NI Audit Office criticises education board's fraud prevention measures
Audit watchdog says Belfast Education and Library Board failed to protect themselves from the risk of fraud during maintenance projects
Audit watchdog says Belfast Education and Library Board failed to protect themselves from the risk of fraud during maintenance projects
A Northern Ireland Audit Office report has criticised the way building and
maintenance jobs were run by the Belfast Education and Library Board, the BBC
reported on its web site.
The report said the board failed to protect itself against the risk of fraud.
Practices in the board since the 1990s led to allegations of price-fixing,
bribery and favouritism in the awarding of contracts to building firms, the BBC
said.
They were investigated and some of the allegations found to be true.
Although no criminal charges were brought, some staff were disciplined, the BBC
added.
The audit office also looked at building work in libraries which had been
badly done or not carried out at all.
The Audit Office said the key to preventing fraud was to check invoices and
physically examine the work done before paying for it.
Investigators said the absence of documentation meant prosecutions were
unlikely to succeed.
Read the full story:
NI Audit
Office hits out at board
The numbers you crunch tell a story. Your expertis...
15yEmbracing user-friendly AP systems can turn the tide, streamlining workflows, enhancing compliance, and opening doors to early payment discounts. Read...
View articleOrganisations can enhance their financial operations' efficiency, accuracy, and responsiveness by adopting platforms that offer them self-service cust...
View articleIn a world of instant results and automated workloads, the potential for AP to drive insights and transform results is enormous. But, if you’re still ...
View resourceDiscover how AP dashboards can transform your business by enhancing efficiency and accuracy in tracking key metrics, as revealed by the latest insight...
View articleThe Bank of England has appointed Ernst and Young LLP (EY) as its external auditor from the financial year ending 28 February 2025. Read More...
View articleThis follows an investigation into undisclosed personal loans and issues with an acquisition. Despite challenges, the company aims to achieve £1bn in ...
View articlePwC's decision to delay promotions in its graduate scheme, affecting around 100 graduates, is a response to reduced client demand and the aftermath of...
View articleTraditionally, audit schedules have been prepared manually, consuming significant time and resources. However, with the advancements in Artificial Int...
View articleThe FRC is promoting initiatives to foster a more competitive market, following recent high-profile accounting scandals. Read More...
View articleOn January 27, it was reported EY had quit as auditor to Asda amid one of its senior partners starting a romantic relationship with billionaire chief ...
View articleDespite the increased interest in AI and ML, only 12% of respondents indicate their organisations have adopted AI and ML within their audit functions....
View articleAs the government's independent investigation progresses, it is hoped that a clearer picture will emerge, leading to meaningful reforms within the aud...
View article