Author: Adrian Babbidge
A governance audit is a process of reviewing documentation and processes to:
- ensure that any changes in the law or regulations are taken into account; and
- enable trustees to be kept up-to date with changes in good practice.
Often they are carried out as part of a larger governance review focusing on a board’s roles, functions and effectiveness; an audit of governance is designed to look at processes, not at these broader issues.
Whereas full reviews are usually conducted at irregular intervals, driven by specific circumstance, governance audits should be carried out as a matter of regular routine rather than as a one-off project. They should be in the role description of an individual officeholder, such as the chair, secretary to the board, or a specific trustee. Only when neglected does the exercise
become onerous; many of the topics to be considered can be dealt with in minutes. The results of the audit and any actions considered necessary should be reported to, discussed, and acted on, by the trustees.