As an independent officer of Parliament, the NSW Auditor-General plays a vital role in keeping public sector bodies accountable. From government agencies and local councils to regional universities, the Audit Office oversees financial management to ensure public funds are handled transparently, responsibly, and for the greater good.

Crucially, their work underpins community trust, sound risk management, and strong financial stewardship right across New South Wales.

So when the NSW Auditor-General, Bola Oyetunji, alongside Assistant Auditor-General Renee Meares, stopped by our Armidale office in October, our team jumped at the chance to share what’s happening on the ground across local government and public sector auditing!

Having Bola and Renee visit our Audit team in Armidale was a fantastic opportunity to make sure our regional voice was heard. Our audit leaders, Paul and Jacob, sat down with the Auditor-General for an engaging, wide-ranging discussion on what we’re seeing on the ground across both internal and external council audits. They covered plenty of real-world territory, from regional financial viability and infrastructure management to practical challenges around cybersecurity, software upgrades, and streamlining heavy compliance burdens.

Beyond the big-picture strategy, Bola and Renee also took the time to chat directly with our entire audit team. It was hugely encouraging to see their genuine interest in the unique opportunities and hurdles facing regional communities outside metropolitan centers.

We came away from the visit genuinely energised. At the end of the day, auditing is about far more than just ticking boxes. It’s about building trust, safeguarding transparency, and helping our local government bodies and regional communities thrive for the long haul.