Understanding Amber Financial Audit Programme

The Amber Financial Audit Programme is designed to help businesses and individuals manage their finances effectively. It's a comprehensive programme that identifies areas of improvement and provides actionable recommendations.

At the heart of the programme is a thorough review of financial statements, which is conducted by experienced auditors. This review helps to identify any discrepancies or irregularities.

The programme also takes into account the specific needs and goals of each client, tailoring its approach to suit their unique circumstances. This ensures that the audit is both effective and relevant.

By the end of the programme, clients can expect to have a clear understanding of their financial situation and a plan in place to achieve their financial objectives.

You have a limited time frame to respond to audit findings. Providers have 10 working days to review and respond to independent auditor findings.

It's essential to review all findings, even if the auditor has submitted a 'yes' response. This is because there may be additional information or points to raise that can be included in a response comment via the Compliance Audit system.

You can upload documentary evidence to support your response if needed. This can be done directly onto the Compliance Audit system.

If you don't respond within the 10 working day window, Homes England will form an opinion based solely on the auditor's findings. They won't be able to consider any additional information at a later stage.

Policies and procedures may change depending on the funding programme, so it's essential to stay up-to-date with the current guidelines.

Providers must satisfy themselves that they are referring to the policy and procedures current at the time, and independent auditors must do the same.

If you're delivering schemes funded under multiple programmes, you'll need to follow the procedures of the relevant programme for each scheme.

Scheme notification is a crucial part of the audit cycle, and it's essential to understand the process.

Homes England will notify providers of their selection early in the audit cycle. This notification informs providers of the number and type of schemes in their sample.

The notification is a direct result of the scheme sample selection process, which takes place early in the audit cycle.

Programme guidance is essential to ensure you're following the right procedures for your funded schemes. Policies and procedures can change depending on the funding programme, so it's crucial to stay up-to-date.

You'll need to refer to the current policy and procedures for the relevant programme. This may involve checking the programme's website or contacting the programme administrators directly.

Providers delivering schemes funded under multiple programmes must follow the procedures of each relevant programme. This can be complex, but it's essential to get it right.

To find the most current information, you can visit the programme's website or search for the latest policy documents. This will help you ensure you're meeting the requirements for each scheme.

Fraudulent Behaviour is a serious issue that can arise during audits. Compliance Audit is not a first line of defence against fraudulent behaviour.

Auditors play a crucial role in identifying potentially fraudulent behaviour. If an independent auditor becomes aware of potentially fraudulent behaviour during the audit year or whilst the audit is being undertaken, they should take steps immediately.

The auditor should notify the Homes England Compliance Audit team, who will then notify the relevant Homes England contacts. This ensures that the issue is addressed promptly and effectively.