Report to:

Audit Committee

Date of meeting:

29 September 2023

By:

Chief Finance Officer

Title:

External Audit – Progress Report

Purpose:

To update the Audit Committee on progress with the audit of the East Sussex County Council and East Sussex Pension Fund statement of accounts for 2021/22 and 2022/23.

RECOMMENDATION:

The Audit Committee is recommended to:

1.         note the progress update provided by Grant Thornton

2.         review and note the 2022/23 Audit Risk Assessment, as part of the information provided to Grant Thornton to support their audit work.  

 

1.         External Audit Progress Update

1.1          The East Sussex County Council Statement of Accounts for 2022/23, including the East Sussex Pension Fund, were published by 31 May 2023 deadline (Statement of Accounts | East Sussex County Council). Grant Thornton (GT), as the Council’s external auditors, have started their audit and have provided a progress update to the Audit Committee at Appendix A.

 

1.2          It is planned for the Audit Findings Report to be presented to the Audit Committee at its November 2023 meeting. GT reflect that whilst good progress is being made, there are delays in obtaining evidence and responses, relating to land and building valuations, from Property Services and the Council’s external Valuer.

 

1.3          The report also provides reflections on emerging national issues that impact on delivery of audits now and in the future.

 

2.            2022/23 Audit Risk Assessment

2.1       As part of the information provided to GT to support their audit, an annual Audit Risk Assessment is undertaken. The 2022/23 Audit Risk Assessment is attached at Appendix B. The report covers areas for which the Audit Committee has oversight, including fraud, impact of regulatory changes on compliance and accounting issues, including estimates and going concern.

 

3.            Conclusion and Recommendation

3.1       The Audit Committee is asked to note the progress update provided by GT and review and note the             2022/23 Audit Risk Assessment, which forms part of the information provided to GT to support their audit work.

           

IAN GUTSELL

Chief Finance Officer

 

Contact Officer:                     Ian Gutsell, Chief Finance Officer

Tel. No:                                   01273 481399

Email:                                      ian.gutsell@eastsussex.gov.uk

 

Local Member(s): All

                 

Background Documents

None