Mission

To assist the Board to continuously review, and assess systematically against best practice, EFIC's management of risk and compliance with laws.

Functions

The primary functions of the Committee are to:

• monitor the risk management plan and procedures and make recommendations to the Board on changes to the plan;
• make recommendations to the Board on the appointment, assessment and removal of the internal auditors, and oversee their independence;
• annually review the external and internal audit plans and their scope;
• monitor the internal control environment and procedures designed to achieve compliance with laws, regulations, internal standards and policies;
• oversee compliance with statutory and other legal requirements relating to financial disclosure and regulatory reporting;
• assist EFIC and its directors to comply with obligations under the Commonwealth Authorities and Companies Act 1997 (the "CAC Act"); and
• provide an effective forum for communication between the directors, EFIC’s senior managers and the internal and external auditors. 

Duties and responsibilities

(a) Management and internal controls:

• satisfy itself that the current areas of greatest financial and operational risk to EFIC have been identified and to ensure Management are effectively managing the risks;
• satisfy itself that effective systems of accounting, administrative and operational controls are in place to manage financial risk so that timely and meaningful financial statements are available to stakeholders.

(b) Financial reporting:

• review the annual and half-yearly financial statements and recommend acceptance to the Board;
• approve EFIC's accounting policies and practices in the light of relevant laws, accounting standards and principles.

(c) Compliance:

• monitor compliance with obligations under the CAC Act, the Export Finance and Insurance Corporation Act 1991, and any other applicable legislation;
• monitor changes of significance in relation to the various laws, regulations, accounting policies, and regulatory and reporting requirements that apply to EFIC.

(d) An efficient and effective audit:

• recommend to the Board the appointment of the internal auditors;
• review the audit philosophy adopted by the internal auditors and their systems and procedures;
• review the internal audit program for the year;
• review and assess the findings of the internal and external auditors and the action taken and the timetable proposed by Management in response to those findings;
• review, at least annually, the scope, results and performance of the external and internal auditors;
• determine whether to approve of any consultants to the Australian National Audit Office (ANAO) undertaking any non-audit consultancy work for EFIC.

(e) Other responsibilities:

• commission such special audits or investigations as may be necessary;
• perform any other tasks the Board may from time to time authorise.

Membership

The Committee will consist of at least three non-executive Directors of the Board.  The Board will appoint Committee members. They will be subject to rotation as determined by the Board.  The Board will appoint one of the members as Chairperson of the Committee.  The Committee will develop a policy for succession planning for adoption by EFIC's Board. Whenever possible, members-designate will attend Committee meetings during a transition period prior to the retirement of the member that they will replace.  Any Board member is welcome to attend any Committee meeting.

Participation of non-members

Internal and external auditors will attend and participate (but will not be entitled to vote) at meetings of the Committee.  The Managing Director is expected to attend meetings of the Committee, together with such other members of Management as the Committee determines.  The Committee will have a discussion with the external auditors and internal auditors, at least once a year, without members of Management in attendance.  The Committee will be entitled to call upon the expert advice it determines is appropriate to enable the Committee to satisfy its responsibilities and meet its objectives.

Meetings

The Committee will hold at least three meetings per year, or such greater number as the Chairperson may determine.  A quorum will consist of a majority of Committee members.

Minutes

The Board Secretary will keep minutes of Committee meetings. The minutes, or relevant extracts from them, will be provided to the internal and external auditors.

Internal audit — accountability

The internal auditors are accountable to the Committee.  While day-to-day issues under the contract with the outsourced internal auditors will be handled by Management, the internal auditors will have direct access to the Committee at any time.

External auditors

The Committee is the channel of communication with the external auditors, the ANAO, and any consultants engaged by the ANAO.

Access to the committee

On any matter within the committee's charter, any member of EFIC's staff has access to the Chairman of the committee.

Access to management

Any access to EFIC's staff and business records required by the committee in order to fulfil its charter will be arranged through the Managing Director & CEO.

Reporting

The Chairman of the committee will provide a report to the Board following each meeting. In addition, the Committee will provide:

• copies of its minutes to the Board;
• a report annually to the Board on the trends/issues that have arisen in the committee's work over the previous 12 months; and
• such additional reporting as the Board may require.

Review of performance

The Committee will review the scope and effectiveness of its activities at least every two years.