Code of Audit Practice Published by Jersey's Comptroller & Auditor General

The Island's Comptroller & Auditor General (C&AG), Karen McConnell, has today (11 December 2013) published a Code of Audit Practice.

Following her appointment to the post in early 2013, Karen undertook a review of the remit, governance and management arrangements for the Office of C&AG and in July of this year established and opened the Jersey Audit Office (JAO). The JAO strengthens the function of public audit in Jersey, and the Code both specifies how the Office of C&AG should perform its functions and reinforces the independent power of the Office.

The non-statutory Code covers overall principles of public audit, maintaining audit quality and compliance with professional standards. It encompasses the approach to planning the work of the JAO and the opinions on the States' financial statements, as well as work on financial control, value for money and corporate governance. Importantly, the Code also examines the approach to be taken in terms of the follow up of previous audit recommendations, reporting by the JAO itself, and liaison with the Public Accounts Committee, the Audit Committee and Scrutiny Panels.

The C&AG and those working for her are committed to adhering to the Code and relevant professional standards in planning and undertaking their work.

Commenting on the publication of the Code, Karen McConnell said:

“The Code is an important means by which States Members, Ministers, officers of the States, other stakeholders and the public of Jersey can secure a common understanding of what the C&AG and audit firms appointed by the C&AG will do, what they will not do, how they will operate and how they will interact.

“The Code will be reviewed and updated as necessary. In particular, it will be revised if the changes to public audit legislation that I have recently recommended in my report Public Audit in Jersey which can be found on the website at www.jerseyauditoffice.je are made.”