Senior Leadership Team (SLT)
Wednesday 18 March 2026, 9.30am
Board Room, University Street, Belfast
Members Present:
Dorinnia Carville, Chair (C&AG)
Rodney Allen (COO) – online via Teams
Suzanne Jones (Director)
Barry Mitchell (Director)
Conor McGeown (Director)
Brian O’Neill (Director)
Seamus Wade (Director)
In Attendance:
Jill Aicken (Head of People and OD) – Agenda item 2
Megan O’Neill (Head of Corporate Services) – Agenda item 3
Frances Byrne (Head of Corporate Affairs) – Agenda item 4
Helen Dodds (Head of Quality and Innovation) – Agenda item 5
Louise Halligan (Secretariat Support)
Apologies:
Patrick Barr (Director)
Tomas Wilkinson (Director)
Declaration of Conflicts of Interest
No conflicts were declared.
Minutes of previous meeting Matters Arising
Minutes of the previous meeting held on 16 February 2026 were agreed and the matters arising noted as updated.
1. Corporate Management Team (CMT) Briefing
An update from the April meeting was provided by Anu Kane to SLT on 10 March 2026.
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:
• Managing Attendance - Members noted the increase in staff sickness levels reported and took assurance that all absences are being actively managed in accordance with the Managing Absence Policy.
• Performance Management Compliance – Members agreed to ensure that all outstanding staff performance reports are completed as soon as possible.
• HR Policy Review – The review is ongoing, with policy updates being progressed in phases and presented to SLT for consultation as appropriate.
• Diversity Mark – It was noted that the Diversity Mark accreditation will be integrated into all relevant NIAO corporate communications, including email signatures, the NIAO website and other relevant corporate materials.
• SLT approved CMT’s recommendation regarding the application of Chartered Accountants Ireland’s new exam schedule.
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 via email that any outstanding expenses claims or professional fees owed should be submitted for payment before the end of the financial year.
IT
• NIAO will host representatives from the IT departments of other audit agencies this week. SLT members are welcome to attend to meet the visiting representatives.
• SLT agreed that following the migration to the cloud for Time and Space later this month, appropriate staff training should be explored. Megan O’Neill agreed to take this forward.
Procurement
• Contracting-out Audits – The invitation to tender is due to go live on Monday 23 March 2026.
3.2 Governance and Acceptable Use of Artificial Intelligence in NIAO – Terms of Reference (ToR)
SLT approved the revised ToR presented that includes an update relating to the use of Copilot. The updated ToR will be issued to all staff.
4. Communications and Engagement
4.1 Corporate Affairs Report
Frances Byrne presented a report to update members on developments since the February 2026 SLT meeting:
• PAC Guide and Templates - Staff Information Sessions are currently underway and have been well received and attended by staff.
• Preparation is underway for an Evidence Session scheduled for 29 April 2026 with the Finance Committee on the NICS Leading and Resourcing Report.
• A paper will be presented to SLT at the next weekly meeting with regard to NIAO’s use of social media platforms.
4.2 Comms and Engagement Strategy – A late paper was submitted, members agreed that discussion would be deferred to a later date to allow sufficient time for consideration of its content.
5. Quality and Innovation
5.1 Technical Team Update/Public Reporting Update
Helen Dodds joined the meeting and provided an update on the following:
• QCR Reviews - ICAEW have completed their reviews and final reports have been shared with the respective teams. A closing meeting with ICAEW was held on 18 February 2026, and an overall final report has been received.
• Local Government Audit Training - Two CIPFA-led training sessions will be held for staff on 25 and 26 March 2026.
• Financial Audit Manual - Work continues on the development of the Financial Audit Manual in collaboration with Audit Wales, completion is expected by mid-April 2026. A briefing session for all staff will be scheduled to launch the new manual.
Public Reporting (PR)
• PR Guidance Refresh – The PR Guidance is now complete and available for all staff to access. The Practitioner Group will consider aspects of the guidance that may require the development of further training.
• Practitioner Group – A meeting of the Group will be scheduled for mid-April 2026.
• 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.
• Quality/Peer Review - An initial sample of reports for peer review will be presented to SLT for discussion at the next scheduled weekly meeting. The C&AG requested that samples of previously completed reviews also be made available for this meeting. Members were advised the intention is to complete the peer review process before the finalisation of the 2025–26 Annual Report and Accounts.
5.2 QCR Review Report
Members discussed the report presented. The following key areas were noted:
• Root cause analysis meetings are underway, with action plans currently being developed. Wider learning points from the QCR process will be shared with staff in the coming weeks, and ICAEW have been asked to provide targeted training on key themes arising from the reviews.
• The C&AG requested that any key/recurring themes emerging from the reviews are documented, with a view to providing bitesize training for staff.
• Suzanne Jones is preparing a strategic paper on the results of previous reviews over a number of years that will be presented to SLT in the coming weeks.
5.3 The use of AI and Report Drafting
Members welcomed the report prepared by Michael Heery all agreeing that it was highly informative. After discussion it was decided that Michael should be invited to a weekly SLT meeting to deliver a demonstration on the AI platforms he has utilised to date.
6. Strategic Projects
6.1 Workforce Planning
Seamus Wade provided a verbal update on potential issues relating to resourcing.
6.2 People Engagement Programme
Rodney Allen advised that staff were provided with an update at the staff brief held on 25 February 2026. Templates from Director leads have all been submitted and a Steering Group meeting has been scheduled for 22 April 2026. Rodney is meeting each lead director to discuss progress with their theme. Staff will continue to be kept informed of progress.
7. Strategic Performance
7.1 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. Members noted the report presented with no significant issues raised.
7.2 Position re Backlog Accounts
Members noted the report presented, no significant issues were raised.
7.3 Policy Review– Quarterly Update
Members welcomed the update provided. The C&AG requested that staff are provided with an update on the current review of all the Personnel Policies.
8. Risk Management
8.1 Corporate Risk Register (CRR)
Conor McGeown provided an update on amendments made to the CRR since the February 2026 SLT meeting. SLT considered the following areas highlighted for discussion:
• the risk rating associated with risk 2, SLT agreed the rating proposed; and
• the actions associated with risk 6, it was agreed this should be discussed at an additional meeting to be scheduled between Conor McGeown and Brian O’Neill.
8.2 Corporate Risk Register Working Group (CRRWG)
The Group with new members in place convened for the first time on 12 March 2026. The Group will continue to monitor ongoing global developments that may impact the CRR.
9. To Note
9.1 Advisory Board draft minutes of meeting – 23 February 2026
10. Papers for Escalation to the Advisory Board – 23 February 2026
No papers were presented.
11. AOB
11.1 Matters Agreed at Weekly SLT Meetings
Rodney Allen summarised the key matters discussed and decisions made by SLT at the weekly meetings on 24 February, 3 and 10 March 2026 and these were endorsed by members.
11.2 Interim Impacts
All final returns are to be submitted by Friday 3 April 2026, a meeting to agree final impacts has been scheduled for 13 April 2026.
12. Date of next meeting
The next monthly meeting will be held on 20 April 2026.