COMPTROLLER & AUDITOR GENERAL STATEMENT ON INTERNAL CONTROL
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Scope of responsibility As Comptroller & Auditor General (C&AG) I am also Accounting Officer for my Office, and, as such, am personally responsible for maintaining a sound system of internal financial control that supports the achievement of the Office’s objectives, whilst ensuring the effective and prudent use of resources. The precise responsibilities of an Accounting Officer are prescribed by the Public Finances (Jersey) Law 2005 (the 2005 Law). The functions of the C&AG are also prescribed by the 2005 Law. Purpose of internal control The system of internal control is designed to manage risk to an acceptable level rather than to eliminate all risk of failure to achieve the achievement of the Office’s objectives audit to ensure effective and prudent use of resources it can therefore only provide reasonable and not absolute assurance of effectiveness. Risk and control framework Periodically, as C&AG, I publish Consultation Papers on the Office’s programme and in particular on the way in which the Office’s statutory functions are to be managed. Final decisions on actions and programmes are taken by the C&AG in the light of responses to the Consultation Papers and in liaison with the Public Accounts Committee (as required by the 2005 Law). Periodically, I assess the key strategic risks encountered in the work of my Office and, wherever possible, seek to implement effective mitigations of those risks. The Office adheres to the principles of the Financial Directions issued with the approval of the Treasury & Resources Minister subject to the need to preserve the independence of the Office at all times. In view of the scale of the Office which employs no staff, it is not possible from within the resources of the Office to establish all of the checks and balances which would be expected to exist within larger units. Accordingly, care is taken to ensure that all payments are approved by appropriate officials outside the Office. Further, care is taken to ensure that the C&AG does not approve any payments made to him personally. All such payments are approved by officers outside the Office. Review of effectiveness My Office is subject to external audit which I arrange periodically to ensure that the control arrangements have operated effectively. Reports of such audits are published in the C&AG’s annual reports. My effectiveness as C&AG in discharging the responsibilities laid upon me by the 2005 Law is assessed at least annually in preparation for the publication of the annual report required by the 2005 Law and in liaison with the Public Accounts Committee (as required by the 2005 Law). Significant control issues No significant internal control issues were identified during 2008. To the best of my knowledge and belief, the internal control arrangements described above operated effectively during the year 2008 and comply with relevant Financial Directions. C SWINSON
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