Professional qualifications held by IPSA staff

Request

Under the terms of the Freedom of Information Act could you please supply me with the following information;

  • How many of your staff are qualified in Accountancy?

  • How many of your staff are qualified as Auditors?

  • What level of proactive auditing is conducted by yourselves, or an external body, into matters which are the responsibility of IPSA, such as MPs' Business Costs and Expenses?


Response

IPSA holds the information that you request.

Taking your requests for information in turn;

  • How many of your staff are qualified in Accountancy?

  • How many of your staff are qualified as Auditors?

IPSA’s total staff includes a team of five finance staff and one internal auditor. Of these, four are qualified (CCAB) accountants and the internal auditor is qualified as an auditor.

  • What level of proactive auditing is conducted by yourselves, or an external body, into matters which are the responsibility of IPSA, such as MPs' Business Costs and Expenses?

In responding to your request, we have interpreted it as a request for information regarding IPSA’s scrutiny of MPs’ Business Costs and Expenses claimed by MPs and of audit oversight of IPSA’s own operations. 

All claims are subject to scrutiny under IPSA’s validation processes.  In addition there is a programme of thematic reviews that analyses business costs and expenses paid in a variety of cross-cutting ways to identify areas for further review; all MPs and expense categories are subject to this programme of reviews.

IPSA’s financial statements are subject to an annual external audit by the National Audit Office.  The Annual Report and Accounts are published on our website and include the report from the Comptroller and Auditor General.  You can view the Annual Reports by following this link.  IPSA also has a full programme of internal audit reviews that provides an independent assessment of the risk management, governance and controls in place for the Accounting Officer.  IPSA was subject to a value-for-money study by the National Audit Office in 2010/11.

Ref:
F1314-124
Disclosure:
26 September 2013
Categories:
IPSA - STAFF
Exemptions Applied:
None