Audit Committee
(A) Qualified and Independent Audit Committee
A qualified and independent audit committee shall be set up, giving the terms of reference subject to
the following:
(i) The audit committee shall have minimum three directors as members. Two-thirds of the members
of audit committee shall be independent directors.
(ii) All members of audit committee shall be financially literate and at least one member shall have
accounting or related financial management expertise
Explanation 1: The term “financially literate” means the ability to read and understand basic financial
statements i.e. balance sheet, profit and loss account, and statement of cash flows.
Explanation 2: A member will be considered to have accounting or related financial management
expertise if he or she possesses experience in finance or accounting, or requisite professional certification
in accounting, or any other comparable experience or background which results in the individual’s
financial sophistication, including being or having been a chief executive officer, chief financial officer
or other senior officer with financial oversight responsibilities.
(iii) The Chairman of the Audit Committee shall be an independent director;
(iv) The Chairman of the Audit Committee shall be present at Annual General Meeting to answer
shareholder queries;
(v) The audit committee may invite such of the executives, as it considers appropriate (and particularly
the head of the finance function) to be present at the meetings of the committee, but on occasions
it may also meet without the presence of any executives of the company. The finance director,
head of internal audit and a representative of the statutory auditor may be present as invitees for
the meetings of the audit committee;
(vi) The Company Secretary shall act as the secretary to the committee.
(B) Meeting of Audit Committee
The audit committee should meet at least four times in a year and not more than four months shall elapse
between two meetings. The quorum shall be either two members or one third of the members of the audit
committee whichever is greater, but there should be a minimum of two independent members present.
(C) Powers of Audit Committee
The audit committee shall have powers, which should include the following:
1. To investigate any activity within its terms of reference.
2. To seek information from any employee.
3. To obtain outside legal or other professional advice.
4. To secure attendance of outsiders with relevant expertise, if it considers necessary.
(D) Role of Audit Committee
The role of the audit committee shall include the following:
1. Oversight of the company’s financial reporting process and the disclosure of its financial information
to ensure that the financial statement is correct, sufficient and credible.
2. Recommending to the Board, the appointment, re-appointment and, if required, the replacement
or removal of the statutory auditor and the fixation of audit fees.
3. Approval of payment to statutory auditors for any other services rendered by the statutory auditors.
4. Reviewing, with the management, the annual financial statements before submission to the board
for approval, with particular reference to:
(a) Matters required to be included in the Director’s Responsibility Statement to be included in
the Board’s report in terms of clause (2AA) of section 217 of the Companies Act, 1956
(b) Changes, if any, in accounting policies and practices and reasons for the same
(c) Major accounting entries involving estimates based on the exercise of judgment by
management
(d) Significant adjustments made in the financial statements arising out of audit findings
(e) Compliance with listing and other legal requirements relating to financial statements
(f) Disclosure of any related party transactions
(g) Qualifications in the draft audit report.
5. Reviewing, with the management, the quarterly financial statements before submission to the board
for approval
6. Reviewing, with the management, performance of statutory and internal auditors, adequacy of
the internal control systems.
7. Reviewing the adequacy of internal audit function, if any, including the structure of the internal
audit department, staffing and seniority of the official heading the department, reporting structure
coverage and frequency of internal audit.
8. Discussion with internal auditors any significant findings and follow up there on.
9. Reviewing the findings of any internal investigations by the internal auditors into matters where
there is suspected fraud or irregularity or a failure of internal control systems of a material nature
and reporting the matter to the board.
10. Discussion with statutory auditors before the audit commences, about the nature and scope of
audit as well as post-audit discussion to ascertain any area of concern.
11. To look into the reasons for substantial defaults in the payment to the depositors, debenture holders,
shareholders (in case of non payment of declared dividends) and creditors.
