| Dear Principal
As Chief Executive and Accounting Officer for the SELB I am responsible for ensuring that schools apply best practice in their daily management activities.
The process of review of schools adherence to procedures is normally established by way of a formal review by the Board’s Internal Audit staff. It is recognised that this review process requires a considerable input from both Principals and school staff in assisting the board’s auditors. In an effort to minimise the disruption to schools whilst at the same time increasing the audit coverage, the Board’s have agreed to implement a self assessment questionnaire across all school sectors. The process and the content of the questionnaire have been approved by the NAHT and CCMS and recently presented to the Post-Primary and Primary Principals Committees.
The assessment covers the key management issues for which Principals and Governors are responsible. By completing the document Principals and Governors will be able to reassure themselves of their application of best management practice and also identify areas where current practice needs to be revised or further assistance and advice would be useful.
The document is also available for download in MS Word or Excel formats from the board’s website at www.selb.org. The Excel based version can be saved to your PC and completed electronically for emailing back to Internal Audit. To assist in completing this process as swiftly as possible, I ask that your completed documents are returned, via post or email, before the 30 th June 2007 to Internal Audit at Board Headquarters.
Internal Audit will review the completed assessments and will provide feedback on the responses received to the Chairperson of your Board of Governors. Where it is considered that responses are below the acceptable standard, Internal Audit will offer additional assistance and support. This may be achieved through the issue of policies and procedures or by visiting the school if the need is identified.
Fraud Awareness
Many of the examples of best practice in this assessment are there to reduce the risk of fraud. The risk of fraud in schools relates mainly to the collection of cash whether for school meals, private school funds, tuck shops etc. Management should always be vigilant and ensure wherever possible that there are adequate records maintained and segregation of responsibilities to ensure that the risk of fraud is reduced.
If there are any issues that you wish to discuss please do not hesitate to contact the Internal Audit branch (028 37512238 or david.maginnis@selb.org).
Chief Executive
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