Latest news with #auditors
Bloomberg
an hour ago
- Business
- Bloomberg
Nazara May Write Down Poker App Stake as India Betting Ban Looms
India's only listed gaming firm may write down the value of its investment in a popular poker game as a ban on online betting apps looks imminent in the country. Nazara Technologies Ltd. 's investment in PokerBaazi stands to be written down or provisioned for now, Chief Executive Officer Nitish Mittersain said in a phone conversation Thursday. 'It's still early days, and I'll have to sit with my auditors, but we tend to be conservative in our accounting.'
ABC News
5 days ago
- Health
- ABC News
Auditors question future of SA charity responsible for new eating disorder service
The future of a prominent South Australian mental health charity — responsible for delivering a new eating disorder service that has received millions of dollars in government funding — is in question, after auditors raised concerns about its financial position. Breakthrough Mental Health Research Foundation has reported a "deficit in equity" of nearly $2 million, according to documents filed in June with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC). Independent auditors concluded there was "material uncertainty" that may cast "significant doubt" over the charity's ability to continue operating. But Breakthrough said it was confident it would remain afloat — and expected its financial position to improve once work began on the new eating disorder facility. SA Health has confirmed it is in ongoing discussions with Breakthrough about its financial situation. Work on the centre, located at the Repat Health Precinct, was slated to begin in mid-2025 and take 18 months to complete — but it has not yet started. The new statewide eating disorder service was first announced in 2019 as a $7.1 million facility, with the former federal Liberal government to contribute $5 million and Breakthrough to fundraise the remainder. The project, led by Breakthrough, would be delivered in collaboration with SA Health and Flinders University and include a five-bed residential unit, day program and outpatient clinics. But it stalled for five years until the current federal and state governments each contributed another $2.5 million in December 2024, taking the total budget to $12.1 million. The top-up came six months after auditors first flagged concerns over Breakthrough's financial position, mentioned in the previous year's audit. In 2019, as part of its $2.1 million contribution to the project, Breakthrough announced it had secured a $500,000 donation from mental health and wellbeing charity the Fay Fuller Foundation. However, the foundation has confirmed it did not go ahead with the donation — and its formal involvement in the project ended in 2022. A Fay Fuller Foundation spokesperson did not address questions about why the funding was withdrawn. A Breakthrough spokesperson said the charity was "comfortable that interest is sufficient to meet its fundraising contribution towards the project". At the end of last year, Breakthrough reported a deficit in equity of $1.94 million, meaning the charity would be short by that amount when repaying its debts if it collapsed. It also has a fully drawn $1.59 million loan from the Flinders Foundation. Breakthrough, which was paid the initial $5 million in government funding in 2022, reported $5.53 million in "total current assets". The charity's spokesperson said accounting regulations meant the $5 million in government funding is currently classed as a deficiency — but it would "become positive" once work on the eating disorder service began. He said Breakthrough, as a start-up organisation, had for several years paid out more in grant funding than it received in operating income. Asked about the loan, he said the Flinders Foundation, which founded Breakthrough in 2020, seeded it with cash to invest in its growth and development. "Breakthrough has met its commitments under the loan arrangement to date, and makes provisions for all future payments," he said. Breakthrough also plans to recover costs through a 40-year lease that will require SA Health to pay rent on the centre — despite taxpayers contributing $10 million for its construction. In a statement, a SA Health spokesperson said the department would not pay market rent for the site. It is understood, under the arrangement, Breakthrough would receive reimbursement for operating expenses such as maintenance and security. Following initial inquiries from the ABC, made in July, the SA Health spokesperson said standard measures were in place to manage "scenarios where project requirements are not able to be upheld". But she said Breakthrough had not flagged any issues. "We are in regular communication with Breakthrough Mental Health Research Foundation and we're not aware of any issues with respect to Breakthrough's financial position," she said. In an updated statement, provided on Friday, SA Health said it was now looking into Breakthrough's financial position. "Since the previous statement provided to the ABC … the Department for Health and Wellbeing and the Southern Adelaide Local Health Network have been in discussions with both the Flinders Foundation and Breakthrough to further understand their financial position and these discussions are ongoing," the spokesperson said. Health Minister Chris Picton said the government was committed to the delivery of the service. In a statement, a spokesperson for the federal Department of Health, Disability and Ageing said "any arrangements between South Australia and Breakthrough Mental Health Research Foundation are a matter for the South Australian government".
