Expression of Interest

**Background**

Inner West Council is among Sydney’s larger local government agencies looking after a vibrant community of 201,000 people living in some of the inner city’s most vibrant, creative, liveable and diverse suburbs.

Inner West Council is committed to ensuring its community is engaged and informed in its future and can have trust and confidence in the management of Council. Good governance supports Council’s vision of delivering the highest quality service valued and trusted by the community, in an effective and efficient manner.

The Inner West Council Audit, Risk and Improvement Committee (ARIC) is a key element of good corporate governance. Its establishment in September 2017 reflects the commitment of Inner West Council to industry better practice and high standards of accountability to the community it serves.

**Audit, Risk and Improvement Committee (ARIC)**

The objective of Council’s ARIC is to provide independent assurance to Council by monitoring, reviewing and providing advice about the Council’s governance processes, compliance, risk management and control frameworks, external accountability obligations and overall performance.

ARIC’s role is to review aspects of Council’s operations and provide advice and guidance to Council to improve the performance of its functions. As required under section 428A of the Local Government Act 1993 (the Act), the role of the committee is to review and provide independent advice to the Council regarding aspects of the Council’s operations, being: compliance, risk management, fraud control, financial management, governance, implementation of the strategic plan, delivery program and strategies, service reviews, collection of performance measurement data by the Council, and internal audit. The committee also acts as a forum for consideration of the Council’s internal audit function and oversees its planning, monitoring and reporting to ensure it operates effectively.

Council’s ARIC, under its Terms of Reference, includes a Chair and three Independent Members and a Councillor member. Council’s Terms of Reference require more than the statutory minimum of two independent members, to manage key person risks.

**Expression of Interest**

Your CV or cover letter must include the name and contact details for two referees in support of your Expression of Interest.

**Selection Criteria**

The independent members of the Committee, taken collectively, will have a broad range of personal attributes, and professional skills and experience relevant to the operations of Council.

Collectively, the members of the Committee will have a strong background in accountancy and/or financial management, and audit experience, with significant experience in accounting and auditing standards in a public sector environment. They will also collectively have senior/executive level legal, governance, risk management, information technology and performance management experience.
- Applicants for this position:

- with sound experience conducting financial statement audits (external audits) and local government or government experience, and
- who meet the essential criteria for independent members stated in the Office of Local Government’s (November 2023) Guidelines for Risk Management and Internal Audit for Local Government in NSW

should apply.

Independent Member - Essential Criteria
- Extensive senior level experience conducting financial statement audits or preparing financial statements and undergoing such audits.
- An ability to read and understand financial statements and a capacity to understand the ethical requirements of government (including potential conflicts of interest)
- Possession of a relevant professional qualification or membership (e.g., Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA), CPA Australia (CPA) and Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CA)).
- Functional knowledge in areas such as risk management, performance management, human resources management, internal and external auditing, financial reporting, accounting, management control frameworks, internal financial controls, governance (including planning, reporting and oversight), or business operations
- A capacity to form independent judgements and willingness to constructively challenge/question management practices and information
- A professional, ethical approach to the exercise of their duties and the capacity to devote the necessary time and effort to the responsibilities of an independent member of an audit, risk and improvement committee, and
- Preparedness to undertake any training on the operation of audit, risk and improvement committees recommended by the chairperson based on their assessment of the skills, knowledge and experience of the independent member.

Desirable criteria

8. Extensive senior level experience in governance and management of complex organisations

**Appointment of Committee members**

Council will appoint the ARIC independent member following an Expression of Interest