12. To review the functioning of the Whistle Blower mechanism, in case the same is existing.
13. Carrying out any other function as is mentioned in the terms of reference of the Audit Committee
(A) Qualified and Independent Audit Committee
A qualified and independent audit committee shall be set up, giving the terms of reference subject to
the following:
(i) The audit committee shall have minimum three directors as members. Two-thirds of the members
of audit committee shall be independent directors.
(ii) All members of audit committee shall be financially literate and at least one member shall have
accounting or related financial management expertise
Explanation 1: The term “financially literate” means the ability to read and understand basic financial
statements i.e. balance sheet, profit and loss account, and statement of cash flows.
Explanation 2: A member will be considered to have accounting or related financial management
expertise if he or she possesses experience in finance or accounting, or requisite professional certification
in accounting, or any other comparable experience or background which results in the individual’s
financial sophistication, including being or having been a chief executive officer, chief financial officer
or other senior officer with financial oversight responsibilities.
(iii) The Chairman of the Audit Committee shall be an independent director;
(iv) The Chairman of the Audit Committee shall be present at Annual General Meeting to answer
shareholder queries;
(v) The audit committee may invite such of the executives, as it considers appropriate (and particularly
the head of the finance function) to be present at the meetings of the committee, but on occasions
it may also meet without the presence of any executives of the company. The finance director,
head of internal audit and a representative of the statutory auditor may be present as invitees for
the meetings of the audit committee;
(vi) The Company Secretary shall act as the secretary to the committee.
(B) Meeting of Audit Committee
The audit committee should meet at least four times in a year and not more than four months shall elapse
between two meetings. The quorum shall be either two members or one third of the members of the audit
committee whichever is greater, but there should be a minimum of two independent members present.
(C) Powers of Audit Committee
The audit committee shall have powers, which should include the following:
1. To investigate any activity within its terms of reference.
2. To seek information from any employee.
3. To obtain outside legal or other professional advice.
4. To secure attendance of outsiders with relevant expertise, if it considers necessary.
(D) Role of Audit Committee
The role of the audit committee shall include the following:
1. Oversight of the company’s financial reporting process and the disclosure of its financial information
to ensure that the financial statement is correct, sufficient and credible.
2. Recommending to the Board, the appointment, re-appointment and, if required, the replacement
or removal of the statutory auditor and the fixation of audit fees.
3. Approval of payment to statutory auditors for any other services rendered by the statutory auditors.
4. Reviewing, with the management, the annual financial statements before submission to the board
for approval, with particular reference to:
(a) Matters required to be included in the Director’s Responsibility Statement to be included in
the Board’s report in terms of clause (2AA) of section 217 of the Companies Act, 1956
(b) Changes, if any, in accounting policies and practices and reasons for the same
(c) Major accounting entries involving estimates based on the exercise of judgment by
management
(d) Significant adjustments made in the financial statements arising out of audit findings
(e) Compliance with listing and other legal requirements relating to financial statements
(f) Disclosure of any related party transactions
(g) Qualifications in the draft audit report.
5. Reviewing, with the management, the quarterly financial statements before submission to the board
for approval
6. Reviewing, with the management, performance of statutory and internal auditors, adequacy of
the internal control systems.
7. Reviewing the adequacy of internal audit function, if any, including the structure of the internal
audit department, staffing and seniority of the official heading the department, reporting structure
coverage and frequency of internal audit.
8. Discussion with internal auditors any significant findings and follow up there on.
9. Reviewing the findings of any internal investigations by the internal auditors into matters where
there is suspected fraud or irregularity or a failure of internal control systems of a material nature
and reporting the matter to the board.
10. Discussion with statutory auditors before the audit commences, about the nature and scope of
audit as well as post-audit discussion to ascertain any area of concern.
11. To look into the reasons for substantial defaults in the payment to the depositors, debenture holders,
shareholders (in case of non payment of declared dividends) and creditors.
12. To review the functioning of the Whistle Blower mechanism, in case the same is existing.
13. Carrying out any other function as is mentioned in the terms of reference of the Audit Committee
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