Times
06-08-2025
- Business
- Times
Scottish council staff off sick at record rate
The level of absence among council staff is at its highest level on record as local authorities are urged to improve their workforce planning. Figures released by the Accounts Commission on Thursday showed the absence rate among non-teacher staff rose to an average of 13.9 days in 2023-24 compared with 10.8 in 2010-11. During the same time, the teacher absence rate increased from 6.6 days to 7.6 days. • We are in a new era of health in the workplace — things must change In a report the commission urged councils to plan their workforce into the future, especially given the age of staff. While 35 per cent of staff — the highest level — are between 25 and 44, a total of 27 per cent of workers are between 45 and 54. There are 29 per cent of workers aged 55 to 64. The commission said: 'Addressing rising sickness absence, embracing innovation and digital technology, and increased collaborative working will all be necessary to attract and retain staff and ensure we all continue to benefit from a skilled and motivated local government workforce.' Local authorities should align their workforce plans with their own priorities, the report said. The commission added that councils were dealing with 'clear and continuing financial pressures' and had to 'transform how they deliver services' to cut costs. 'Auditors report that councils have responded positively to these challenges but that further progress with workforce planning is still needed in light of continuing financial and demand pressures,' the report said. • Scots out of work for sickness and disability at highest level for 20 years Jennifer Henderson, a member of the Accounts Commission, said: 'We all benefit from a skilled and motivated local government workforce; staff are the most important resource that councils have. 'Councils must fundamentally reform how they deliver services, and Scotland's 260,000 council workers are crucial to this. 'Councils need to align their existing workforce plans with their priorities so they can ensure their workforces are the right size and shape, and their staff have the skills they will need. In particular, they need to ensure workers have the digital skills necessary for the scale of changes ahead. 'We have seen many councils already responding to this challenge, and there are valuable opportunities for local bodies to learn from each other.'
CTV News
05-08-2025
- CTV News
N.S. cutting ties with firefighters school
Atlantic Watch Nova Scotia is cutting ties with a firefighters school following a scathing audit.
BreakingNews.ie
05-08-2025
- Business
- BreakingNews.ie
Salary overpayments to Revenue staff reached almost €1.7m in 2023
The value of salary overpayments to Revenue staff reached almost €1.7 million at the end of 2023, with more than 1 in 7 of its workforce getting paid above their proper salaries, according to the findings of an internal audit by the tax authorities. The audit report revealed that 61 Revenue employees had received overpayments above €5,000, while a further 424 staff members had been overpaid sums of between €1,000 and €5,000 during 2023. Advertisement Overpayments of €55,645 were identified as having been paid to 100 individuals who had not taken up employment as expected. Revenue auditors also described guidelines governing work processes, procedures and controls for the management of overpayments were 'dated and fragmented.' They concluded that only 'partial assurance' could be provided that Revenue's governance and procedures for monitoring and managing overpayments were robust and in line with civil service guidelines. The audit report, which was released under freedom of information legislation, found that no money had been repaid and/or no recoupment plan was in place for 212 out of 400 overpayment cases dating from 2002 to 2017. Advertisement The value of salary overpayments linked to these cases amounted to €296,642 In addition, money had only been recouped from 25 out of 188 remaining legacy cases that were classified as 'in progress.' The audit report shows that the salary overpayment balance in December 2023 was €1,679,140, representing approximately 0.45 per cent of the total wage bill for Revenue staff of €374.1 million that year. The total number of salary overpayment cases at the end of 2023 was 1,430. Advertisement They included 900 overpayments which had arisen during the course of the year to the value of €1.16 million – representing an average overpayment of just under €1,300. The report highlighted that no repayments had been made at the time in relation to 682 cases, while a further 28 cases had been deferred. Revenue reported that a total of 1,048 recoupment plans were in place during 2023, which resulted in repayments of €1.02 million and 767 cases being closed. The latest figures available show the outstanding balance for collection for overpayments at the end of June 2024 had increased to almost €1.8 million and involved a total of 1,611 cases. Advertisement At the time, 853 staff had not made any repayments to the tax authorities for overpayments to the value of €920,968. Revenue said the audit particularly focused on the effect that allowances, retirements, parental leave and promotions have on payroll. Auditors also examined payroll to identify potential risk indicators such as duplicate bank accounts, staff not taking any or the required minimum annual leave and cases that appeared to be on emergency tax for a prolonged period of time. The audit was carried out as an integrated audit with internal auditors from the National Shared Services Office (NSSO) – the Government's HR and payroll administration service. Advertisement Revenue's auditors said they had found 'evidence of a range of good work practices and internal controls in operation within Revenue regarding the management and monitoring of salary overpayments.' They noted that Revenue operates a dedicated overpayments unit with its staff actively managing cases on a day-to-day basis. However, the report accepted that there were 'opportunities for improvement.' The auditors also acknowledged that there was a lack of clarity on the responsibilities and requirements of Revenue and the NSSO in relation to some elements of managing cases of overpayments. An examination of a sample of 55 recent cases of overpayments found 58 per cent related to late applications by Revenue to the NSSO for parental leave or delayed notification by Revenue of events or changes that affected staff salary. Revenue auditors issued four recommendations as a result of the report, including one high-priority finding which called for a review of legacy overpayment cases 'with a view to actively progressing recoupment where possible.' Under a circular issued by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, monies owed by all civil servants, including retired employees, as a result of salary overpayments should be repaid to the Exchequer as soon as possible. Revenue said the most common causes of overpayments to its staff were allowances, parental leave, certified sick leave and resignations. All recommendations made in the report were accepted by Revenue management.
