Time: 
9:30am to 12:30pm
 
For:
Members of Local Government Audit Committees (including independent members).
 
Course Overview:
The Local Government Act 1999 requires Councils to establish audit committees and Section 126 sets out the principal functions and extent of authority for audit committees.
 
This session will highlight the legislative responsibilities of audit committees and the critical role they play in the financial reporting framework of Councils. It will also deal with the relationship between Councils' finance committees (or similar) where they exist and audit committees.

Participants will gain an understanding of the audit committee's role in:
- Councils' financial reporting and its monitoring
- Internal controls and risk management systems
- Audit committee work programs and their construction
- Whistleblowers' policies and procedures
- Internal audit and the Committee deliberations
- External audit and its relationship with the committee
- Dealing with emerging risks

Further, the training will demonstrate how the following documents work together to provide an Audit Committee with the framework to deliver the activities and responsibilities listed above.
- Relevant extracts from the Local Government Act 1999 and associated Financial Regulations
- Example of Audit Committee Terms of Reference
- Example Template of an Audit Committee Work Program

The following training reference material will be used in this session (LGA Information Papers):

• No.  2   - An Overview of Audit Mechanisms
• No.  3   - Audit Committees
• No.  4   - Specifications for External Audit
• No.  5   - Efficiency and Economy Audits
• No. 21 -  Internal Financial Controls
• No. 22 -  Understanding Risk Management
• No. 23 -  Financial Governance

These papers are available on the LGA website and will be provided at the face to face session at the LGA.

PLEASE NOTE: This session is available via webinar.
For participants attending via webinar we recommend you download these documents and have them available for reference during the session. 
Please contact Emma Urvan at emma.urvan@lga.sa.gov.au or on 8224 2035 if you wish to attend via webinar. 
 
Presenter:
Rex Mooney is a Local Government Finance Specialist. He is a Chartered Accountant with over 30 years of experience in the not for profit sector, the last thirteen being spent in the Local Government Sector.
Rex has undertaken numerous projects across many SA & NT based Councils specialising in asset management planning, long-term financial planning, annual business planning & annual budgeting, annual financial statement preparation, budget reviews, financial performance reports, special purpose reporting, Audit Committee membership and management, economic modelling.