee is to review and provide independent advice to the Council regarding aspects of the Council’s operations, being: compliance, risk management, fraud control, financial management, governance, implementation of the strategic plan, delivery program and strategies, service reviews, collection of performance measurement data by the Council, and internal audit.  The committee also acts as a forum for consideration of the Council’s internal audit function and oversees its planning, monitoring and reporting to ensure it operates effectively.

Council’s ARIC, under its Terms of Reference, includes a Chair and three Independent Members and a Councillor member. Council’s Terms of Reference require more than the statutory minimum of two independent members, to manage key person risks.

Expression of interest

Council invites suitably qualified individuals to provide an Expression of Interest by submitting the below online application including a cover letter addressing the selection criteria and your CV by 11.30 pm on Sunday 6 October 2024. 

Your CV or cover letter must include the name and contact details for two referees in support of your Expression of Interest.

Selection Criteria

The independent members of the Committee, taken collectively, will have a broad range of personal attributes, and professional skills and experience relevant to the operations of Council.

Collectively, the members of the Committee will have a strong background in accountancy and/or financial management, and audit experience, with significant experience in accounting and auditing standards in a public sector environment. They will also collectively have senior/executive level legal, governance, risk management, information technology and performance management experience.

Applicants:

• with sound experience conducting financial statement audits (external audits) and government or local government experience, and/or with the risks associated with the delivery of large scale capital works and
• who meet the essential criteria for independent members and/or Committee Chairs stated in the Office of Local Government’s (November 2023) Guidelines for Risk Management and Internal Audit for Local Government in NSW

should apply.

The eligibility criteria applicable to the Independent Members and the Chair of ARICs will be used when assessing applications. Please note in your application which position you are applying for.

Independent Member – Essential Criteria

1. Extensive senior level experience conducting financial statement audits or preparing financial statements and undergoing such audits; and/or of the risk management requirements of large scale capital works projects.
2. An ability to read and understand financial statements and a capacity to understand the ethical requirements of government (including potential conflicts of interest)
3. Functional knowledge in areas such as risk management, performance management, human resources management, internal and external auditing, financial reporting, accounting, management control frameworks, internal financial controls, governance (including planning, reporting and oversight), or business operations
4. A capacity to form independent judgements and willingness to constructively challenge/question management practices and information
5. A professional, ethical approach to the exercise of their duties and the capacity to devote the necessary time and effort to the responsibilities of an independent member of an audit, risk and improvement committee, and
6. Preparedness to undertake any training on the operation of audit, risk and improvement committees recommended by the chairperson based on their assessment of the skills, knowledge and experience of the independent member.

Desirable criteria

7. Extensive senior level experience in governance and management of complex organisations, and
8. Possession of a relevant professional qualification or membership (e.g., Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA), CPA Australia (CPA) and Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CA)).

Chair - Essential Criteria

1. Extensive senior level experience conducting financial statement audits or preparing financial statements and undergoing such audits; and/or of the risk management requirements of large scale capital works projects.
2. Leadership qualities and the ability to promote effective working relationships in complex organisations
3. An ability to communicate complex and sensitive assessments in a tactful manner to the head of the council’s internal audit function, senior management and the mayor and councillors
4. A sound understanding of:

5. • the principles of good organisational governance and capacity to understand local government accountability, including financial reporting
   • the business of the council or the environment in which it operates
   • internal audit operations, including selection and review of the head of the council’s internal audit function, and
   • risk management principles
6. Extensive senior level experience in governance and management of complex organisations, an ability to read and understand financial statements and a capacity to understand the ethical requirements of government (including potential conflicts of interest)
7. Functional knowledge in areas such as risk management, performance management, human resources management, internal and external auditing, financial reporting, accounting, management control frameworks, internal financial controls, governance (including planning, reporting and oversight), or business operations
8. A capacity to form independent judgements and a willingness to constructively challenge/question management practices and information
9. A professional, ethical approach to the exercise of their duties and the capacity to devote the necessary time and effort to the responsibilities of the chair of an audit, risk and improvement committee.

