Uni raises concern over delays to audited accounts at colleges
The University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI) has raised concerns after auditors missed a deadline for signing off the accounts of several colleges for last year.
Stephen Boyle, the Auditor General for Scotland, wrote to Holyrood’s public audit committee last month to confirm there were six college audits where the auditor would not be able to provide an opinion on the 2022/23 annual report and accounts before the statutory deadline of April 30.
They were Forth Valley College and five of the colleges that make up UHI – Inverness, Lews Castle, Moray, North Highland and Perth.
It means the colleges will have to wait to find out if a Section22 report is required from the auditor general if the audit raises any specific concerns or issues.
UHI has contacted Audit Scotland about the issue. principal Vicki Nairns aid :" With regard to the submission of annual accounts, a number of U hi academic partners use the managed service provided by Audit Scotland which is delivered by Deloitte’s.
"UHI has raised concerns with Audit Scotland regarding the provision of this service and the impact on completion of annual accounts for some academic partners. We understand that Audit Scotland are currently reviewing this issue.”
In terms of the other UHI colleges, the 2022/23 accounts for argyll, orkney, sabhalm or Ostaig on Skye, and Shetland have been finalised.
Argyll, Sabhal Mor Ostaig and shetland reported positive cash balance sat the end of july 2023. Orkney does not report a cash balance as it forms part of the local authority.
An Audit Scotland spokesperson said: “Public bodies and auditors across theuk are working hard to improve the timeliness of auditing of public accounts, followingsignificant disruption in recent years.
"There are several reasons for accounts being certified after the target dates. these include a phased return to pre-pandemic deadlines, resulting in consecutively truncated time with which to prepare and audit accounts; capacity and resourcing pressures at public bodies; capacity and prioritisation issues at auditors; the introduction of new accounting standards; and the quality and timeliness of the material being submitted for audit.”