Division of General Counsel, Governance and Compliance

Audit and Risk Committee

Terms of Reference and Membership 2021-22

Role

To provide oversight of the University’s risk management, control and governance arrangements. To seek assurance and satisfy itself that mechanisms exist for economy, efficiency and effectiveness in the University’s activities. To advise Council on the University’s internal and external audit arrangements and Financial Reporting matters. To seek assurance on a continuous basis on matters within ARC’s remit following Committee scrutiny to provide Council with assurance and recommendations.

The Committee is authorised by the governing body to investigate any activity within its terms of reference. It is authorised to seek any information it requires from any employee, and all employees are directed to cooperate with requests made by the Committee. The Committee is authorised by the governing body to obtain outside legal or other independent professional advice and to secure the attendance of non-members with relevant experience and expertise if it considers this necessary, normally in consultation with the Vice-Chancellor and/or Chair of the governing body.

Terms of Reference: 

ARC TORs [PDF 100.02KB]

Composition

Membership:

  • Chair (appointed by Council from among the independent members of Council) 
  • Four independent members of Council. 
  • The Committee may co-opt up to two other independent members (who will have full membership rights) who must have financial, accounting or audit experience (or any other such specialist skills as the Committee requires) who need not be members of Council, for a period to be recommended by the Committee
  • One staff member of Council, who must not have executive authority (to be appointed by the Chair of Council in discussion with the Chair of ARC and the Vice-Chancellor

Independent members of Audit and Risk Committee may not be members of Strategic Performance and Resources Committee.

In attendance:

  • Vice-Chancellor (for the annual meeting required to review the annual financial statements, and for other meetings if required)
  • Provost 
  • Chief Operating Officer
  • Director of Finance
  • General Counsel and Director of Governance and Compliance
  • Internal auditor representative(s)
  • External auditor representative(s)

The Committee cannot further delegate its responsibilities as set out above. 

Chair of Council has attendance rights and will receive papers for information

The Committee has the power to obtain external legal or other independent professional advice and require the attendance of staff/students when necessary.

Committee Management

Secretary provided through Governance Office

Quorum

Three members

Frequency of meetings

Four times per year (including two meetings in the autumn cycle). Additional meetings can be arranged at the request of the Chair. 

Reports to

Council

Current Membership

Chair: David Curley

Independent members: Tony Bullman, Rosemary Martin, Nick Watson, Richard Zaltzman

Staff member: Charlotte Skeet

Sussex Direct: Committee Information: Audit and Risk Committee