Report to:	Audit Committee
Date of meeting:	20 September 2024
By:	Chief Finance Officer
Title:	East Sussex Pension Fund External Audit – East Sussex Pension Fund Audit Findings Report
Purpose:	To update the Audit Committee on progress on the delivery of Grant Thornton’s responsibilities as the East Sussex Pension Fund’s external auditor.

RECOMMENDATION:

The Audit Committee is recommended to:

1) note the East Sussex Pension Fund Audit Findings Report provided by Grant Thornton; and

2) consider whether the responses in the audit risk assessment of the Pension Fund are consistent with the Committee’s understanding and whether there are any further comments the Committee wishes to make.

1. East Sussex Pension Fund External Audit Progress Update

1.1 The East Sussex Pension Fund Statement of Accounts for 2023/24 was published as part of the East Sussex Statement of Accounts by the 31 May 2024 deadline (Statement of Accounts | East Sussex County Council). Grant Thornton (GT), as the Council’s external auditors, are nearing completion of their audit and subject to outstanding queries being resolved it is anticipated the Fund will be issued an unqualified audit opinion. GT have provided the East Sussex Pension Fund Audit Findings Report to the Audit Committee at Appendix A.

2.         Informing the Audit Risk Assessment

1.

2.

2.1 GT are required to report to the Audit Committee informing the Committee of the audit risk assessment of the Pension Fund, including management responses and Pension Fund oversight over key areas. The report is set out in Appendix B.

3. Conclusion and Recommendation

3.1       The Audit Committee is recommended to note the note the East Sussex Pension Fund Audit Findings Report provided by GT.

3.2       The Audit Committee is recommended to consider whether the responses in the audit risk assessment of the Pension Fund are consistent with its understanding and whether there are any further comments it wishes to make.

      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