Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies

The Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies (2016), issued by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, sets out corporate governance principles and requirements.

WHAT IS THE CODE OF PRACTICE FOR THE GOVERNANCE OF STATE BODIES?

The purpose of the Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies is to provide solid foundations for the sustainable success of commercial, non-commercial and regulatory State bodies while meeting the highest standards of corporate governance.

The Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies details the requirement for each entity to form an Audit and Risk Committee to advise the Board on matters such as risk, internal controls, governance and the planning of Internal and External Audit activities.

Four separate guidance documents supplement the Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies :

youtube-video-thumbnail
Business & Financial Reporting Requirements_1

Business & Financial Reporting Requirements

Audit & Risk Committee Guidance_1

Audit & Risk Committee Guidance

Remuneration & Superannuation_1

Remuneration & Superannuation

Board Self-Assessment Evaluation Questionnaire_1

Board Self-Assessment Evaluation Questionnaire

THE CHALLENGE

State bodies are required to comply with the Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies. It provides detailed checklists for the assessment of the effectiveness of the Audit and Risk Committee and the Board. Committees must provide detailed reporting of the effectiveness of critical functions across the organisation, including risk, compliance, governance, audit and financial management. In addition, state bodies must implement appropriate due diligence to ensure that commercial ventures with third parties comply with the principles of good corporate governance stipulated in the Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies.

The use of spreadsheets or paper-based systems to implement, report and ensure compliance with the Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies is complex, time-consuming and expensive given the volume and dispersal of data to be gathered, evidenced, reviewed and reported.

The three principal challenges are as follows.

  • Assembly and collation
  • Review and assurance
  • Evidence and audit trail

THE SOLUTION

The Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies solution shows how Phinity can link all risk stakeholders in the business, from “bottom-up” operational processes to “top-down” enterprise risks. Linking these two often disparate risk approaches decreases duplication and unlocks value.

graph_withlegend_1

The Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies solution provides Audit and Risk Committees with a single solution to manage:

  • Internal and external control effectiveness,
  • Online risk workshops,
  • Risk reporting,
  • Findings tracking and remediation,
  • Annual reporting on principal risks,
  • Contract management, and
  • Risk indicators integrated into essential business functions.

The Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies solution will automate your:

  • Assembly and collation – Phinity provides a single, complete online repository of the Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies' Audit and Risk Committee requirements, enabling clear accountability, tracking of progress to completion and exceptions.
  • Review and assurance - Phinity’s single real-time overview allows management to better oversee the timely and accurate compliance with the Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies requirements, minimising effort and the unexpected.
  • Evidence and audit trail – Phinity provides a complete online record of interaction, decision rationale and documentation to enable a timely and complete submission while facilitating efficient assurance, as and when required.

WHY CHOOSE PHINITY?

Integrating Phinity into your business has many benefits:

REDUCE TIME (STAFF AND MANAGEMENT REVIEW) REQUIRED

ELIMINATE MANUAL ERRORS

SIMPLIFY THE PROCESS AND REDUCE THE OVERALL COST OF COMPLIANCE

CONTACT US TO SEE HOW WE CAN INCREASE COMPLIANCE, REDUCE RISK, INCREASE EFFICIENCIES WITHOUT INCREASING YOUR TEAM SIZE BY IMPLEMENTING PHINITY TODAY.