Audit Committee - 4 Posts at County Government of Kirinyaga

Job Ref: KCPSB/AC/01/15/11/23

Terms of Service: Three Years Contract on part time basis

The members will draw an allowance determined by the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC).

Duties, responsibilities, roles and mandate
The Audit Committee shall: -

•  Obtain assurance from management that all financial and non-financial internal control and risk management functions are operating effectively and reliably.
•  Provide an independent review of the County’s reporting functions to ensure the integrity of financial reports.
•  Monitor the effectiveness of the County’s performance management and performance information and review the County’s internal financial controls (that is, the systems established to identify, assess, manage and monitor financial risks).
•  Provide strong and effective oversight of the County’s internal audit function, monitor and review the effectiveness of the entity’s internal audit function.
•  Provide effective liaison and facilitate communication between management and external audit, review and approve the internal audit function’s, having regard to the complementary roles of the internal and external audit functions.
•  Provide oversight of the implementation of accepted audit recommendations.
•  Ensure the county effectively monitors compliance with legislative and regulatory requirements and promotes a culture committed to lawful and ethical behavior.
•  Act as a forum for dialogue between the Accounting Officer, County Executive Committee and the internal and external auditors to help facilitate a better awareness of each party’s responsibilities and provides a more efficient and coordinated audit process.
•  Promote the integrity and quality of internal and external reports by providing a high level of assurance and check.
•  Foster and promote a more effective and efficient audit process by providing an independent review of the internal audit annual work plan and reports.
•  Provide a ‘no surprises’ environment in the County, particularly with regard to the prompt identification of risks and threats to the entity.
•  Provide a depth of knowledge that assists management discharge its responsibilities in the most effective and efficient manner.
•  Drive the assessment of the performance of the head of internal audit.
•  Examine internal and external audit reports and recommendations after management response to ensure action is taken.
•  Communicate with the internal and external auditors on;
  • the changing business environment;
  • changing financial reporting requirement;
  • Audit findings, including comments on governance, risk and controls;
  • proposed audit scope and audit coverage and approaches with respect to complex, high risks, and judgment areas and;
  • Management response to specific audit recommendations.
•  Evaluate whether processes are in place to address key roles and responsibilities in relation to risk management.
•  Evaluate the adequacy of the control environment to provide reasonable assurance that the systems of internal control are of a high standard and functioning as intended.
•  Perform an independent review of the financial statements to ensure the integrity and transparency of the financial reporting process.
•  Monitor the effectiveness of an entity’s performance information and compliance with the performance management framework and performance reporting requirements.
•  Evaluate the quality of the internal audit function, particularly in the areas of planning, monitoring and reporting.
•  Engage with external audit and assessing the adequacy of management response to issues identified by audit.
•  Review the effectiveness of how the entity monitors compliance with relevant legislative and regulatory requirements and promote a culture committed to lawful and ethical behavior.
•  Review, and report to H.E. Governor on the significant financial reporting issues and judgements made in connection with the preparation of the County’s financial statements, interim reports, preliminary announcements and related formal statements.
•  Consider significant accounting policies, any changes to them and any significant estimates and judgements.
•  Consider whether the County has adopted appropriate accounting policies and, where necessary, made appropriate estimates and judgements.
•  Review the clarity and completeness of disclosures in the financial statements and consider whether the disclosures made are set properly in context.
•  Where, following its review, the audit committee is not satisfied with any aspect of the proposed financial reporting by the entity, it shall report its views to the H.E. Governor.
•  Review related information presented with the financial statements, including the business review, and approve corporate governance statements included in the annual report relating to the audit and to risk management.
•  Where requested by H.E. Governor, the audit committee should review the content of the annual report and accounts and advise the Committee on whether, taken as a whole, it is fair, balanced and understandable and provides the information necessary for stakeholders to assess the County’s performance, business model and strategy.
•  The audit committee should review arrangements by which staff of the entity or any other person may, in confidence, raise concerns about possible improprieties in matters of financial reporting or other matters.
•  Perform any function provided for in the relevant legislation, regulations and/or Circulars

Requirements for appointment

•  Be a Kenyan Citizen.
•  Must be a holder of at least Bachelor Degree in a relevant field in Finance, Economics, Statistics, and Business administration, Accounting or Law.
•  Must be knowledgeable in Government Affairs, have leadership skills and shall not be a holder of a political office.
•  Must not be past or present employee of the County or an agent of a business organization, which has carried out business with the County Government of Kirinyaga.
•  Must be affiliated to professional bodies e.g. ICPA (K). ACFE, LSK, EBK and IIA or any other relevant body.
•  Must possess good understanding of Government operation, financial reporting and auditing.
•  Must possess good knowledge of objects, principles or function of County Government.
•  At least 10 years’ experience in relevant field