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Actions for Universities 2022

Universities 2022

Universities
Compliance
Cyber security
Financial reporting
Information technology
Internal controls and governance
Service delivery

What this report is about Results of the financial statement audits of the public universities in NSW for the year ended 31 December 2022. What we found Unmodified audit opinions were issued for all ten universities. Nine universities reported net deficits in 2022, and all showed a decline from their 2021 results. Results were impacted by a decline in investment income and government grants. Wage remediation provisions across the universities incre

Published

Actions for Audit Insights 2018-2022

Audit Insights 2018-2022

Community Services
Education
Environment
Finance
Health
Industry
Justice
Local Government
Premier and Cabinet
Planning
Transport
Treasury
Universities
Whole of Government
Asset valuation
Cross-agency collaboration
Compliance
Cyber security
Financial reporting
Fraud
Information technology
Infrastructure
Internal controls and governance
Management and administration
Procurement
Project management
Regulation
Risk
Service delivery
Shared services and collaboration
Workforce and capability

In this report, we have analysed the key findings and recommendations from our audit reports over the past four years. This analysis includes financial audits, performance audits, and compliance audits of state and local government entities that were tabled in NSW Parliament between July 2018 and February 2022. The report is framed by recognition that the past four years have seen significant challenges and emergency events.

Published

Actions for Universities 2017

Universities 2017

Universities
Asset valuation
Compliance
Cyber security
Financial reporting
Information technology
Internal controls and governance

The Auditor-General, Margaret Crawford released her report today on the results of financial audits of NSW universities for the year ended 31 December 2017. No qualified audit opinions were issued for any university and the quality and timeliness of financial reporting continues to improve. This report analyses the results of our audits of financial statements of the ten NSW universities and

Published

Actions for Agency compliance with NSW Government travel policies

Agency compliance with NSW Government travel policies

Education
Community Services
Finance
Health
Industry
Justice
Local Government
Planning
Premier and Cabinet
Transport
Treasury
Universities
Whole of Government
Compliance
Internal controls and governance
Procurement

Overall, agencies materially complied with NSW Government travel policies. However, the Auditor-General found some agencies: did not always book official travel through the approved supplier had weaknesses in their travel approval processes had travel policies that were inconsistent with the NSW Government policy did not adequately manage their travel records.    Last year

Published

Actions for Universities 2016 Audits

Universities 2016 Audits

Universities
Asset valuation
Compliance
Cyber security
Financial reporting
Fraud
Information technology
Internal controls and governance
Procurement

No qualified opinions were issued on the universities’ financial statements and the quality and timeliness of financial reporting continued to improve. The report found that all NSW universities recorded a surplus in 2016 with combined revenue growth exceeding expense growth by 1.1 per cent. Universities have diversified revenue sources and are now less reliant on government grants. Combined overseas student income exceeded domestic student income for th

Published

Actions for 2016 - An overview

2016 - An overview

Education
Community Services
Finance
Health
Industry
Justice
Local Government
Planning
Premier and Cabinet
Transport
Treasury
Universities
Whole of Government
Environment
Asset valuation
Compliance
Cyber security
Financial reporting
Fraud
Information technology
Infrastructure
Internal controls and governance
Management and administration
Procurement
Project management
Regulation
Risk
Service delivery
Shared services and collaboration
Workforce and capability

This report focuses on key observations and findings from 2016 audits and highlights key areas of focus for financial and performance audits in 2017. The quality and timeliness of financial reporting continued to improve across the NSW public sector in 2016. Only one qualified audit opinion was issued and most agencies signed their financial statements on time. We found the Government’s cluster governance arrangements were unclear and inconsisten

Published

Actions for Volume Two 2015 focusing on Universities

Volume Two 2015 focusing on Universities

Universities
Asset valuation
Compliance
Financial reporting
Fraud
Information technology
Internal controls and governance
Risk

Generally, NSW universities are in a sound financial position, but average operating margins are falling and operating expenditure is growing faster than operative revenue.   The university sector’s average operating margin fell from 6.6 per cent in 2013 to 4.8 per cent in 2014 and combined operating expenditure grew 0.9 per cent more than operating revenue. Employee expenses in 2014 increased by an average of 5.1 per cent and other expenses by 5.8

Published

Actions for Areas of focus from 2014

Areas of focus from 2014

Education
Community Services
Finance
Health
Industry
Justice
Local Government
Planning
Premier and Cabinet
Transport
Treasury
Universities
Whole of Government
Environment
Compliance
Financial reporting
Fraud
Information technology
Internal controls and governance
Procurement
Project management
Risk

The 2014 audits showed that the quality and timeliness of financial reporting have continued to improve. However, many agencies do not have financial sustainability indicators that provide early warning of management issues, such as an inability to meet financial obligations. Weaknesses were identified in information security, management of leave balances, asset management and internal controls.   Governance issues and gaps in performance informat

Published

Actions for Volume One 2014 - Areas of focus from 2013

Volume One 2014 - Areas of focus from 2013

Education
Community Services
Finance
Health
Industry
Justice
Local Government
Planning
Premier and Cabinet
Transport
Treasury
Universities
Whole of Government
Environment
Asset valuation
Compliance
Financial reporting
Fraud
Information technology
Internal controls and governance
Procurement
Project management
Risk

Today the Auditor-General of New South Wales, Grant Hehir, released his Volume One Report to Parliament for 2014. The observations included in this report are designed to inform readers of common findings from the 2013 financial and performance audits so agencies and audit committees can use them to identify issues that may be relevant to their organisations.

Published

Actions for Volume Two 2013 focusing on Universities

Volume Two 2013 focusing on Universities

Universities
Financial reporting
Fraud
Management and administration
Regulation

Except for the matters noted, the Members we reviewed substantially complied with the requirements of the Parliamentary Remuneration Tribunal’s Determination (the PRT Determination) for the year ended 30 June 2012. The review identified the following material exceptions: nine Member claims were not submitted for payment within 60 days of receipt or occurrence of the expense  eight Members did not return their unspent Sydney Allowance amoun