Senior Leadership Team (SLT)
Monday 16 February 2026, 10am
Board Room, University Street, Belfast
Members Present:
Dorinnia Carville, Chair (C&AG)
Rodney Allen (COO)
Patrick Barr (Director)
Suzanne Jones (Director)
Barry Mitchell (Director)
Conor McGeown (Director)
Brian O’Neill (Director)
Seamus Wade (Director)
Tomas Wilkinson (Director)
In Attendance:
Michael Heery (Audit Manager) – Agenda item 1
Jill Aicken (Head of People and OD) – Agenda item 2
Megan O’Neill (Head of Corporate Services) – Agenda item 3 and 6.4
Frances Byrne (Head of Corporate Affairs) – Agenda item 4.1
Louise Halligan (Secretariat Support)
Apologies:
None recorded.
Declaration of Conflicts of Interest
No conflicts were declared.
Minutes of previous meeting Matters Arising
Minutes of the previous meeting held on 19 January 2026 were agreed and the matters arising noted as updated.
1. Corporate Management Team (CMT) Briefing
Michael Heery provided a briefing on the February 2026 CMT meeting, highlighting the following key areas:
• Accommodation – Discussion took place regarding heating and ventilation, noting the system has been reviewed and levels continue toare be monitored throughout the building.
• Operational Resource Team (ORT) membership – As a result of recent staff rotations, some teams are now overrepresented while others have no ORT representation. To maintain continuity and retain expertise, it was recommended that changes to membership be implemented on a phased, rotational basis.
• New Chartered Accountants Ireland (CAI) Exam Schedule - CMT reviewed a paper on the new modular exam format for CAI. There was some general discussion, and it was agreed this item would be added to the agenda for the March CMT meeting to give members time to consider the options proposed.
SLT noted and welcomed the update provided.
2. People and OD
2.1 People and OD Monthly Report
Jill Aicken joined the meeting and briefed members on the report presented. The following key areas were highlighted for discussion:
• Diversity Mark – accreditation has been successfully obtained. Staff will be updated at the Staff Brief scheduled for 25 February 2026. The Baord will be appraised at its Febraury meeting.
• Managing Attendance - Members noted the staff sickness levels reported and the assurance provided that all absences are being actively managed in accordance with the Managing Absence Policy.
• Recruitment – It was agreed that future recruitment activity will be underpinned by considerations from the ORT, Head of Corporate Services, and Head of People and OD. A short document will be developed to support governance. Approval on recruitment decisions will then be taken by SLT.
• HR Benchmarking Review – Bids have been received and are currently being evaluated for this review. SLT will be updated when a successful bidder has been appointed.
• Performance Management – Updated compliance figures will be circulated to the Directorate. All staff are to be reminded to complete all the required actions within agreed timescales.
• HR Policy Review – The C&AG requested that all HR policies reviewed to date be presented to SLT for review by the end of March 2026.
3. Financial Management/Corporate Governance
3.1 Corporate Services Report
Megan O’Neill joined the meeting and briefed members on the Corporate Services report presented. The following key areas were discussed:
Finance
• Members noted the forecast figures presented based on current assumptions and acknowledged the identified areas of estimated income and expenditure.
• Staff are to be advised that any outstanding invoices to be billed for hard charged audits should be billed without delay to ensure our cash position is adequate for March 2026 and the year-end position.
4. Communications and Engagement
4.1 Corporate Affairs Report
Frances Byrne presented a report to update members on developments since the January 2026 SLT meeting.
• Members discussed the upcoming visit to NIAO by Communications Teams from other audit agencies.
• Discussion took place surrounding NIAO’s use of social media platforms and the corporate affairs team will bring forward a paper.
• The C&AG suggested that information sessions on the PAC Protocol be scheduled as soon as possible, ahead of another busy period for staff.
4.2 Handling Correspondence – Quarterly Update
Tomas Wilkinson provided an update on the status of MLA Correspondence and the Raising Concerns caseload. Members noted the report presented with no significant issues raised.
5. Strategic Projects
5.1 Workforce Planning
Seamus Wade provided an update on recent developments from the Operational Resource Team (ORT) advising that communication is ongoing with Audit Managers relating to planning activity. A timeline will be advised when all returns have been received.
5.2 People Engagement Programme
Rodney Allen advised that the Steering group met on 21 February 2026 and reported positive engagement to date. Templates from Director leads are due to be finalised over the coming weeks. Staff will be updated on progress at the staff brief scheduled for 25 February 2026.
6. Strategic Performance
6.1 Management Information Report – Financial Audit and Public Reporting
A combined report providing a breakdown of the costs associated with financial audits and the costs and timing for completing public reports was presented. The C&AG requested that, ahead of the March 2026 meeting, that information in this report be reviewed by the Directorate in consultation with Audit Managers to ensure that all information is relevant and up to date before its final presentation to SLT.
6.2 Position re Backlog Accounts
Members noted the position presented, discussion followed regarding the reasons for various backlog and target certification dates.
6.3 Audit Costs
Members noted the report presented with no significant issues raised.
6.4 Net Zero Action Plan – Quarterly Update
Megan O’Neill presented the update and advised the Action Plan will be reviewed, with actions mapped to the overall emissions target. The updated Plan will be presented at the April SLT. Members noted the report and updated figures presented.
7. Quality Report
7.1 Technical Team Update
Audit Quality
• QCR Reviews - A full report from ICAEW following their review of three 2024-25 audits is expected and will be formally reviewed by SLT at the March meeting.
Wider learnings from the QCR process will be shared with staff over the coming weeks and the technical team plans to meet with the teams concerned before Easter. It is expected training will be provided around issues arising from the QCR reviews.
Public Reporting (PR)
• Peer Reviews – Arrangements for this process will be taken forward by Patrick Barr to ensure timely completion for inclusion in the Annual Report and Accounts.
• Training – There has been some slippage against the agreed schedule for the completion of the CIPFA Certificate. Feedback will be sought from staff who have completed the training, remaining staff are encouraged to complete it as soon as possible.
• SLT requested that Michael Heery prepare a paper for presentation to SLT on his current work relating to the use of AI and report drafting.
8. Risk Management
8.1 Corporate Risk Register (CRR)
Conor McGeown advised that some minor amendments had been made to the CRR since the January 2026 SLT meeting. SLT considered the highlighted areas for discussion and made key decisions on:
• the allocation of responsibilities for actions under Risk 3 in light of forthcoming resourcing changes; and
• the risk ratings associated with Risk 5 on delivery of the 2025/26 public reporting programme.
8.2 Corporate Risk Register Working Group
Expressions of interest for membership of the group closed on 13 February 2026 and a verbal update was provided on submissions received.
9. To Note
9.1 ARAC Draft minutes of meeting – 26 January 2026.
9.2 Advisory Board Agenda – 23 February 2026
10. Papers for escalation to the Advisory Board – 23 February 2026
10.1 Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Strategy
10.2 Draft Communications and Engagement Strategy
11. AOB
Rodney Allen summarized the key matters discussed and decisions made by SLT at the weekly meetings on 27 January and 4 February and these were endorsed by members.
12. Date of next meeting
The next monthly meeting will be held on 18 March 2026.