
074 – Wincanton plc Annual report and accounts 2022
Audit Committee report continued
Internal Audit Function continued
The Committee noted how greater
collaboration between the IA team and the
wider business, along with the IA team’s
approach and assistance whilst performing
fieldwork had resulted in faster resolution of
issues and positive feedback from the business.
The Internal Audit plan has been developed
alongside the risk management process
each audit mapped into the relevant Group.
Risk register includes reviews of key risks,
cyclical audits of basic areas of process and
site control environment reviews. In addition
there is a specific plan for financial and non-
financial reviews of commercial contracts.
The IA plan includes contingency time to
allow for investigation of emerging risks.
Internal Audit Effectiveness Evaluation
The UK Corporate Governance Code and
the Institute of Internal Auditors call for a
regular quality assessment of the IA function.
Wincanton assesses effectiveness annually,
this year by questionnaire completed by
the Committee, members of the Board, the
EMT and managers of those areas that had
been audited during the year. Very positive
results were returned regarding the skill
and consultative approach of the IA team,
and noting their clear communication and
reporting. Areas to develop in the coming
year include increasing the awareness
throughout the business of IA’s role as
the third line of defence, and the use of
technologies to increase efficiency.
The Head of Internal Audit left the Company
in February 2022 to take up a position
with another company, and pending the
recruitment of a permanent replacement
there has been an Interim Head of Internal
Audit in place. The team has also recently
been supplemented by an additional
member to focus primarily on the audit of
commercial contracts.
External Auditor
External Auditor Effectiveness and
Independence Evaluation
The Audit Committee evaluates the
effectiveness and independence of the
External Auditor and its audit process
annually in respect of performance and
conduct, taking into consideration relevant
UK professional and regulatory requirements.
As reported in our Annual Report and
Accounts for 2021, this year was the first
evaluation of BDO as Wincanton’s statutory
auditor, following their appointment in 2020.
The evaluation process included:
– an effectiveness questionnaire open to
all members of the Audit Committee, all
other members of the Board, the Company
Secretary and the Group Financial Controller
– feedback was sought on the year
end process and scope of the audit,
communication between respective
teams, evidence of independence,
challenge and insight and the auditor’s
commitment to audit quality
– the review of feedback from the central
Finance team directly involved in the
external audit for year ending March 2021
– an effectiveness discussion as scheduled
annually at the Audit Committee.
Whilst the results made reference as
expected to this being the Auditor’s first
full year, the new engagement team and
unfamiliarity both with the Company and
its working practices, the Committee
were satisfied that the External Auditor is
independent, objective and was effective
inthe external audit process.
The Audit Committee has considered the
latest Financial Reporting Council (FRC)’s
Audit Quality Inspection and Supervision
report on BDO for the 2020/21 period which
included the FRC’s findings on a sample
of BDO audits inspected and firm-wide
procedures, in line with recommended
governance practice for Audit Committees.
The Audit Committee have discussed the
findings with the BDO engagement partner
and was provided with an overview of actions
already undertaken in response to the FRC
report. BDO has publicly reaffirmed that
quality is its absolute priority and expressed
its confidence that the steps being taken will
result in sustained improvements.
The Committee Chair has continued their
dialogue with the External Auditor outside
of scheduled meetings in order to provide
more detailed feedback and strengthen the
service provided from the audit firm as the
engagement moves into its second year.
Auditor independence
The Committee requires the External
Auditor to give an annual confirmation of
the actions it has taken to ensure objectivity
and independence, including where non-
audit services are provided.
For the audit of these financial statements the
External Auditor has confirmed compliance
with the firm’s ethics and independence
policies, partner and staff compliance with
their ethics and independence manual,
including prohibition on holding Company
shares. BDO has assured the Group their
ethics and independence manual is fully
consistent with the professional practice rules
of the FRC, the auditor’s regulator.
Every significant new engagement
undertaken for the Company is
subject to acceptance procedures,
requiring consultation with the Senior
Statutory Auditor.
Sophia Michael has remained the Senior
Statutory Auditor since her appointment
in July 2020.
Non-audit services
The FRC Ethical Standard sets out the
permissible non-audit services that External
Auditors can perform, and BDO ensures that
any requests from the Company to provide
non-audit services, to any BDO office, are
considered in the context of the Company’s
policy and the FRC’s ethical standards.
The Company’s Non-audit Services Policy is
intended to put in place appropriate controls
for the approval and engagement of any
non-audit assignments according to the
nature and value of the work, to safeguard
audit objectivity and independence.
Ratio of audit to non-audit work
as at 31 March (£m)
Audit fees: 2022 – 0.59
2021 – 0.5
Non-audit fees: 2022 – 0.08
2021 – 0.1
8888++1212++LL
8080++2020++II
Non-audit fees solely represent the External
Auditor’s review of the half year financial
statement. The level of non-audit fees and
the ratio to audit fees is not considered to
give rise to any impairment of the auditor’s
independence or objectivity.
Full disclosure of audit and non-audit fees
paid in the year ended 31 March 2022 are
set out in Note 4 ‘Operating profit’ to the
financial statements on page 120.
Audit Committee consideration
of the fair, balanced and
understandable statement
This Annual Report and Accounts is subject
to a verification process undertaken by
section contributors and independent
reviewers, and, at the request of the Board,
an overall review by the Audit Committee.
In conjunction with these verifications and
considering its own discussions during the
year, the Committee forms an opinion on
whether the Annual Reports and Accounts
as a whole is consistent and balanced. The
Committee then recommends approval of
the Report to the Board.
The statement of Directors’ responsibilities
can be found on page 95.