Wales Audit Office scoops three awards across the business

28 November 2017

  • CIPFA Awards for Finance Professional of the Year; Finance Team of the Year; and CIPR Award for Best Event

    We've scooped three separate awards in just one week, by two prestigious professional bodies - the Chartered Institiute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA) and the Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR).
    Financial Audit Director, Ann-Marie Harkin, won the CIPFA Wales Award for Finance Professional of the Year. 
    The WAO’s finance team won Finance Team of the Year for their work on publishing the organisation’s accounts in just 10 weeks from year-end and ahead of the other audit bodies in the UK.
    Members of the communications team with their CIPR award
    And, the Communications team scooped Silver in the CIPR PRide Cymru Awards for Best Event. This was for the inaugural ‘Finance for the Future’ conference, now an annual event, which brings together public finance trainees from across the public sector as part of their learning and development.
    Ann-Marie Harkin holding her CIPFA award
    Ann-Marie Harkin’s award was in recognition for her pioneering work on learning and development, which includes setting up a new pan-Wales trainee scheme – an idea she formed and developed. 
    Her award was also in recognition of her achievements as Chair of the Finance Skills and Development Group. This is a ground breaking new initiative, developed in partnership with publically-funded organisations in Wales. The pan-Wales project aims to promote the value and importance of a career in public finance, by providing secondments across public services; supporting trainee networks and developing leadership programmes. 
    The scheme sees the Wales Audit Office, working closely with colleagues in NHS Wales, local government, the police, fire and rescue services, Welsh Government and sponsored bodies, higher education and further education institutions – along with other Wales based publically-funded organisations, like the DVLA and Office for National Statistics.  In accepting the award, Ann-Marie paid tribute to colleagues in other Wales based public bodies including the Welsh Government, NHS and local government for the collaboration that has made the scheme a success.
    Auditor General, Huw Vaughan Thomas, said: 
    'I am always proud of the hard work, dedication and achievements of staff at the Wales Audit Office. But to win three awards in just one week is a fantastic achievement and testament to the talent that we are fortunate to have in this organisation.'
    Isobel Garner, Wales Audit Office Chair, said:
    'The Wales Audit Office is improving year on year. And, to be recognised by professional bodies like CIPFA and the CIPR for our high quality work is great to see. I hope we can build on these successes and continue to make a positive contribution to welsh public service.'