Desirable Criteria

9. Possession of a relevant professional qualification or membership (e.g., Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA), CPA Australia (CPA) and Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CA)).

Appointment of Committee members

Council will appoint the ARIC independent member following an Expression of Interest and interview process. Terms of appointment will be in accordance with the Committee Terms of Reference.

Role and Responsibilities

The role and responsibilities of the Committee are outlined in the ARIC Terms of Reference and, as per section 428A of the Act, involve review of the following aspects of Council’s operations:

• Compliance
• Risk Management
• Fraud Control
• Financial Management
• Governance
• Implementation of Strategic Plan, Delivery Program & Strategies
• Service Review
• Collection of Performance Measurement Data by the Council
• Internal Audit
• Any other matters prescribed by the regulations

The Committee will oversee and provide advice to Council on the adequacy of internal controls in place throughout Council and will assist in the implementation of the internal and external audit plans. The Committee is also to provide advice to the Council for the purpose of improving the Council’s performance of its functions.

These responsibilities are further defined in the ARIC Terms of Reference, which meet the Office of Local Government’s Guidelines for Risk Management and Internal Audit for Local Government in NSW.

Members of the Committee are expected to:

• Understand and observe the requirements of the Office of Local Government’s Guidelines for risk management and internal audit for local government in NSW.
• Make themselves available as required to attend and participate in meetings
• Contribute the time needed to review and understand information provided to it
• Apply good analytical skills, objectivity and judgement
• Act in the best interests of the Council
• Have the personal courage to raise and deal with tough issues, express opinions frankly, ask questions that go to the fundamental core of the issue and pursue independent lines of inquiry
• Maintain effective working relationships with the Council
• Have strong leadership qualities (chairperson)
• Lead effective committee meetings (chairperson), and
• Oversee the Council’s internal audit function (chairperson).

Committee meetings

The Committee shall meet at least four times per year (quarterly), with the standard duration for a meeting being three (3) hours. Meetings are presently held at Leichhardt Service Centre, however the ability to attend remotely, if required, is also provided to members. An additional meeting is held to review and endorse the annual audited financial reports and if necessary other time critical reports.

Meeting preparation will involve review and critical analysis of the Committee business papers and discussion with other Committee members and relevant Council staff. Where the need arises, entire meetings may be held remotely, and individual members may also attend meeting remotely.

Obligations/Constraints

Committee members are required to comply with the following requirements:

• Council’s Code of Conduct and obligations of Designated Persons
• ARIC Terms of Reference
• Maintaining confidentiality in relation to all discussions and information obtained during or as a result of meetings
• Ensuring all conflicts of interest are declared and recorded in Meeting Minutes and, if necessary, appropriate action taken if a conflict is declared.

Remuneration

Remuneration for an independent member of the ARIC is $1,500 (excluding superannuation & GST) per meeting. This rate is inclusive of time spent on preparation for the meeting, travel time and travel expenses.

Remuneration for the independent Chair of the ARIC is $2,000 (excluding superannuation & GST) per meeting. This rate is inclusive of time spent on preparation for the meeting, travel time and travel expenses.

Superannuation and/or GST is payable on the amounts above, depending on the preferred method of payment selected by the appointed candidate.

Induction and briefing session

Members will be provided with an induction pack and briefing session prior to their first ARIC meeting.

Pre-Screening Checks

As part of this recruitment process you will be required to participate in pre-engagement screening which may include but not be limited to the following:

• National Criminal Background Check
• Financial Status (Bankruptcy) Check
• Reference Checking and
• COVID-19 Vaccination immunisation requirement.

Keen to learn more specifics of the role

All enquiries or requests for information should be directed to Justin Lucas, Risk, WHS and Audit Manager, at justin.lucas@innerwest.nsw.gov.au or 9392 5790.

 

 

 

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